William Howe

British naval fire routed American militia, letting Howe's troops land unopposed on Manhattan on September 15, 1776.

A skirmish between Knowlton's Rangers and British pickets escalated into a running fight in which the outnumbered British withdrew on September 16, 1776.

Captured while gathering intelligence behind British lines, Continental Army captain Nathan Hale was hanged in New York City on September 22, 1776.

Knox hauled captured Ticonderoga cannons to Cambridge in January 1776; the guns later fortified Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston harbor.

Americans bombarded Boston from March 2 to March 4, 1776, then fortified the heights; a British two-hour cannon barrage proved ineffective.

Howe, judging Boston indefensible, sailed for Halifax on March 17, 1776, ending the siege; Bostonians had arranged that the town would be spared.

After the British fleet sailed, Americans reclaimed Boston and Charlestown; more troops entered on March 20, and late-arriving British ships fell into American hands.

American troops resisted a British and Hessian landing at Pell's Point on October 18, 1776, delaying Howe long enough for Washington's army to reach White Plains.

Howe attacked Washington's fortified position near White Plains on October 28, 1776, driving the Americans from Chatterton Hill and forcing a further northern retreat.

On November 16, 1776, British forces captured Fort Washington, the last American stronghold on Manhattan, gaining the surrender of the garrison's remnant.

Howe's army landed in Maryland on August 25, 1777, and moved north toward Philadelphia, its advance monitored by American light infantry based at Cooch's Bridge.

German troops leading the British advance were ambushed by Maxwell's light infantry near Cooch's Bridge; after seven hours of fighting the Americans retreated across the bridge.

Some traditions claim the Battle of Cooch's Bridge was the first battle in which the United States flag was flown.

The Second Continental Congress abandoned Philadelphia, relocating first to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later to York.

British forces entered Philadelphia on September 26, 1777, after defeating Washington at Brandywine, occupying the revolutionary capital.

The British occupation lasted 266 days; Clinton evacuated Philadelphia on June 18, 1778, consolidating troops in New York.