I can think of an occassion when a bunch of volunteers poured out of their homes, assembled, and defeated what they thought was a hostile action undertaken by the most powerful army in the world, on April 19, 1775.
Although remember they did have the support of the French army ;-)
Not in 1775. In April 1775, the British got their butts kicked by the citizens of Massachusetts.
French assistance only came after 1776, when the French upon Jefferson's urging provided the U.S. forces with some supplies, like guns and ammo. The French did not send any forces until after Burgoyne's losses near Saratoga, which ended with his surrender in October of 1777. At first, the French forces were really only maritime or naval. I don't think French land forces became involved until 1780, when Rochambeau cames iwth 6,000 troops. The French forces were very helpful at Yorktown keeping Cornwalis trapped, esp. with the French fleet, and also because one of the true experts in siege warfare was at Yorktown, Rochambeau. I think any help or backup in any fight is welcome.
However, IMO, the Brits had lost the war long before Yorktown. When Clinton abandoned Philadelphia in about mid-1778 and retreated to New York, it was simply a matter of time.
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