The story of the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1776. It was only later that we actually began to win a few. The enemy's surrender at Yorktown probably surprised just about everyone involved.
KEEP THE FAITH, FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR YOUR GOD-GIVEN FREEDOM, AND KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.
The fighting was was not over until 1781 (and after that the papers were not signed until 1783).