Revolutionary War: The Campaigns of George Washington

George Washington considered West Point to be one of the most crucial strategic location in America, and in 1778 he selected Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish engineer, to design fortifications three. In 1780, Washington appointed one of his most trusted generals to command the location: Benedict Arnold.

You will tour West Point with a step on guide to learn about this historic location and Arnold’s betrayal. You will stop at the West Point Museum, and visit Washington’s Newburgh HQ, where he had to deal with a near mutiny by Continental Army offices in 1783. Finally, you will visit the first battlefield of the week, Stony Point, before traveling to New York City.

Dinner will be on your own in New York City.

Often forgotten, Manhattan was where Washington fought the biggest battle of the Revolution. There were 35,000 British soldiers and sailors (including Hessians) against a rag-tag Colonial army of 20,000.

Today, you will focus on the Battle of Brooklyn. You’ll stop at several sites in Brooklyn, including the site of the British landings, Old Stone House and Fort Greene Park.

This evening you will enjoy cocktails and dinner in Manhattan at Fraunces Tavern, a historic landmark. Here, George Washington gathered his officers to bid them farewell at the end of the Revolutionary War.

You will begin the day with a walking tour in the oldest part of New York City, including a visit to Trinity Church, where Alexander Hamilton and other patriots are buried. Then, you will follow the path of the fighting of the Battle of Manhattan up into Harlem Heights, and visit the former site of Fort Washington on the Hudson River.

You’ll end the day with a stop at the Conference House on Staten Island, where British general Lord Howe met with John Adams, Ben Franklin and Edward Rutledge in the midst of the New York fighting to see if there was a way to negotiate peace

Overnight in historic Princeton, New Jersey.

Today begins with a study of one of the most famous events of the Revolution, Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware River. You’ll visit the site where he crossed and see replicas of the boats that he and his men used.

From there you will follow the route of Washington’s march to Trenton, New Jersey, to see where Washington won a stunning victory that breathed new life into the Revolution. You’ll visit to the Old Barracks Museum, situated in a building that was there in 776. Then, you will follow Washington’s route to Princeton and see the battlefield where he defeated the British a week after Trenton.

This morning you will tour of the Monmouth Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the Philadelphia Campaign, in June of 1778 – and Washington’s finest moment as a battlefield general. “Never had I beheld so superb a man,” said the Marquis de Lafayette. Here, also, was born the legend of Molly Pitcher. The group will then depart for Philadelphia to visit the Museum of the American Revolution.

Today, you will visit two battlefields from September, 1777, that opened Philadelphia to General Howe. First stop: the Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, where Howe and Cornwallis surprised Washington with flank attack, but failed to destroy his army. Next is the Battle of Paoli, fought nine days later on September 20, 1777, site of the infamous Paoli Massacre. Did the British really bayonet dozens of surrendering patriots under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne?

Finally, you will travel to Valley Forge, the haunting encampment where Washington struggled to keep his army together in the winter of 1777-78. Here, you will see the sacrifice and perseverance of those who fought to keep the cause alive.

Today begins with a visit to Fort Mercer New Jersey, where 400 patriots managed to defeat 2,000 Redcoats and Hessians in one-sided Battle of Red Bank, which took place in October 1777. The bodies of 13 Hessian soldiers were excavated there just two years ago.

Then it is off to Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress declared Independence in July of 1776, and where British general Howe held court in 1777. You’ll pay a visit to historic Independence Hall, and see the room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both debated. After lunch, you will visit the Liberty Bell and a surprise location, after which everyone will have some time on their own before reconvening for a farewell dinner.

There will be one morning transfer to Philadelphia Airport.