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Revolutionary War

Carleton's Raid

1778
Vermont
Era
Revolutionary War
Year
1778
Location
Vermont
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
American
VS
Victor
British
Forces
British
Outcome
British forces under Major Christopher Carleton raided American settlements along Lake Champlain, burning towns in Vermont and New York from October to November 1778.
The Battle

History & Significance

Carleton's Raid was a raid led by British Major Christopher Carleton during the American War of Independence. It was launched in the fall 1778 from the Province of Quebec against targets in upstate Province of New York.

Duration
Single day engagement (November 14, 1778)
Historical context

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) grew from colonial resistance to British taxation without parliamentary representation — a dispute that radicalized through the Stamp Act (1765), the Townshend Acts (1767), and the Boston Massacre (1770). Fighting began at Lexington and Concord in April 1775; the Continental Congress declared independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental Army under George Washington faced severe shortages of supplies and troops, enduring the brutal winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778) before French alliance and French financing turned the military balance. Major engagements included Bunker Hill (1775), Trenton (1776), Saratoga (1777) — which secured French intervention — and Yorktown (1781), where British General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. An estimated 25,000 American soldiers died in service, from combat, disease, and captivity. The Treaty of Paris (1783) recognized American independence and ceded British territory east of the Mississippi, though it left unresolved questions about Indigenous land rights and the status of Loyalists.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Carleton's Raid take place?
Carleton's Raid took place in 1778. Single day engagement (November 14, 1778).
Where was Carleton's Raid fought?
Carleton's Raid was fought in Vermont, United States.
What was the outcome of Carleton's Raid?
British forces under Major Christopher Carleton raided American settlements along Lake Champlain, burning towns in Vermont and New York from October to November 1778.
What was the significance of Carleton's Raid?
Carleton's Raid was a raid led by British Major Christopher Carleton during the American War of Independence. It was launched in the fall 1778 from the Province of Quebec against targets in upstate Province of New York.
Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Carleton's Raid

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Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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