On October 25, 1806, Henry Knox, Revolutionary War general and the first US Secretary of War, passed away near Thomaston, Massachusetts (now Maine). From hauling cannon across frozen rivers to helping shape the young nation’s military, Knox’s contributions helped secure American independence and lay the foundation for the United States we know today.
On October 17, 1777, British General Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga – one of the major American victories of the American Revolution. Often considered the turning point of the war, it proved that American troops could battle a European army on their own terms and win.
On September 28, 1781, American forces launched the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War – the Siege of Yorktown. This decisive clash would lead to the surrender of British General Cornwallis and pave the way for American independence.
On September 23, 1779, one of the most famous naval battles of the American Revolution took place in the cold waters off the coast of England. It was here that John Paul Jones, a daring and determined naval commander, led his small squadron of American ships against a powerful British convoy. The Battle of Flamborough Head would not only be a dramatic moment in the war but would also help cement Jones’s reputation as one of the boldest naval commanders in history.
The Battle of Harlem Heights, fought on September 16, 1776, was one of the most important early morale-boosting victories for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. It came at a time when General George Washington and his troops were reeling from several defeats and desperately needed a reason to believe they could stand against the powerful British Army. Though the battle was relatively small compared to others in the war, it played an important role in lifting the spirits of the American troops and proving that they could go toe-to-toe with the British on the battlefield.
After more than eight years of fighting, the American Revolutionary War came to an end on September 3, 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
On August 15, 1824, Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, returned to the United States for the first time in nearly forty years. Now sixty-seven years old, Lafayette was the last surviving major general of the Revolutionary War.
On June 20, 1863, West Virginia joined the Union as the 35th state. It had formed from the western counties of Virginia which disagreed with the state’s decision to secede during the Civil War.
On June 17, 1775, American colonists inflicted heavy British casualties in their loss at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Showing that the inexperienced colonial militias could stand up against the well-trained British, It raised morale and increased support for independence.