1700-1913 (Rangers lead the Way)

Background- in this ATL, there is a major departure from OTL. Rangers lead the way.

Timeline-

1700- Santino Corinthos, a young fisherman from the southern Italian port of Taranto, emigrates with his family to the English colonies in the New World, eventually settling in colony of New York, approximately 85 miles north of New York City.

1754- Santino Corinthos III, grandson of Santino Corinthos, volunteers as an officer in the English Army, during the French & Indian War. He later befriends a fellow officer, named George Washington.

1756- Santino's 3rd son is born. he is named George Washington Corinthos

1763- Following the end of the war, both Santino and George returned to Civilian life. the 2 would remain life long friends. Washington returns to Virginia, where he runs a plantation, while Santino, now known as Sonny, returns to New York, where he becomes a lawyer.

1770- Following the Boston Massacre, Sonny joins the Sons of Liberty.

1774- Sonny is chosen as a delegate to 1st Continental Congress.

1775- Sonny is once again sent as a delegate to the 2nd Continental Congress. Following the Congress, Sonny joins the Continental Army, along with George Washington. Washington is appointed Commander-in-Chief. Sonny commissioned as a Brigadier General, and is placed in Command of the Colonial Militia at Lexington, Massachusetts. Sonny's sons, all volunteer and are assigned as Officers under various commands. his youngest son, George Washington Corinthos, is assigned as an aide to General Washington.

19 April 1775- The Battles of Lexington and Concord. After taking fire from British Regulars, General Corinthos orders his men to return fire, beginning the American Revolutionary War. He orders his men to fallback and make a stand at the Old North Bridge. Corinthos' men are able to hold back and repulse a British force nearly twice their size.

17 June 1775- The Battle of Bunker Hill. Colonial Forces under the command of General Corinthos are once again victorious. Sonny's final order "Hold your fire, until you see the whites of their eyes", thrusts him into the spotlight on the national stage.

18 January 1776- The Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia. A delegate from Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, attempts to persuade the Congress that peace should be should with the British. Several Members of the Congress, notably Generals Corinthos and Washington, Samuel & John Adams, John Hancock and Roger Sherman, accuse Jefferson of being a traitor and a coward. In a foolish attempt to maintain his honor, Jefferson challenges General Corinthos to a duel. Jefferson's cockiness proves fatal, as he is killed by General Corinthos the following day.

24 January 1776- John Hancock, President of the Congress, assigns New Hampshire Delegate, George Norejko, a second generation German immigrant, to write the Declaration of Independence. On July 1st, 1776, Norejko completes the declaration. While History will reflect him as both the author and a signatory; Norejko would later credit James Corinthos (Sonny's middle child), with the text of the preamble.

4 July 1776: The Declaration of Independence is signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Among the signers are George Norejko, Roger Sherman, Samuel and John Adams, George Washington, Santino Corinthos, John Hancock and Josiah Bartlett.

27 August 1776- The Battle of Long Island. Generals Washington and Corinthos, despite being heavily outnumbered, manage to inflict heavy casualties on the British Regulars, before being forced to retreat. During the battle, Captain Santino "Sonny" Corinthos IV, (eldest son of General Corinthos) is killed in battle. Despite being shot over a dozen times, Captain Corinthos refused to let the American Flag fall to the ground. Captain Corinthos' sacrifice, will become the basis for the principle, "never let the flag fall"

24 December 1776- On Christmas Eve, Colonial Forces under the command of General Corinthos cross the Delaware River during the dead of night, launching a surprise attack on Hessian Mercenary troops in Trenton, New Jersey. Following the attack on Trenton, Generals Corinthos and Washington parted ways. Corinthos was sent north, to New York, whilst Washington remained in Pennsylvania.

7 October 1777- The Battle of Saratoga- At the beginning of the battle, US Forces under General Corinthos are severely outnumbered, as British General Burgoyne is joined by Generals Clinton and Howe (who's forces were not present in OTL). With his forces low on ammunition, General Corinthos orders his men to fix bayonets, dig in, and fight till the very last man. The tactic works, as after hours of brutal hand-to-hand combat, American Forces are victorious, inflicting over 96% casualties to British Forces.

The story of "Sonny's Stand", spreads around the world like wild fire. In France, King Louis XVI decrees that The United States will receive full recognition from France. In Russia, Empress Catherine The Great considers sending Military forces to assist the Americans.

January 2nd, 1778- The Continental Congress elects to send George Norejko to St. Petersburg, the Russian Capital, in hopes of persuading Catherine the Great to send military assistance. He is to be accompanied by James Corinthos, who will act as a Military attaché. After meeting with the Czarina, she agrees to send military assistance to America.

August 1778- Of the coast of what will later be Washington D.C, Russian Naval Forces engage the British Fleet. both fleets suffer casualties, but the Russians ultimately prevail.

19 October 1781- With the assistance of Russian and French Troops, Generals Washington and Corinthos force the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia

2 February 1782- The Treaty of Paris signifies the end of the war.