At its peak, the British Army had upwards of 22,000 men at its disposal in North America to combat the rebellion. An additional 25,000 Loyalists, faithful to Great Britain, participated in the conflict as well. Nearly 30,000 German auxiliaries, or Hessians, were hired out by German princes and served alongside the British for the duration of the war.

Largest Battles:
40,000 soldiers fought in the Battle of Long Island.
30,000 men fought at Brandywine, Pa.
27,000 participated at Yorktown, Va.

Brief Timeline:
See Timeline of the American Revolutionary War for more.

1770 - Boston Massacre
1773 - Boston Tea Party
1775 - Minutemen and redcoats clash at Lexington and Concord
 George Washington named Commander in Chief
 Battle of Bunker Hill: The British drive the Americans from Breed's Hill
1776
 July 3 - Washington takes command of the army besieging Boston
 July 4 - Continental Congress approves the Declaration of Independence
 Aug 27 - British win the Battle of Long Island
 Sept. 15: The British occupy New York City
 Nov 20 - Dec 7 - Washingdton's army retreats across NJ to PA
 Dec 26 - Washington wins the first Battle of Trenton
1777
 Jan 2-3 - Washington wins again at Princeton
 Jan 6 - May 28 Main Continental Army encamped at Morristown, NJ
 The continental Army consists of about 100,000 men
 About twice that many served as militiamen (part time soldiers)
 May 28 - July 2 Army stationed at Middlebrook Heights, Martinsville, NJ
 June 27 - Burgoyne leads a British Arm south form Canada into NY
 June 25-27 - Howe fails to destroy the Continental Army in NJ at the Battle of Short Hills 
   (What is now the Plainfield Country Club)
 Aug 25 Main British Army sails from Statten Island to reach Philadelphia via the Chesapeake.
 Sept. 11: The British win the Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania
 Sep 26 British under Howe occupy Philadelphia
 Oct. 17: Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates at Saratoga, NY
 Dec 19 1777 - June 18, 1778 Continental Army encamped at Valley Forge
 1778
 Dec 11,1778 -  June 1779 2nd Middlebrook Encampment
 Dec. 29: The redcoats occupy Savannah
1779
June 20: Stono River, SC, Maj. Gen. Lincoln inflicts extensive British casualties in indecisive battle
December 1779 to June 1780.The entire Continental Army camped at Jockey Hollow, Morristown, NJ
   (the harshest winter of the 18th century) 
1780
Battles mainly in NC, SC
1781
Oct. 19: Cornwallis surrounded on land and sea by Americans and French and surrenders at Yorktown, VA
1782
July 11: British evacuate Savannah, GA
Nov. 30: British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
Dec. 14: British leave Charleston, SC
1783
April 19: Congress ratifies preliminary peace treaty
Sept. 3: The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris
Nov. 25: British troops leave New York City
Dec. 23: Washington resigns as Commander
1788
June 21: U.S. Constitution adopted, when New Hampshire ratifies it