. Some of the Maryland troops were positioned on a small hill near today's 23rd Street, which the local Dutch called "Blokje Berg" (Dutch for cube or block hill). [10] German troops, primarily from Hesse-Kassel, as well as British troops from Henry Clinton's ultimately unsuccessful expedition to the Carolinas, were to meet with Howe's fleet when it reached New York. Howe landed on Staten Island unopposed on July 2, 1776, with more than 9,000 well-armed, highly trained, professional soldiers and 130 ships. Cornwallis pushed on with the advance guard, advancing six miles onto the island and establishing a camp at the village of Flatbush. [34] As a result New Jersey became a civil battlefield, with militia activity as well as spying and counterspying continuing for the rest of the war. Also that day, the British troops on Long Island received 5,000 Hessian reinforcements, bringing their total to 20,000. [20], Washington had been authorized by Congress to recruit an army of up to 28,501 troops, but he had only 19,000 when he reached New York. It is known that they were buried in a mass-grave, but the grave's exact location has been a mystery for 240 years. Lord Percy resigned his command after a series of disagreements with Howe came to a head over the ability of the Newport station to provide forage to the New York and New Jersey forces. Orientation is with north to the right. [7] Howe spent much of the next month laying the groundwork for a stratagem to surround Washington's forces. First landing unopposed on Staten Island on July 3, 1776, Howe assembled an army composed of elements that had been withdrawn from Boston in March following their failure to hold that city, combined with additional British troops, as well as Hessian troops rented from several German principalities. In the first recorded use of a submarine in warfare, he also attempted a novel attack on the Royal Navy, launching the Turtle in a failed attempt to sink the HMSEagle, Admiral Howe's flagship. The Hessians, in the center under the command of General von Heister, began to bombard the American lines stationed at Battle Pass under the command of General John Sullivan. Howe hoped to surround and trap the main portion of the Continental army and its commander-in-chief, George Washington, on the island. At the base of this hill, the Gowanus Road crossed a small bridge over a ditch which drained a marshy area. I knew well that any considerable loss sustained by the army could not speedily, nor easily, be repaired. British Occupation of New York City On August 22, 1776, New Yorkers heard the cannon blasts of the Battle of Long Island. The large British army under the command of General William Howe drove the Continental Army from this region and down through New Jersey. [32] Reed told Brown that there was no one in the army with that address. At Skenesborough, the Americans seized Philip Skene's schooner Katherine, the first vessel to be captured in the war and the first designated warship of the rebellious colonies. [30] Because the Americans did not have a prisoner of comparable rank, Lee remained a prisoner in New York until 1778, when was exchanged for Richard Prescott.[31]. By doing this, the British would not have to cross over open ground to assault the American defenses as they did in Boston the year before. The Hessian casualties were 5 killed and 26 wounded. Once in Albany, they would join forces with two other British commands, one coming north from New York City and the other coming east along the Mohawk River valley. After a failed Canadian invasion known as the Battle of Quebec (December 1775 - May 1776) left much of the Continental Army beaten, sick and in retreat, the British hoped to quash rebellion once. This led to numerous skirmishes and minor confrontations including the Battle of Millstone. The Battle of Pells Point stands as one in a series of engagements in the New York campaign between August and October of 1776. Peak strength, early September 1776 (Fischer, p. 381), Peak reported strength, late August 1776 (Fischer, p. 383), National Historic Landmark designation for Princeton Battlefield, National Historic Landmark designation for Washington's Crossing, Morristown National Historical Park Things to do. [24] On June 29, signals were sent from men stationed on Staten Island, indicating that the British fleet had appeared. [84] Later that day, on August 30, British troops occupied Washington and the Continental Army's fortifications. Burgoyne lost two men for every one on the American side. Howes men disembarked, landing again at a spot three miles north of Throgs Neck called Pells Point (now Pelham Bay Park). For other uses, see, Gunpowder smoke from cannons and muskets mark where Stirling and the Maryland troops attack the British, while the rest of the American troops in the foreground escape across Brouwer's mill pond. [10] Barricades and redoubts were established in and around the city, and the bastion of Fort Stirling was built across the East River in Brooklyn Heights, facing the city. A self-guided room tour guide can be found inside the park brochure or provided by a ranger upon entry to the park. [4], General George Washington, recently named by the Second Continental Congress as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, echoed the sentiments of others that New York was "a post of infinite importance",[5] and began the task of organizing military companies in the New York area when he stopped there on his way to take command of the siege of Boston. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. [27] On Tuesday, July 9, at 18:00, Washington had several brigades march onto the commons of the city to hear the Declaration of Independence read. The New York Campaign (July to November 1776) British commander-in-chief Thomas Gage had long considered New York City, where he had maintained his headquarters for nine years, as the best base from which to conduct operations to defeat the Continental Army. [54], The news of Washington's successes reached Paris at a critical time. Lee did not believe that his defenses would actually hold New York, but he did think that "it might cost the enemy many thousands of men to get possession of it." Two hundred fifty six Maryland troops were killed in the assaults in front of the Old Stone House, and fewer than a dozen made it back to the American lines. [13] Lee had also seen to it that the immediate area was cleared of Loyalists. [44] There was little fighting on the days immediately after the landing, although some small skirmishes did take place with American marksmen armed with rifles picking off British troops from time to time. Washington also gave his permission, and on September 2 Sullivan told the Congress that the Howes wanted to negotiate, and had been given much broader powers to treat than those they actually held. [46], General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, by John Singleton Copley, The defeats convinced General Howe to withdraw most of his army from New Jersey, only leaving outposts at New Brunswick and Perth Amboy. After asking for a glass of liquor from the bar, which was given him, he entered into familiar conversation with my father, and among other things said, "I must have some one of you to show me over the Rockaway Path around the pass." [14] On July 14, pursuant to these powers, Admiral Howe sent a messenger with a letter addressed to "George Washington, Esq." Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. [30], The next day, July 13, Howe attempted to open negotiations with the Americans. [57] This first engagement was fought in the vicinity of 38th and 39th streets between 2nd and 3rd avenues near a swamp located adjacent to the Gowanus Road. Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". On August 21, the British landed on the shores of Gravesend Bay in southwest Kings County, across the Narrows from Staten Island and more than a dozen miles south of the established East River crossings to Manhattan. Burlington County, NJ|Dec 21-23, 1776. [13], Admiral Richard Howe, from a mezzotint engraving by R. Dunkarton, after the painting by John Singleton Copley, The Howe brothers had been granted authority as peace commissioners by Parliament, with limited powers to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict. [35] On August 1, 45 ships arrived with generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis, along with 3,000 troops. [19] The forts were intended to discourage the British ships from sailing up the Hudson River. William Howard Jr. describes meeting Howe: It was about two in the morning of August 27 that I was awakened by seeing a soldier at the side of my bed. [24], The outlook of the Continental Armyand thus the revolution itselfwas bleak. Hands men moved quickly, burning the bridge over the peninsulas small creek and positioning themselves behind a woodpile. Follow the footsteps of those before you as you hike along hallowed ground. All Rights Reserved. The army was then lying in the field in front of the house General Howe and another officer were in the barroom. Washington's army suffered tremendous casualties and was on the brink of total defeat after this campaign. [77] In these outer defenses, small skirmishes were still taking place. [29], On July 12, the British ships Phoenix and Rose sailed up the harbor toward the mouth of the Hudson. [41], While worrying over how to hold his army together, Washington organized attacks on the relatively exposed British outposts, which were as a result continually on edge due to ongoing militia and army raids. Fort Washington fell on November 16, along with its garrison of 3,000 soldiers and a substantial quantity of supplies. The British attempted to outflank the American positions by taking this hill. Beginning in mid-December, Washington planned a two-pronged attack on Rall's outpost in Trenton, with a third diversionary attack on Donop's outpost in Bordentown. Have you ever wanted to become a time traveler? Moreover, his troops were mainly militiamen and untrained recruits with a motley collection of weapons and wholly inexperienced officers to lead them. N. Currier, and John Trumbull. Battle Hill was the site of especially brutal fighting, with the Americans inflicting the highest number of casualties against the British troops during the entire Battle of Long Island. Howe was successful in driving Washington out of New York City, but overextended his reach . [51] On August 26, Clinton received word from Howe that the plan would be used, and that Clinton was to command the advance guard of the main army of 10,000 men on the march through the Jamaica Pass. At 21:00, the British moved out. Saratoga National Historical Park preserves the sites associated with the 1777 Battles of Saratoga. Faced with this large force, Washington was unsure as to where the British would attack. [45], The American plan was for Putnam to direct the defenses from Brooklyn Heights, while Sullivan and Stirling and their troops would be stationed forward on the Guan Heights. )[40] Howe then sketched a campaign for the following year in a letter to Lord Germain: 10,000 men at Newport, 10,000 for an expedition to Albany (to meet an army descending from Quebec), 8,000 to cross New Jersey and threaten Philadelphia, and 5,000 to defend New York. Lee remained in New York City until March when the Continental Congress sent him to South Carolina; construction of the city's defenses was left to General William Alexander (Lord Stirling). [37] Both Greene and Reed thought that the British would attack Long Island, but Washington felt that a British attack on Long Island might be a diversion for the main attack on Manhattan. At the same time, Howe landed 4,000 British and Hessian troops at Kips Bay on Manhattan Island and attacked the small force of Connecticut militia positioned there. "[52] Heister in turn had to report the loss to his ruler, Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, with the news that not only had an entire brigade been lost, but sixteen regimental colors and six cannon as well. Howe captured Fort Lee, built on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River opposite Fort Washington, four days later. American pickets from Samuel John Atlee's Pennsylvania regiment fired upon two British soldiers who were foraging in a watermelon patch near the inn. Howe then paused to consolidate his position and consider his next move. [7] Washington then began to transfer regiments to New York City, which he believed the British would attack next because of the port's strategic importance. Because of Benedict Arnold's invasion of Quebec, Howe's plans were further delayed as troops and artillery were required there. Some of the men who tried to cross the marsh were bogged down in the mud and under musket fire, and others who could not swim were captured. The second operation was General Howe's plan to take Philadelphia, which, after a difficult start, met with success in September. British forces defeated the Patriots in consecutive battles in Brooklyn and Manhattan. [67] He realized that he had been wrong about a feint on Long Island and he ordered more troops to Brooklyn from Manhattan. [25] On July 2, British troops began to land on Staten Island. Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC. Following close behind was Parson's Connecticut regiment with 251 men. The news reportedly enraged Frederick, who broadly suggested that Heister return home (which he did, turning over command of the Hessian forces to Wilhelm von Knyphausen). [68], Stirling still held the line against Grant on the American right, to the west. Leaving a garrison of 1,200 at Princeton, Cornwallis then attacked Washington's position on January 2, 1777, and was three times repulsed before darkness set in. [57] Major General Benedict Arnold and Daniel Morgan's riflemen all played a notable role in the defeat of Burgoyne, following which France entered the war. Northern New Jersey was the scene of skirmishing between the opposing forces for the rest of the war. Washington entered winter quarters at Morristown, having retaken most of the state from the British. [Howe] shut his eyes, fought his battles, drank his bottle, had his little whore, advised with his counsellors, received his orders from North and Germain (one more absurd than the other). [64] The Hessian brigades did not attack, as they were waiting for the pre-arranged signal from the British, who were in the process of outflanking the American lines at that time. Most of its troops evacuated but they left behind yet another major cache of supplies, including 1,000 barrels of flour and 50 cannon. "[31] Brown was met by Joseph Reed, who had hurried to the waterfront on Washington's orders, accompanied by Henry Knox and Samuel Webb. [84], The British were stunned to find that Washington and the Continental Army had escaped. Concerned that General Howe was sailing directly to New York, Washington hurried regiments from Boston, including General Israel Putnam, who commanded the troops until Washington himself arrived in mid-April. [16] In that fruitless meeting, held July 20, Washington pointed out that the limited powers the Howe brothers had been given were not of much use, as the rebels had done no wrong requiring an amnesty. [84] All 9,000 troops had been evacuated with no loss of life. He broke his army in half, stationing half of it on Manhattan, and the other half on Long Island; the army on Long Island was commanded by Greene. The failure of the Continental Army to hold New York also brought about a rise in Loyalist activity. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858. When American Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, British troops were under siege in Boston. The capture of the two forts effectively ended Howe's New York campaign as action shifted into New Jersey. Upon the British invasion, Continental commander John Glover positioned his force of 750 soldiers, made up mostly of Massachusetts men, in a staggered position behind the natural stone wall formations littering the landscape. Howe did not pursue the Continentals even though he was in a position to deliver a fatal blow - but instead turned his attention to the two isolated forts that were now behind his lines. By October 1776, British General William Howe was planning to pin down Washingtons men at Harlem Heights, New York. Believing he had nowhere near enough troops to conduct a successful offensive in New York, Howe instead moved his army to Halifax, Nova Scotia. . Departing on 17 March 1776, they planned to regroup and follow the advice of Lord George Germain, soon to become secretary of state for the American colonies, to deliver a "decisive blow" at New York. Stirling was surrounded and, unwilling to surrender to the British, broke through their lines to von Heister's Hessians and surrendered to them. Previous SectionRevolutionary War: The Turning Point, 1776-1777 Next SectionRevolutionary War: The Home Front Revolutionary War: Southern Phase, 1778-1781 The Continental victory at Saratoga in 1777 and the Treaty with the French in 1778 transformed the war, especially for the British. [19] In early June, Knox and General Nathanael Greene inspected the land at the north end of Manhattan and decided to establish Fort Washington.