In May 1777, during the Revolutionary ... George Washington initially struggled to muster up an army powerful enough to fight back against the British. In 1776, he had been forced to retreat ...

but his proclamation inspired thousands of runaways to follow behind the British throughout the war. • Lord Dunmore's Proclamation By the winter of 1777-78, the Continental Army had dwindled to ...

During the escalating conflicts with the British army, some African Americans ... Noting how each previous petition had been ignored, the 1777 petition signed by Prince Hall was the most impatient ...