THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1776: Weather turns the tide in the Revolutionary War

Episode Details

On March 4 and into March 5, 1776 American forces moved the guns onto Dorchester Heights that overlooked Boston from the south. It gave the Colonials a commanding position that the British could not counter. But British General William Howe wanted to give it a go anyway, he gathered some of his force of 11,000 troops onto ships to cross Boston harbor and attack the gun placements before they could be firmly established. Just as the troops had been loaded into the ships a huge storm hit and caused them to turn back. It gave the Americans time to firm up the guns and their advantage was established. The weather turned the tide. The British soon abandoned Boston, never to return during the rest of the Revolution. They evacuated on March 17, 1776, a day still celebrated in Boston.

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THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1776: Weather turns the tide in the Revolutionary War

This Date in Weather History

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