The worldwide implications of the American War for Independence are made clear on February 17, 1782 as the American-allied French navy begins a 14-month-long series of five battles with the British navy in the Indian Ocean.
Between February 17, 1782, and September 3, 1782, French Admiral Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez, otherwise known as Bailli de Suffren, and British Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, commander in chief in the East Indies, engaged in four major battles in the Indian Ocean region: the Battle of Sadras on February 17, the Battle of Providien on April 12, the Battle of Negapatam on July 6 and the Battle of Trincomalee on September 3.
Please what is the source and information on the illustration used. I’d very much like to learn more about the actual graphic and about that Naval Campaign. Focussing too closely on just the American Colonial war for independence and ignoring the global aspects of the international trade and naval can give us a lopsided too-parochial view of our history.
February 14, 1777, the U.S. Congress commissioned Benjamin Lincoln as a major general in the Continental Army, acting on recommendations from General George Washington. Previously a Massachusetts militia officer, Lincoln was elevated to boost the recruitment of New Englanders and was subsequently assigned to command, including a tenure at Bound Brook, NJ.
Key details about Benjamin Lincoln's appointment and service:
Commission Date: February 14, 1777 (with some sources citing February 19, 1777, for the formal appointment alongside other generals).
Following his promotion, he served under Washington in New Jersey before being sent to assist General Philip Schuyler in upstate New York.
Lincoln was highly regarded by Washington for his skills in organization and working with militia, and he played a major role in the Saratoga campaign, though he was severely wounded in October 1777.
He later served as the commander of the Southern Department, led the American forces at the Siege of Yorktown, and served as the first Secretary at War.
Not every conflict during the Revolution took place in North America.
The Great Siege of Gibraltar ends today February 7 1783
The longest siege endured by the British Armed Forces and one of the longest sieges in history, the battle at Gibraltar was one part of the American War of Independence. Britain controlled Gibraltar, having seized it from Spain, and both the French and the Spanish saw an opportunity to inflict damage on Britain and recover colonial possessions.
The siege began in 1779 when Spain blockaded the colony, but it failed when British ships were able to get through the lines. A Spanish attempt to attack was defeated by a British assault in 1781, after which the French entered to assist their allies. A final 'grand assault' was planned by the French and Spanish, and took place on September 18, 1782, but was a catastrophic failure; 60,000 men could not defeat the 5,000 defenders. Newly invented 'floating batteries', a type of ship, were also unable to break the defenders and were sunk.
On February 7, 1783, the siege was ended after a British convoy was able to slip through the blockade. The victory was decisive for the British, even though the War of Independence was a victory overall for the Americans and their allies.
That relieving British fleet sailed from Brest, where it was bottling up a French fleet in 1781. The fleet that ultimately led to the British loss at Yorktown and thus the war!
TRY REENACTING!
Do you want to fire a musket, help crew a cannon, or just enjoy an evening around the fire?
Our Units are excited to host folks who want to try out the hobby.
They will supply the necessary gear and clothing for you (and your family) to join us for a weekend reenacting the American Revolution!
What are you in for? Read our “What Re-enacting with the NWTA Looks Like.”