When hostilities commenced during the American Revolution in 1775 between Great Britain and the North American colonies, all the advantages seemed to be on the side of Great Britain, the largest empire in the world. For the next eight years, the two sides were locked in combat up and down the Eastern Seaboard that ultimately resulted in the defeat of the British Empire and the formation of the United States of America.
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the largest battles of the Revolutionary War. We based our list of engagements that involved at least 1,000 soldiers on each side. Among the sources we used in compiling our list were revolutionary-war.net, battlefields.org, and britannica.org.
The Royal Navy, which was without equal at the time, allowed the British to capture and occupy coastal cities like Philadelphia and New York relatively early in the conflict. However, their relatively small land army, though professionally trained and augmented with Hessian mercenaries — German troops hired by the British to join the army — was not able to control the countryside, where 90% of the colonial population lived.
Most of the early major combat took place in New England and the Northeastern states. The British put the colonists on the backfoot with victories in Long Island and Manhattan in New York, and successes at Brandywine and Germantown in Pennsylvania. But overall success in the north eluded them. The British strategy of dividing the northern colonies failed, culminating in the loss at Saratoga that brought the French into the war.
Great Britain shifted its strategy to the south where it believed it had more Loyalist support. The strategy seemed effective as British fortunes improved at first. They thwarted a siege of Savannah, and emerged victorious in battles at Charleston and Camden, South Carolina. But their biggest loss in the south, the siege of Yorktown, was the final major battle of the war, and led to peace talks that would pave the way for the creation of the United States.
Click here to see the 31 largest battles of the American Revolutionary War
Bunker Hill, Massachusetts
> Date: June 17, 1775
> Combatants: American: 2,400; British: 3,000
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. It occurred on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts. The colonial forces, despite being outnumbered, put up a fierce resistance against the British troops. Eventually, due to a lack of ammunition, they had to retreat. Although the British won the battle, they suffered heavy casualties — more than 200 killed and over 800 wounded — which boosted the morale of the colonial forces and showed that they were a formidable opponent.
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Quebec, Canada
> Date: Dec. 31, 1775
> Combatants: American: 1,200; British: 1,200
The Battle of Quebec was a failed attempt by American forces to capture the British-occupied city of Quebec in Canada early in the Revolutionary War. Led by General Richard Montgomery, the American colonists launched a surprise attack on the British-occupied city. Harsh winter conditions and strong British defenses proved too great a challenge, as the battle resulted in heavy American casualties, including the death of Montgomery. The American forces were forced to retreat, marking the first major setback of the war for the Americans.
Moore’s Creek Bridge, North Carolina
> Date: Feb, 27, 1776
> Combatants: American: 1,050; British: 1,000
The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge was a significant victory for the American colonial forces. The battle occurred when loyalist forces, supporting British rule, attempted to cross Moore’s Creek Bridge to join British troops in the South. The American revolutionaries set up an ambush. They successfully defended the bridge, leading to a decisive victory. The battle crippled loyalist support in the region and helped solidify the colonists’ defense against the British in North Carolina.
Trois-Rivières, Canada
> Date: June 8, 1776
> Combatants: American: 2,000; British: 1,000
British forces, led by General Guy Carleton, successfully defended the strategically beneficial Canadian town of Trois-Rivières against an American invasion. The American troops, commanded by General Benedict Arnold, sustained heavy casualties and were forced to retreat. This engagement proved to be a significant setback for the American forces, as it limited their ability to advance further into Canada and secure additional support for the Revolution.
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Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina
> Date: June 28, 1776
> Combatants: American: 6,700; British: 4,500
British forces, under the command of Sir Peter Parker, launched an attack on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina, where Colonel William Moultrie led a naval defense of some 6,700 American troops. The Americans successfully repelled the assault — 10 Royal Navy warships and 2,500 British troops — marking the first decisive American victory over the British Navy. The British fleet suffered significant damage and casualties, forcing them to abandon their efforts to capture the island.
Long Island, New York
> Date: Aug. 27-29, 1776
> Combatants: American: 10,000; British: 20,000
The Battle of Long Island is also known as the Battle of Brooklyn. British forces launched an assault on American troops in Long Island, New York, a little over a year after the start of the war. The Americans, led by General George Washington, were outnumbered and outflanked, sustaining heavy casualties when they were forced to retreat, crossing the East River to Manhattan. The victory allowed the British to gain control of New York City and establish a foothold in the region.
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Harlem Heights, New York
> Date: Sept. 16, 1776
> Combatants: American: 1,800; British: 1,600
In the morning of September 16, 1776, British General William Howe led an attack on the American Continental Army near Harlem Heights in New York. The American forces, after its recent defeat at the Battle of Long Island the previous month, successfully repelled the British attacks.
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White Plains, New York
> Date: Oct. 28, 1776
> Combatants: American: 3,100; British: 4,000-7,500
While inflicting a heavy toll on the British, the Battle of White Plains ended in defeat for the Americans. George Washingon and the Continental Army gave up their position in White Plains following a series of defeats as the Americans had ceded New York City to the British earlier that summer. Washington continued a strategic retreat to New Jersey. Although the battle resulted in a British victory, the American forces avoided major losses and preserved their army for future battles.
Fort Washington, New York
> Date: Nov. 16, 1776
> Combatants: American: 3,000; British: 8,000
British forces, commanded by General William Howe, launched an assault on Fort Washington, located on the northern end of Manhattan Island in New York. The fort, under the command of General Nathanael Greene and Colonel Robert Magaw, was a pentagonal earthwork position without ditches or palisades. It also lacked an interior source of water.
Despite fierce resistance, the American defenders were overwhelmed by the superior British forces. The capture of Fort Washington allowed the British to gain control over New York City, furthering Howe’s goal of completely removing American troops from Manhattan.
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