1773

October 25
News reaches NYC that tea will be sent to the colonies. (Parliament passed Tea Act effective May 10.)

November 10
Broadside circulates in NYC warning harbor pilots against guiding tea ships up the harbor.

December 1
New York merchants commissioned to receive consignments of tea decide not to accept shipments.

1774

January 20
Assembly names Committee of Correspondence to maintain contact with other colonies.

April 22
Sons of Liberty disguised as Indians dump a cargo of tea into New York harbor.

May 16
Committee of 51 is appointed in NYC “to correspond with neighboring colonies on the important crisis.” First body in the colony organized for action.

May 23
Committee of 51 urges other colonies to join in creating an inter-colonial congress.

July 28
Philip Livingston, Isaac Low, John Jay, John Alsop and James Duane elected as delegates to Continental Congress from New York.

September 5
John Jay and James Duane put on committee to prepare declaration of rights and grievances.

November 22
Committee of 60 elected to succeed committee of 51.

1775

May 10
Fort Ticonderoga surprised and taken by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold with a force of 83 men.

May 12
Crown Point captured by a small band of New Englanders under Seth Warner.

May 22
First Provincial Congress meets in NYC.

May 25
Continental Congress orders province of New York fortified and militia training begun.

June 19
Philip Schuyler elected major general by Continental Congress.

June 22
Richard Montgomery made brigadier general by Congress.

June 25
General Schuyler placed in command of “New York Department”.

August 8
Provincial Congress orders local committees to buy all available arms.

August 9
Provincial Congress orders all political subdivisions to be divided into ‘beats’ of one militia company each.

August 21
Continental troops under General Montgomery arrive at Fort Ticonderoga.

August 29
NYC shelled by British man-of-war.

1776

January 9
Continental Congress asks New York to defend entrances to harbor.

February 1
Philip Livingston, John Alsop, John Jay and Alexander McDougall elected to represent NYC in the "next general assembly."

March 14
Continental Congress orders 8000 men to defend New York City.

May 31
Provincial Congress calls election of a new Congress to consider the necessity of a new government.

June 7
New York City Committee calls for elections of Harlem, Kingsbridge, White Plains, Peekskill, Highlands, Fort Lee and Long Island delegates to a provincial Congress to decide on independence.

June 11
Provincial Congress instructs Continental Congress delegates not to vote on questions of independence.

June 14
Continental Congress orders New York to detect and restrain all internal enemies.

July 4
Declaration of Independence adopted by Continental Congress; New York signers are Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, William Floyd and Philip Livingston.

July 7
Northern army falls back from Crown Point to Ticonderoga.

July 9
Provincial Congress ratifies Declaration of Independence.

August 27
Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn). Generals Sullivan and Stirling are taken prisoners and Americans defeated.

September 11
Peace Conference held on Staten Island between Lord Howe and a committee of the Continental Congress.

September 15
New York City occupied by British.

September 16
Battle of Harlem heights; British repulsed.

September 22
Nathan Hale hanged as a spy in NYC at Third Avenue and 66^th Street.

October 11
Battle of Valcour Bay; 87-gun British fleet under Sir Guy Carleton attack 83-gun American. In a 7-hour battle, cripple most of American flotilla. Arnold’s remaining ships slip by British.

October 13
Engagement at Split Rock results in the complete destruction of the American flotilla as a fighting force.

October 28
Battle of White Plains: Howe’s forces lose 300 men and Washington loses 200, but Howe captures a key hill position.

November 16
Forts Washington and George captured by British.

1777

April 20
First state Constitution voted upon by convention and proclaimed at Kingston.

June 1
General Burgoyne invades northern New York from near Montréal, driving toward Albany.

July 7
Burgoyne seizes Skenesborough.

July 8
Battle of Fort Ann. Americans under Livingston driven out.

July 27
Jane McCrea murdered by Indians in British service at Fort Edward.

July 30
George Clinton takes oath of office as Governor.

August 2
British under Barry St. Leger attack Fort Stanwix.

August 6
Battle of Oriskany; General Herkimer commanding 800 militiamen marching to the relief of Fort Stanwix is ambushed by a group of Indians and Loyalists led by Joseph Brandt. Herkimer is badly wounded and later dies from his injuries. His action checks the Loyalist forces who later abandon the siege of Stanwix.

August 16
Battle of Bennington:
Americans under General John Stark defeat British and Hessian troops at Walloomsac, near Vermont border.

September 19
First Battle of Saratoga; In an attempt to get to Albany, British troops under Burgoyne move against entrenched position of Gates at Bemis Heights. British attempt to gain high ground on American left is checked short of goal at Freeman’s Farm by General Daniel Morgan. Battle ends in deadlock.

October 7
Second Battle of Saratoga; British defeated.

October 17
Burgoyne surrenders to Gates near Saratoga.

1778

February 6
New York approves Articles of Confederation

June 1
Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant leads successful raid on Cobleskill.

November 11
A successful raid on Cherry Valley is led by Captain Walter Butler and Joseph Brant, a Mohawk Chief and brother-in-law of Sir William Johnson, the late Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

December 10
John Jay elected president of the Continental Congress.

1779

June 1
British troops under General Sir Henry Clinton capture two unfinished American forts at Stony Point and Verplanck Point.

July 15
American forces under General Anthony Wayne capture Stony Point on the Hudson below West Point.

July 31
General John Sullivan begins his invasion of Indian country starting from the Mohawk Valley.

August 29
American forces under Sullivan and James Clinton defeat Loyalists and Indians under John Johnson and Chief Brandt at Newtown.

September 15
General Sullivan begins his return from Indian country after reaching Geneseo.

1780

February 19
New York cedes her right to western land to the United States. Transfer completed March 1^st.

May 22
Johnstown burned by Loyalists.

August 2
Mohawk Valley raided by Loyalists and Indians in retaliation for Sullivan-Clinton expedition.

September 23
British Major Andre in disguise, captured at Tarrytown with information which exposes betrayal of General Benedict Arnold.

September 26
Arnold defects to British from West Point.

October 2
Major Andre hanged as spy at Tappan after trial by court martial.

1781

July 10
Battle of Sharon Springs. American forces under Marinus Willett attack and defeat a band of Indians and Loyalists.

October 24
Battle of Johnstown. Marinus Willett commands victorious American forces in the last battle of the Revolution.

1782

April 1-30
Washington’s headquarters located at Newburgh, while some of his troops are quartered at nearby Temple Hill.

May 9
Sir Guy Carleton arrives in New York City to make terms of peace.

1783

September 7
Continental Army disbanded.

November 25
Washington and American troops enter New York City after the British evacuate.

December 4
Washington bids officers farewell at Fraunces Tavern in New York City.

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