Events in 1777

June 13, 1777

Lafayette Joins American Revolution

Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French aristocrat, defied King Louis XVI's orders and sailed to America to join the Revolutionary War, arriving in South Carolina on June 13, 1777. His arrival marked a crucial turning point in securing French support for American independence.

September 19, 1777

Battle of Saratoga

A pivotal battle of the American Revolutionary War fought in autumn 1777, consisting of two major engagements that resulted in British surrender and secured French alliance with the American colonies.

December 19, 1777

Valley Forge Winter Encampment

From December 1777 to June 1778, General George Washington's Continental Army endured a brutal winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Despite severe conditions and limited supplies, this six-month period transformed a scattered militia into a disciplined military force through Baron von Steuben's training program.