Battle of Fort Washington

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Battle of Fort Washington Part of the American Revolutionary War Date November 16, 1776 Location Manhattan, New York Result Decisive British victory[citation needed] Belligerents Continental Army British Army, Hessian Mercenaries Commanders George Washington, Robert Magaw William Howe, Wilhelm von Knyphausen Strength 2,900 8,000 Casualties and losses 53 killed, 96 wounded, 2,818 captured 78 killed, 374 wounded

v • d • e New York and New Jersey 1776–1777 Long Island – Kip's Bay – Harlem Heights – Pell's Point – White Plains – Fort Washington – Trenton – Assunpink Creek – Princeton – Forage War – Bound Brook

Daughters of the American Revolution monument to the Battle of Fort Washington, located under the approach deck of the George Washington Bridge. Erected in 1910.

The Battle of Fort Washington was a battle fought in the American Revolutionary War between the United States and Britain.

[edit] Background

Fort Washington was a fort located at the northernmost tip and highest elevation of what is now the borough of Manhattan in New York City, overlooking the Hudson River, which was held by American forces. Along with Fort Lee located just across the river in New Jersey atop the Palisades, the twin forts were intended to protect the lower Hudson from British warships during the campaign around New York in the summer and autumn of 1776. The fort was defended by around 2,900 Continental Army troops and militia under the command of Colonel Robert Magaw. During the fighting on and around Manhattan, the American Army commanded by General George Washington—for whom the fort was named—was forced to withdraw northward, leaving both Forts Washington and Lee isolated. After the Battle of White Plains, the British, under General William Howe turned back south and decided to take the forts.

[edit] Battle

On the morning of November 16, 1776, around 8,000 British and German troops, under the command of the British General Lord Howe, attacked Fort Washington. Although the American garrison put up a fierce struggle, they were forced to surrender when the British and Hessian forces managed to breach their walls with cannon fire. The fall of Fort Washington was a great loss of men and supplies for the American forces. The garrison lost around 53 men killed in action, 96 more wounded, and the rest (totaling 2,818 men) became prisoners of war. Knyphausen reported his casualties at 78 dead and 374 wounded during the storming of the fort.

[edit] Consequences

Four days later, the isolated Fort Lee was evacuated, leaving behind most of the fort's women, gunpowder and other arms to fall into British hands. With the collapse of both forts, the Hudson River was open from then on to British shipping, leaving the merchant ships and warships to move freely without serious harassment from the Americans until the construction of West Point in 1778. Washington's scattered and badly outnumbered army was forced to retreat all the way across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania, setting the stage for the Battle of Trenton.

[edit] References

• Fisher, David Hackett. Washington's Crossing. Oxford University Press USA, 2004, 576 pages. ISBN 0195170342
• Ketchum, Richard. The Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton. Owl Books, 1999, 448 pages. ISBN 0805060987
• Washington Heights history site
• BritishBattles.com with map
• Footnote.com transcripts of General Washington letters to Congress

v • d • e New York in the American Revolutionary War Pre-war Sons of Liberty 1770 Battle of Golden Hill 1775 Capture of Fort Ticonderoga – Invasion of Canada 1776 New York and New Jersey campaign – Battle of Long Island – New York Prison Ships Begin – Landing at Kip's Bay – Battle of Harlem Heights – Great Fire of New York – Execution of Nathan Hale – Battle of Valcour Island – Battle of Pell's Point – Battle of White Plains – Battle of Fort Washington 1777 Meigs Raid – Saratoga campaign – Battle of Ticonderoga – Battle of Hubbardton – Battle of Fort Ann – Battle of Oriskany – Battle of Saratoga – Battle of Freeman's Farm – Battle of Bemis Heights 1778 Setauket Spy Ring Launched – Battle of Cobleskill – West Point established – Cherry Valley massacre 1779 Battle of Stony Point – Sullivan Expedition – Battle of Newtown 1780 First Purple Heart – André Capture Reveals Traitor Benedict Arnold 1781 HMS Culloden Runs Aground at Montauk – Washington Calls Off Invasion of New York to Support Yorktown 1782 Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh – Newburgh letter – British Evacuate New York – Washington's Farewell to His Officers