This extensive range is devoted to that most important conflict of Empire and free will in the new world, one that was to have lasting consequences. 1775: the British, harried back to Boston after advancing on Lexington & Concord, gain a difficult victory at Bunker Hill only to evacuate Boston. The Americans under Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga advancing into Canada but suffer defeat in Quebec. 1776: the British under Howe with Hessian reinforcements land in New York pushing the Americans into Pennsylvania. Washington's surprise winter recrossings of the Delaware, however, result in American victories. 1777: The British under Burgoyne advancing from Canada are exhausted by the effort and captured at Saratoga. Howe more successfully defeats the Americans guarding Philadelphia, occupying the city. The Americans regroup in winter quarters at Valley Forge. 1778: the war in the north deadlocks with inconclusive raids on both sides. The French enter the war trying ineffectively to harry the British at sea. The British successfully occupy Savanna opening the southern campaign. 1779: the British lay siege to Charleston, the eventual surrender of the town the greatest loss of the war. Cornwallis maintains control of South Carolina with ruthless attacks on Gates' Americans. 1780: Cornwallis advances into North Carolina but, defeated at Kings Mountain, returns south. 1781: Continued thrust and perry in the backwoods with the Americans proves ineffective and Cornwallis retires to the coast. Marching north, he is joined in Virginia by Arnold, now a British General. At first harrying the Americans under Lafayette, American and French reinforcements cause Cornwallis to retreat to the port of Yorktown to be under protection of the British fleet. Washington together with a French force under Rochambeau join Lafayette in the siege of Yorktown. A decisive French naval victory cuts off British protection of the port and Cornwallis surrenders.

The Continental Army & Allies