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| Freedom is something that everyone should cherish. Many a people had to struggle and fight for their freedom from opression and hard-ships. |
| At midnight on the 19th of April British troops, which consisted of around 800 troops left Boston, crossed over the Charles River. The British marched toward Concord, the entire countryside had been alerted to their presence, and the rebel militia was deployed and ready to meet them. Until this point there had been no actual shots fired or blood shed, but this day it all changed. The Lexington militia captain John Parker had heard about fighting at Salem and prepared his men on the Lexington Green to meet the British troops. When troops met this day on the Green the British troops began to surround the rebels and Parker ordered his men to disperse. A shot rang out that no one knows quite who shot first but British troops unloaded a round of shots killing eight and wounding ten. Rebel militia retreated into the woods. This battle opened the fighting for the American Revolution. It also showed the British army that the Rebel's were going to fight a war with all their heart. "These people show a spirit and a conduct against us that they never showed against the French, and everybody has judged them from their former appearance and behavior, which has led many into great mistakes." (pg.204, Shy) |
| Lexington and Concord |
| Trenton and Princeton |
| On January 3rd, 1777 due to attacks at Trenton and Princeton which were headed by the rebel militia they fought with amazing heart and courage and were able to defeat the British forces and cause them to retreat. This was the first time the rebel forces were able to cause the British to retreat. "The morale of rebels, already sensitized by harsh treatment, soared; while the morale of Loyal civilians, now out of range of British regular support, dropped sharply." (pg. 206, Shy). This was a battle that showed that the rebel army could withstand the British forces and use their courage and heart as well as their knowledge of the terrain to aid them in their victory. Also recently appointed commander-in-chief of the continental army George Washington had made a speech explaining many of the feelings that rebels felt about freedom and courage. He rode into this battle and personally led the attack calling to his men to "parade with me my brave fellows", just showing the love he had for his men and the love of the rebels for their country. |
| Yorktown |
| In the spring of 1781 Washington decided to lead his troops to Philadelphia, for an attack planned by the British, along with the aid of the French army. General Cornwallis of the British army was suppose to take his troops to New York to aid in this assault on Philadelphia however he decided to disobey orders and he began to march on Yorktown. The French navy moved their efforts to New York to drtive the British navy out of the Chesapeake Bay. They were successful and then the Continental army began their assault on Cornwallis in Yorktown as the British forces drastically tried to maneuver their men to aid Cornwallis however they were too late. On October 19th of 1981 General Cornwallis surrendered his 7,157 troops to a Franco-American force of 16,000. It was on this day that the rebels had won their amazing war for freedom and their dreams of living in their own country were realized. |
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| "From the British viewpoint, rebel militia was one of the most troublesome and predictable elements in a confusing war." (pg. 192, Shy) |
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