| As the British retreated toward Boston, Americans fired
at them from behind walls along the road. Though the English were
eventually rescued by another force sent out from Boston, they suffered
heavy casualties. Meanwhile, the Second Continental Congress began
meeting in Philadelphia and appointed George Washington, a veteran
of the French and Indian War, to lead the American army.
The English, who were now bottled up in Boston, again tried to
attack the Americans outside the city. The Patriots were actually
dug in on Breed's Hill, though the battle is usually known by the
name of nearby Bunker Hill. The Americans coolly waited until the
British were at close range before firing their weapons. Though
the Patriots were eventually pushed off the hill, the British casualties
were heavy.
The Americans captured forts on the frontier, including Ticonderoga
in upstate New York, which had a large number of British cannons.
From there, the Patriots set out for Canada where they captured
Montreal. They were defeated in an assault on Quebec. The British,
realizing they needed more men to deal with the colonists, hired
nearly 30,000 German mercenaries.
Next:
Americans Won Boston, Lost New York In 1776
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Revolutionary War
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