Revolutionary War Stats

Casualties During the American Revolution

By Donald N. Moran

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted from the March 2006 Edition of the Liberty Tree Newsletter

Casualties (killed in action, wounded, missing in action and captured) during the American Revolution are surprisingly low considering the ferocity of some of the battles. Below is a tabulation from the best primary sources. Typically as in all wars, each side understated their losses and exaggerated those of their enemy. Therefore the figures given are basically a compromise. Further, losses from disease are not reported, but a reliable sources indicate that for every casualty, ten were lost to disease.

Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured
Apr. 19, 1775
 Lexington/ Concord American: Capt. John Parker,et al
3,763
49
41
0
British: Lt. Col. Francis Smith
1,800
73
174

7
June 17, 1775 Bunker (Breed’s) Hill American: Gens. Putnam & Ward
2,000
140
271
30
British: General William Howe
2,400
226
826

0

Sep-Nov 1775

 Siege of St.John’s American: Gen. Richard Montgomery
1,500
?
?
?
British: Major John Preston
720
720
Oct. 15, 1775
 Montreal American: Col. Ethan Allen
110
?
?

40
British: Gen. Guy Carleton
235
?
?

0
Dec. 9, 1775
 Great Bridge American: Gen. William Woolford
1,000
0
1
0
British: Lord Dunsmore
600
62*
?
Dec. 31, 1775

Quebec

 American: Gen. Richard Montgomery
800
60*
460
British: Gen. Guy Carleton
1,800
5
13
0
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured
Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured

Feb. 27, 1776

 Moore’s Creek American: Col. Richard Caswell 1000
1
1
0

British: Col Donald McLeon
1,780
30*
850
May 15, 1776
 The Cedars American: Maj. Issac Butterfield
540
0
0
400
British: Capt. Foster
640
?
8

13
June 8, 1776
 Trois Rivieres American: Gen. William Thompson
2,000
160*
236
British: Gen. Guy Carleton
6,000
8
9
0
June 28, 1776

Fort Sullivan

 American Gen. William Moultrie
435
17
20
0
British: Gen. Henry Clinton
9 ships
64
131
0
Aug.27, 1776
 Long Island American: Gen. George Washington
19,000
300
1,100**
British: Gen. William Howe
32,000
63
314
23
Sept. 15,1776
 Kips Bay American: Col.William Douglas
900
60*
320
British: Gen. William Howe
4,000
12*
0
Sept 16, 1776
 Harlem Heights American: Gen. George Washington
2,000
30
100
0
British: Gen. Alexander Leslie
5,000
14
157
0
Oct. 11, 1776
 Valcour Island American: Col. Benedict Arnold
750
60*
320
British: Gen. Guy Carleton
1,670
40*
0
Oct. 18, 1776
 Pell’s Point American :Col. John Glover
750
8
13
0
British: Gen. William Howe
4,000
25*
0
Oct. 22, 1776
 Mamaroneck American: Col John Haslet
750
3
12
0
British: Maj. Robert Rogers
428
77*
36
Oct. 26, 1776
 White Plains American: Gen. George Washington
14,500
28
126
0
British: Gen. William Howe
14,000
313*
0
Nov. 16, 1776
 Fort Washington American: Col. Robert Magaw
2,967
53
96
2,818
British: Gen. Baron W. Knyphausen
8,000
78
374
0
Dec. 26, 1776
 Trenton American: Gen. George Washington
2,400
0
4
0
British: Col. Johann Rall
1,400
22
92
948
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured
Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured
Jan. 3, 1777
 Princeton American: Gen. George Washington
4,000
30
75
0
British: Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood
1,200
60
150
244
Apr. 27, 1777
 Danbury Raid American: Col. Benedict Arnold
700
20
80
0
British: Gov. William Tryon
2,000
154*
40
June 16, 1777
 Metuchen American: Gen. Lord Sterling
2,200
12
50
50
British: Gen. Charles Cornwallis
4,000
70*
0
July 7, 1777
 Hubbardton American: Col. Henry Van Rensselaer
730
41
95
234
British: Gen. Baron Freidrich Riedesel
1,030
60
148
0
July 8, 1777 Fort Ann American: Col. Peter Gansvoort 550
77
23
6
British: Lt. Col. John Hill 190
13
23

15
Aug. 2, 1777 Fort Stanwix American: Col. Peter Gansvoort 750
12
23
0
British: Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger 1,875
?
?
?
Aug. 5, 1777 Oriskany American: Col. Nicholas Herkimer 5,860
200*
0
British: Col. John Butler 1,000
150*
Aug. 16, 1777 Bennington American: Gen. John Stark 2,330
30
50
0
British:Lt. Col. Breyman 1,442
207
?
700
Aug. 22, 1777 Staten Island American: Gen. John Sullivan 1,000
10
15
40
British: Gen. John Campbell 3,000
?
?
259
Sept. 3, 1777 Cooch’s Bridge American: Gen. William Maxwell 720
40*
0
British: Lt. Col. Ludwig von Wurm ?
4
5
0
Sept. 11, 1777 Brandywine American: Gen. George Washington 11,000
1,300*
400
British: Gen. William Howe 12,500
90
400
0
Sept. 19, 1777 Freeman’s Farm American: Gen. Horatio Gates 7,000
65
218
0
British: Gen. John Burgoyne 6,000
600*
0
Sept. 21, 1777 Paoli American: Gen. Anthony Wayne 1,500
150*
17
British: Gen. Charles Grey ?
4
5
0
Oct. 4, 1777 Germantown American: Gen. George Washington 11,000
152
521
400
British: Gen. William Howe 9,000
70
400
14
Oct. 6, 1777 Fort Montgomery Gen. George Clinton 600
25*
227
Gen. Henry Clinton 3,000
40
150
0
Oct 7, 1777 Saratoga American: Gen. Horatio Gates 11,000
50
150
0
British: Gen. John Burgoyne 6,300
600*
5,300
Oct. 22, 1777 Fort Mercer American: Gen. Nathaniel Greene 400
14
23
0
British: Col. Carl von Donop 1,200
377*
20
Nov. 10, 1777 Port Mifflin American: Lt. Col. Samuel Smith 450
250*
227
British: Gen. William Howe ?
13
24
0
Dec. 5, 1777 White Marsh 11,000
90*
0
British: Gen. William Howe 14,000
60*
0
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured
Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured
Jan. 28, 1778 Monmouth Court House American: Gen. George Washington 13,425
152
300
37
British: Gen. Sir Henry Clinton 13,000
190
390
576
July 3, 1778 Wyoming American: Col. Zebulon Butler 360
300
0
British: Col. John Butler 900
3
8
0
Aug. 29, 1778 Newport American: Gen. John Sullivan 5,000
30
137
0
British: Gen. Sir Robert Pigot 3,000
38
210
0
Nov. 11, 1778 Cherry Valley American: Col. Ichabod Alden 250
70*
71
British: Walter Butler/Joseph Brnat 700
?
?
0
Dec. 29, 1778 Savannah American: Gen. Robert Howe 850
83*
453
British: Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell 3,500
3
10
0
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured
Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured
Feb 3, 1779 Beaufort American: Gen. William Moultrie
320
8

23
0
British: Major Gardiner
200
?
?
0
Feb 14, 1779 Kettle Creek American: Col. Andrew Pickins
300
9
23
0
British: Col. Boyd
400
40*

70
Mar. 3, 1779 Briar Creek American: Gen. John Ashe
1,700
200*
173
British: Lt. Col. Mark Provost
900
5
11
0
June 20, 1779 Stono Ferry American: Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
1,200
146*
British: Lt. Col. John Maitland
900
26
103
0
July 16, 1779 Stoney Point American: Gen. Anthony Wayne
1,350
15
83
0
British: Lt. Col. Henry Johnson
625
20
74
574
Jul/Aug 1779 Penobscot American: Gen. Lovell/Gen.Wadsworth
1,000

474* **
British: Col. Francis McLean
600
13*
0
Aug. 19, 1779 Paulus Hook American: Col. Henry Lee
300
2
3
British: Maj. William Sutherland
250
50*
158
Aug. 29, 1779 Newtown American: Gen. John Sutherland
3,462
3
39
0
British: Walter Butler/Joseph Brant
1,200
12*
0
Sept. 16, 1779 Siege of Savannah American: Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
5,050
244
584
0
British: Gen. Augustine Prevost

3,200
40
63
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured
Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured
Feb. 3, 1780 Youngs House American: Lt. Col. Joseph Thompson
1,025
12
60
0
British: Lt. Col. Chapple Newton
550
5
18
0
Mar. 29, 1780 Siege of Charleston American: Gen. Benjamin Lincolm 5,000 92 148 4,650
British: Gen. Sir Henry Clinton 14,000 76 189 0
Apr. 14, 1780 Monck’s Corner American: Gen. Isaac Huger 500 20* 67
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 650 0 3 0
May 6, 1780 Lenud’s Ferry American: Col. William Washington 350 41* 67
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 150 7 7 ?
May 29, 1780 Waxhaws American: Col Abraham Buford 400 113 200**
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 270 5 15 ?
June 7-23, 1780 Springfield American: Gen. Nathaniel Greene 1,800 15 61 0
British: Gen. W. Knyphausen 5,000 150* 0
June 20, 1780 Ramseur’s Mill American: Col. Frances Locke 400 150* 0
British: Lt. Col John Moore 1300 150* 0
Aug. 1, 1780 Rocky Mount American: Col. Thomas Sumter 600 14* 0
British: Lt. Col George Turnbull 500 20* 0
Aug. 16, 1780 Camden American: Gen. Horatio Gates 3,052 1,050**
British: Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis 2,239 68 245 0
Aug 18,. 1780 Fishing Creek American: Col. Thomas Sumter 700 150* 330
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 160 16* 0
Oct. 7, 1780 Kings Mountain American: Col. Wm. Campbell, et al 900 28 62 0
British: Maj. Patrick Ferguson 1,000 157 163 698
Oct. 19, 1780 Klock’s Field American: Gen. Robert Van Rensselaer 1,500 ? ? ?
British: Sir John Johnson 1,000 ? ? ?
Nov. 20, 1780 Blackstock’s Plantation American: Col. Thomas Sumter 1,000 3 5 0
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 270 50* 0
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured
Date
 Engagement
Commander
Troops
Killed
 Wounded Captured
Jan. 17, 1781 Cowpens American: Gen. Daniel Morgan 1,025 12 60 0
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 1,100 100 229 829
Feb. 25, 1781 Haw River American: Cols. Pickens and Lee 600 0 0 0
British: Col. John Pyle 400 90 250 0
Mar. 6, 1781 Wetzell’s Mill American: Col. Otho Williams 700 20* 0
British: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarlton 1,200 21* 0
Mar. 15, 1781 Guilford Court House American: Gen. Nathaniel Greene 4,400 78 183 0
British: Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis 1,900 143 389 ?
Apr. 25, 1781 Blandford American: Gen. Baron A. von Steuben 1,000 60* 0
British: Gen. William Phillips 2,500 70* ?
Apr. 25, 1781 Hobkirk’s Hill American: Gen. Nathaniel Greene 1,551 19 115 0
British: Lt. Col. Lord Francis Rawdon 900 38 190 50
May 8, 1781 Fort Motte American: Gen. Francis Marion 450 2 0 0
British: Lt. Donald McPherson 175 175
May 22, 1781 Siege of Augusta American: Gen. Andrew Pickens 1,600 16 35

0
British: Lt. Col. Thomas Browne 630 52* 334
May 22, 1781 Siege of Ninety-Six American: Gen. Nathaniel Greene 1,500 57 70 0
British: Lt. Col. Cruger 550 27 58
June 26, 1781 Spencer’s Ordinary American: Col. Richard Butler 570 9 14 32
British: Lt. Col. John Simcoe 400 10 23 0
July 6, 1781 Greenspring Farm American: Gens. LaFayette and A. Wayne 900 28 99 12
British: Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis 7,000 75* 0

Sept.6, 1781

 Groton Heights (Fort Griswold) American:Cmdr. William Ledyard 150 83 39 **  

 
British: Gen. Benedict Arnold 800 52 144 0
Sept.6, 1781 Burning of New London American:Cmdr. William Ledyard 150

6

 20
British: Gen. Benedict Arnold 800 6 20 0
Sept. 8, 1781 Eutaw Springs American: Gen. Nathaniel Greene 2,200 139 365 0
British: Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart 2,000 85 351 400
Sept. 12, 1781 Cane Creek American: Col. John Butler 400 25 90 10
British: Cols. D. Fanning & H. McNeil 950 27 90 0
Sept. 28, 1781 Siege of Yorktown American: Gen. George Washington & Gen. Comte Rochambeau

11,133

7,800

23

60

65

193

0

0
British: Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis 8,885 156 326 8,087
* killed and/or wounded
 ** wounded and/or captured

 

(source)