The American Revolution: abril 2011

Bernardo De Galvez

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Bernardo De Galvez

Born in Macharaviaya, Spain on July 23, 1746.

Died:1786

Career: military career

At the age of 16, he was serving as a lieutenant in a war with Portugal, later led to captain. In 1769, he was selected for service in New .In the next few years, he was wounded several times but also found honor and recognition in his service. In 1772, he returned to Spain and enrolled for military studies in France. After learning the language, culture and furthering his studies of war, he returned to Spain in 1775 . As a reward for service, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to the Military School of Ávila.

At this time in history, France and Spain were close allies with similar interests in the Americas. France had peacefully transferred their territory of Louisiana to the government of Spain, and in 1776 Gálvez was promoted to colonel and assigned to the Regiment of Louisiana. In 1777, be became governor of Louisiana. Which he helped a lot to independence of united Sates from the British. he contributed He by sealed off the port of New Orleans so that British ships could not utilize the Mississippi River and they couldn't have support and provisions. He also welcomed any American patriots at his ports and river. Therefore they served as a constant source of money, ammunition and weapons to the American forces under George Washington and George Rogers Clark.

Which is his legacy? His important legacy can be seen in the freedom of America. Also he captured the Maryland loyalist Regiment.

Battle of Vincennas

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Battle of Vincennas

On February 6, 1779, the general Roger Clark went to Vincennes with 127 volunteers, part of their volunteers were from the French militia. Clark led his men across to the state of Illinois, about 180 miles they traveled. Although it was not a cold winter it rained a lot, and the plains were often covered with several inches of water. Provisions were carried on packhorses, additional by wild game the men shot as they traveled. He had a plan that was to inform the people of the village that he intended to take the fort that night. He announced that any who wanted to cooperate with his plan would stay in their houses and anyone found outside would be considered hostile. The captured French hunter carried the message to the village and to the surprise and delight of the Americans there was silence from the fort. Of course Clark did not reveal to the hunter the size of his actual force but hinted that it numbered approximately 1,000 men.

On the 23rd, Clark assembled his men. He marched them in two small groups, one led by him and the other by another captain. The groups marched along with drums beating and banners flying. He repeated this plan several times, thus giving the impression that his force was indeed about 1,000 men. The plan worked and Clark was careful not to let the towns people actually see any but a small group of men at any one time. In the night the group gained the heights southwest of the town. Even with all the big deal, the fort did not appear alerted. The rest of the men occupied the town.
On 25 February, Hamilton's defense force of 79 men marched out of the fort. Clark's men raised the American flag over the fort and renamed it Fort Patrick Henry. Therefore Clark sent Hamilton, seven of his officers, and 18 other prisoners to Williamsburg.

On January 29, 1779 Clark decided that he needed to launch a surprise winter attack on Vincennes before Hamilton could recapture the Illinois country in the spring. He wrote and quoted to Governor Henry:

"I know the case is desperate; but, sir, we must either quit the country or attack Mr. Hamilton. No time is to be lost. Were I sure of a reinforcement, I should not attempt it. Who knows what fortune will do for us? Great things have been effected by a few men well conducted. Perhaps we may be fortunate. We have this consolation, that our cause is just, and that our country will be grateful and not condemn our conduct in case we fall through. If we fail, the Illinois as well as Kentucky, I believe, is lost".

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General Charles Cornwallis

Lord General Charles Cornwallis was born on New Year's Eve 1738, the eldest son to the first Earl Cornwallis. He went to school at Eton and in 1756 Charles purchased an Ensign's commission in the British Army. With the beginning of the Seven Years War, Cornwallis decided to serve in the war, first as a staff officer and later as a Lt. Colonel of the 12th Regiment.

Cornwallis was forced to return home due to the death of his father in 1762. Cornwallis inherited everything, including the title as Earl Cornwallis and a seat in the House of Lords. During this time, Cornwallis fell in love and married Jemima Jones. He also became friends with King George III, though the two often disagreed over the situation with the American colonies. Lord Cornwallis was sympathetic to the colonies and was one of the few Lords who often voted against the heavy taxes, including the Stamp Act.

Still, when the first shots were fired in the American War of Independence, Cornwallis accepted a commission as a Major General in the British Army. Most of his early action occurred in the north, helping achieve victories at the battles of Long Island, Brandywine, and Monmouth. He returned to England in 1779, only to find his wife deathly ill. When she passed away a short-time later, Cornwallis decided to return to the war in America.

When Charleston fell to the British in May 1780, General Cornwallis was given command of all British forces in the American south. Soon, he started on an ambitious campaign to take South and North Carolina and eventually attack the Continental forces in Virginia. The campaign began with a British victory at the battle of Camden, but later on everything changed. Cornwallis marched his army onward, attacking the Colonial forces wherever he could find them.

He fought a series of battles against General Nathaniel Greene as he pushed on through North Carolina. Although he emerged victorious, his army was so tired from the constant battles that he decided it was too dangerous to return to Charleston and made for the port at Yorktown, Virginia hoping to be welcomed with re- enforcements by sea. Unfortunately, the navy that appeared on the coast belonged to the French, and Cornwallis found himself trapped between the French at Sea and the Colonial Army under George Washington on land. On October 17, Cornwallis surrendered and ended the war.

Lord Cornwallis returned to England, and like so many generals, became accused over the responsibility for the defeat. Eventually, his reputation recovered and he was appointed the Governor General to India in 1786. In 1798 he was sent to Ireland where he successfully ended a rebellion. Later on he was sent back to India, but died shortly after his arrival on October 5, 1805.

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Battle of Saratoga

The battle took place on the Hudson River in New York State between the British and German Troops against the Americans. The British led by Major General John Burgoyne with 5,000 soldiers including Germans and Indians, meanwhile the Americans where led by Major General Horatio Gates and Brigadier Benedict Arnold and by the end of the battle had forces around 12,000-14,000 soldiers.

Over the winter of 1776 the British Government in London created a plan to send a strong army down the Lake Champlain route from Canada into the heart of the rebellious American Colonies, mostly in New England.

Lord Germaine, the minister in London with direct control of the British army, persuaded King George III to appoint Major General John Burgoyne, known to the troops as “Gentleman Johnnie”, Burgoyne had taken the precaution of returning to London during the winter and secured his command. Burgoyne was directed to take the best regiments down Lake Champlain, capture Fort Ticonderoga, advance to the Hudson River and progress south.

General Burgoyne with 7,700 troops approached Albany, New York, from Canada. Another group of troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger, were to join him from Canada. General Howe also was to join him from New York. Together they were to attack the American troops. Unfortunately for Burgoyne, St. Leger's troops ran into Benedict Arnold and his American militia.

At a critical moment in the fighting Burgoyne withdrew his force to his fortified camp above the Hudson River. The next day Burgoyne withdrew his army up the river to the camp they had built at Saratoga. The American army pursued Burgoyne and the British positions. Burgoyne let the last opportunities to retreat north to Ticonderoga go by. A major difficulty in the war was communications between the two British forces. Almost all the messengers attempting to carry messages were caught and hanged by the Americans.

Burgoyne awaited news of Clinton’s advance until 17th October 1777, General Burgoyne attacked for the third time at the Battle of Saratoga. This time Burgoyne and his forces were defeated. He was forced to sign the declaration by which his troops surrendered to Gates, who had by then between 18,000 and 20,000 men. This was a major victory for the American forces and a key turning point in the war.

The American Revolution

Bernardo De Galvez

Battle of Vincennas

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