USA > New York > The history of New York from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 16
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1776.] CAPTURE OF FORT WASHINGTON.
up closely the retreating army. On the 27th of October he attacked MeDougal, who was in command of a strong detachment on the right of the American camp. The militia, making but a feeble resistance, were soon put to flight, with a loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, of nearly four hundred men. After this success of the enemy, Washington expected an immediate assault upon his lines ; but, for reasons which have never been divulged, Howe paused in his advance until he should receive a reinforcement of six additional battalions. His delay was im- proved by Washington in removing to a stronger position two miles in his rear ; and Howe, hesi- tating to risk a battle at this period, moved down the river with his forces to the neighbour- hood of Kingsbridge. Here he made his dispo- sitions for an attack on Fort Washington.
The necessary boats having been procured, the assault was made in four divisions on the morning of the 16th of November. The defence was main- tained for several hours with great vigour and resolution ; but the outworks being at length forced, the men were driven back into the fort. Finding themselves thus closely invested by a vastly superior force, the garrison soon after con- sented to terms of capitulation, by which nearly three thousand men-including the reinforce- ments sent over by Greene from Fort Lee-sur- rendered themselves prisoners of war.
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The unexpectedness of this severe blow led to the hasty abandonment of Fort Lee, with all its artillery, ammunition, and stores. The next movements of the enemy indicating an intention to occupy New Jersey, and from thence push on to Philadelphia, Washington crossed the Passaic with five thousand men, leaving Lee, with dis- cretionary powers, in command of nearly an equal number at White Plains. Another divi- sion, under General Heath, was stationed on both sides of the Hudson to defend the passes of the Highlands. Retiring slowly before his victorious enemy, Washington commenced his
celebrated retreat through the Jerseys. With daily diminishing numbers, he crossed the Rari- tan to Brunswick, which he entered, on the 28th of November, with less than four thousand men. Marching from thence, but without loss, though closely pursued by the British advance under Cornwallis, he proceeded to Trenton, where he crossed the Delaware in the early part of De- cember, and took up a position on the western bank of that river.
While the forces under Washington were being beaten at all points upon the southern border of New York, the northern army under Gates was scarcely in a less precarious condition. Upon the approach of Carleton from Canada, who fol- lowed rapidly the retrogression of the invading army, Crown Point was abandoned as untenable,
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BATTLE ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
1776.]
the attention of Gates being wholly directed to strengthening the fortress at Ticonderoga. The Americans having captured or destroyed in their retreat all the vessels upon Lake Champlain, Carleton was compelled to halt his army at the foot of the lake, until the necessary water craft could be obtained. Toward the close of summer he succeeded in getting together five vessels of a larger size than any composing the fleet of Ar- nold, besides twenty smaller craft, and a num- ber of armed boats. When he had manned this formidable flotilla with seven hundred seamen from the ships in the St. Lawrence, he set out in search of the American fleet. In the engage- ment which followed, on the 6th and 7th of Oc- tober, Arnold lost eleven of his ships, and ninety men ; the remainder, with great difficulty, suc- ceeded in obtaining shelter beneath the guns of Ticonderoga. Having, by this victory, gained command of the lake, Carleton took possession of Crown Point, from whence, on being joined by his army, he threw out his advanced parties as far as Ticonderoga. Gates, however, in the meanwhile, had received large reinforcements of militia ; and Carleton, fearing to risk an assault upon a fortress garrisoned by eight thousand men, withdrew his forces from the lake on the approach of winter, and returned to Canada.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
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[1777.
CHAPTER XXI.
New York Congress-State government established-Cam- paign of 1777-Howe's movements-Battle of Brandywine -Of Germantown-Burgoyne's invasion-His successful advance-Takes possession of Ticonderoga-Retreat of St. Clair-Evacuation of Skenesborough-Of Fort Anne -- Weakness of the northern army under Schuyler-Fort Edward abandoned-Schuyler crosses the Hudson-Ad- vance of Burgoyne-Fort Schuyler besieged by St. Leger- Bloody skirmish with Herkimer-Death of Herkimer-Ar- nold advances to the relief of Fort Schuyler-Success of his stratagem-St. Leger deserted by the Indians-Breaks up the siege -- Battle of Bennington-Defeat of Baum and Brey- man -- Schuyler superseded by Gates-Condition of Burgoyne -Crosses the Hudson-First battle of Behmus's Heights- Second battle of Behmus's Heights-Retreat of Burgoyne to Saratoga-Provisions captured on the Hudson-British council of war-Surrender of Burgoyne.
DURING the whole of the disastrous campaign of 1776, the provincial congress of New York had exerted themselves, with considerable suc- cess, to repress the spirit of the Tory popula- tion ; and by judicious but energetic measures prevented them from taking up arms and openly joining the British standard.
The establishment of a state government hav- ing become necessary, a convention of delegates assembled at Kingston on the 20th of April, 1777, and adopted " the first American constitu- tion that gave the choice of governor to the
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1777.] BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN.
people." On the 3d of July following, Briga- dier-General George Clinton was elected to fill that important office.
The carly part of 1777 was wasted by Howe in dilatory movements, having for their object the capture of Philadelphia. Putting at length his forces in motion, he sailed down the Dela- ware, and entering the Chesapeake, landed at
the head of Elk. From thence he commenced his march upon the capital of Pennsylvania. Routing the American forces posted to intercept him on the banks of the Brandywine, he followed up the retreating troops ; and after surprising Wayne in a night attack near Paoli, entered the city of Philadelphia on the 25th of September. The main body of the enemy being encamped at Germantown, Washington withdrew his forces to Skippack Creek, about fourteen miles distant. Having soon after ascertained that the British army had been weakened by detachments, Wash- ington determined to seize the opportunity of attacking the camp at Germantown. Marching by four different routes, on the night of the 3d of October, he succeeded at first in gaining an advantage over the enemy; but reinforcements arriving, and a thick fog coming on, the Ameri- cans were eventually obliged to retreat, with a loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, of over one thousand men.
But it was not so much upon the military 24.
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operations on the Schuylkill or the Delaware, that the hopes of the British ministry rested for success in the campaign of 1777, as upon an in- vasion from Canada by General Burgoyne. The plan arranged by that active officer was, to march with a strong force by way of Lake Champlain, and, after capturing the frontier fortresses in the hands of the Americans, ad- vance to Albany. From the latter point, he ex- pected to be able to obtain possession of the strong passes in the Highlands of the Hudson, by the co-operation of the British troops in New York; five thousand men, under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, being stationed in and around that city. By this complete possession of New York, the New England states would have been effectually cut off from all the pro- vinces south of the Hudson River.
The march of Burgoyne was at first one series of triumphs. With an army of eight thousand British troops, and a motley array of boatmen and irregulars, he proceeded to Lake Champlain, where, after holding a council with the Six Na- tions, he was joined by four hundred of their warriors. As soon as he had received this ac- cession to his force, he proceeded to Ticonde- roga, before which he appeared on the 1st of July. Seizing a steep hill which overlooked the fort, he planted his artillery upon its summit, and made his preparations for an immediate attack.
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1777.] RETREAT OF ST. CLAIR.
St. Clair, the American commander, having un- der him in garrison only three thousand men, all of whom were indifferently armed and equip- ped, saw at once his inability to successfully contend with the force that had so unexpectedly appeared against him. No hope being left of saving the garrison but by an immediate retreat, he despatched his stores and baggage in batteaux to Skenesborough, and abandoning Ticonderoga, fell back with the troops overland, in the direc- tion of the same post. His flight no sooner be- came known, than he was hotly pursued by a detachment of the enemy, eight hundred strong, commanded by General Fraser. The American rear-guard, consisting of three regiments num- bering about twelve hundred men, was overtaken the next day at Hubbardton. One of the regi- ments taking to flight, the whole brunt of the battle fell upon the two remaining. These, ani- mated by the exhortations of Colonels Francis and Warner, fought for some time with great bravery ; but when Frazer had received a rein- forcement of Germans under Reidesel, they broke and dispersed, leaving two hundred pri- soners in the hands of the enemy. The post at Skenesborough having been evacuated and burn- ed, and Fort Anne soon after sharing the same fate, St. Clair fell back upon Rutland ; but suc- ceeded at length, on the 13th of July, in joining Schuyler at Fort Edward.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1777.
Although at this period in chief command on the northern frontier, Schuyler had not been able to muster more than five thousand four hundred men, even when reinforced by the bro- ken garrisons from Ticonderoga, Skenesborough, and Fort Anne. With this weak force he could do nothing more than endeavour to retard the advance of the enemy, by breaking up the inter- vening bridges and causeways, and by obstruct- ing the navigation of Wood Creek. Upon the approach of Burgoyne, he evacuated Fort Ed- ward, and retreated across the Hudson to Sara- toga.
While the victorious army of Burgoyne was thus advancing with firm and almost unimpeded steps into the interior of the state, a detachment under Colonel St. Leger, consisting of a mixed body of regulars, militia, and rangers, joined by a number of Indian warriors commanded by Brant, entered the western portion of New York, by way of the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and marching to the head of the Mohawk River, laid siege to Fort Schuyler. As soon as General Herkimer was made aware of the approach of St. Leger, he assembled the militia of Tryon county, and advanced to the relief of the garri- son, which was composed of two New York re- giments, commanded by General Gansevoort. Having notified Gansevoort of his intentions, Herkimer marched carelessly toward the fort,
1777.] FORT SCHUYLER BESIEGED. 281
without any of those precautions which the nature of the warfare he was engaged in should have admonished him to take. Near to the road, and at a distance of about six miles from . the post he was advancing to relieve, a detach- ment of regulars under Colonel John Johnson, and a party of Indians headed by Brant, en- sconced themselves in ambush. After suffering the column to pass by, they suddenly fell upon the rear-guard, the Indians first pouring in a destructive fire, and then completing the panic by dashing upon the disordered militia with their spears and hatchets. Animated, however, by the conduct of Herkimer, the Americans succeeded in gaining a more defensible position, where they fought for some time with desperate courage. Herkimer himself, though mortally wounded, leaned for support against the stump of a tree, and continued to cheer the drooping spirits of his men. A well-timed sally from the fort, con- ducted by Colonel Willet, at length succeeded in changing the fortune of the day. By this diversion in their favour the militia succeeded in beating off the enemy; but not before the Americans had sustained a loss of four hundred in killed and wounded, many of whom were lead- ing and influential men.
Gansevoort refusing to surrender the fort, St. Leger proceeded to invest it in form. As tho safety of the post was of the first importance as 24*
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1777.
a means of overawing the Tories of that district, Schuyler despatched Arnold to its relief. The detachment of this daring though unscrupulous officer having been joined by a reinforcement of one thousand light troops under General Larned, Arnold lost no time in ascending the Mohawk ; but learning that Gansevoort was in extremity, he quitted the main body, and with nine hun- dred men, lightly armed, pressed forward by forced marches. As he continued to approach, he threw forward spies with exaggerated accounts of his numbers. The statements made by these men operated so effectually upon the minds of the Indians, who had already suffered severely. in the affray with Herkimer, that a large part of them suddenly quitted the English camp, and fled into the woods. The remainder threatening to abandon him in like manner unless he retired from before the fort, St. Leger broke up the siege, and, hastily retreating, returned to Mon- treal.
In the mean while, Schuyler, being greatly weakened by the detachments sent out under Arnold, withdrew to a stronger position among the islands at the mouth of the Mohawk. By this time Burgoyne had reached Fort Edward, on the cast bank of the Hudson. From thence he despatched Colonel Baum to the neighbour- hood of Bennington, a small village in the pre- sent state of Vermont, for the purpose of mount-
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283
1777.]
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
ing the German dragoons, and of collecting the means of transportation for the stores which had arrived at Fort George. The force ordered upon this service consisted of eight hundred men, ex- clusive of militia and Indians. A body of New Hampshire militia having lately arrived at Ben- nington under the command of Colonel Stark, the latter, as soon as he was advised of the ad- vance of Baum, sont off for Warner's regiment, then encamped at Manchester, and for such other parties of militia as could be hastily collected.
These energetic movements alarming Baum for the safety of his command, he halted, on the 14th of August, within six miles of Bennington; and sending back to Burgoyne for reinforcements, commenced intrenching himself. Lieutenant- Colonel Breyman, with five hundred men, was immediately despatched to his assistance. The heavy condition of the roads, and the rain which fell during the ensuing day, retarded the ap- proach both of Warner and Breyman. Some Berkshire militia, commanded by Colonel Sim- mons, succeeding in joining Stark on the 16th, the latter drew out his forces and advanced to the attack. As he came in sight of the enemy, he pointed them out to his troops. " There are the red-coats," said he: "they must be ours before the sun goes down, or Sally Stark sleeps a widow to-night !" This pithy expression of his own determination gave extraordinary ani-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1777.
mation to the spirits of his hardy mountaineers. The assault was made simultaneously on front and rear of the intrenchments in four columns. After two hours' hard fighting, the militia and Indians abandoned the defences, and fled for safety to the woods.
Colonel Baum received a mortal wound; but the Germans continued to offer a vigorous resist- ance, until nearly the whole of them were either killed or disarmed. The victory was scarcely won before the reinforcements under Breyman arrived on the ground. A new engagement en- sued, which was continued until night, when Breyman, having expended his ammunition, re- treated with the loss of his artillery and baggage. The victory at Bennington threw into the hands of Stark six hundred prisoners, besides a large and much needed supply of small arms, together with four pieces of artillery. Two hundred of the enemy were left dead on the field. The American loss was inconsiderable, being only fourteen killed and forty-two wounded.
The battle of Bennington formed the turning point in the fortunes of Burgoyne. . Burning to revenge the cruelties committed by the Indians in the pay of the British, it needed but the un- expected success achieved by Stark to inspire the people with a determination to expel the in- vader. Volunteers soon began to flock into the camp of Schuyler from all quarters. Two bri-
285
1777.] BATTLE ON BEHMUS'S HEIGHTS. -
gades arriving about the same time from the Highlands, the army was rapidly acquiring suf- ficient strength for effective operations. At this juncture the patriotic Schuyler, by reason of his unpopularity with the eastern troops, was super- seded in the chief command by General Gates.
The retreat of St. Leger and the defeat of Baum left Burgoyne beset with difficulties. These difficulties were not lessened by the sub- sequent desertion of his Indian allies and Cana- dian followers. Still he determined to persevere. Breaking up his camp at Fort Edward, he cross- ed the Hudson on the 14th of September, and took up his line of march from Saratoga. While Lincoln, with a body of militia, hovered upon the British, Gates advanced from his camp at the mouth of the Mohawk, and intrenched him- self at Behmus's Heights, a strong position overlooking the Hudson, three miles above Stillwater.
On the 19th of September the light parties of the enemy approached so near to the American encampment, that Morgan was despatched with his riffemen to attack them. While driving them before him, he unexpectedly encountered the British advance, and in turn was himself driven back. Successive reinforcements coming up on both sides, the action at length became general. The battle was continued with varying success until darkness separated the combatants. The
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
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British claimed the victory, from maintaining pos- session of the ground ; but this equivocal honour was more than compensated by the loss they had sustained in the encounter. Nor was the dubious result of the first battle of Behmus's Heights the only source of anxiety to the British general. Two days previous to this, a detachment of Lin- coln's militia, led by Colonel Brown, captured the posts at Lake George, and, after receiving an addition to their force, procceded to Ticon- deroga and invested it. Short of provisions, with his communications cut off, and opposed by an army constantly increasing in numbers, the situation of Burgoyne daily became more immi- nent. Could he have held out until a diversion had been created from below by Clinton, he might yet have been relieved; but the pressure of circumstances left him no alternative but to fight or retreat. In view of the former, he de- termined on a reconnoissance of the American lines. Placing himself, on the 7th of October, at the head of fifteen hundred men, he formed them in battle array within a mile of the Ameri- can camp. This was scarcely accomplished be- fore a furious attack was made upon his left by Poor's New Hampshire brigade. The grenadiers under Major Ackland met the assault with great gallantry and firmness. The fire of the Ameri- cans soon extended along the front, until the right wing was also implicated. The battle now
287
DEFEAT OF BURGOYNE.
1777.] .
deepened. Gates, as usual with him, was not present in the field; but Arnold, though de- prived of his command through the jealousy of · Gates, or his own insubordinate spirit, rode everywhere through the thickest of the fight, cheering on the men, and exhibiting in his own person an example of the most desperate bra- very. The British right, outflanked by the rifle- men under Morgan, at length gave way. A
portion of the remaining troops being detached to cover the retreat of their companions, the left wing, overpowered by superior numbers, was compelled to yield the ground they had contested so long. Major Ackland was badly wounded
and taken prisoner. General Frazer, while making the most active exertions to rally his men, also received a mortal wound from a rifle ball. Leaving six pieces of artillery in the hands of the victorious Americans, the whole detachment retreated to their camp. They had scarcely entered it before a body of troops, ga- thered by Arnold from all quarters of the field, pressed forward through a tremendous shower of grape and musketry, and commenced an as- sault upon the works. Arnold, supported by a few daring men, desperately forced his way with- in the intrenchments; but his horse being shot under him, and himself wounded, his followers fell back, bearing him with them. A much more important success attended the efforts of Lieu-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1777.
tenant-Colonel Brooke. Leaving Arnold on his left, he led Jackson's Massachusetts regiment against a redoubt occupied by the German re- - serve, stormed it at the point of the bayonet, and utterly routing the enemy, maintained his conquest in spite of all the efforts of the British to compel him to relinquish its possession.
Conscious of the insecurity of his position, in the face of an army far superior in numbers and already flushed with victory, Burgoyne silently abandoned his encampment in the night, and withdrew to the higher ground in the rear. The next day was exhausted in skirmishes. On the 9th, fearful of being hemmed in, he retreated to Saratoga, with the intention of falling back upon Fort Edward; but his communications with that place were already effectually cut off. Following up their success, the Americans next assailed the boats loaded with the only supplies and provisions yet remaining to the British army, and captured a considerable number. In this strait, with an army greatly reduced in numbers, with no hope remaining of being relieved by Clinton, and with only three days' provisions remaining, Burgoyne called a council of war. A capitulation being advised, the terms were finally agreed upon ; and on the 17th of October the shattered remains of the invading army, to the number of five thou- sand seven hundred men, surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
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ADVANCE OF CLINTON.
1777.]
CHAPTER XXII.
Clinton's diversion in favour of Burgoyne-First meeting of the State legislature at Kingston-France and the United States -Effects of Burgoyne's surrender-Conciliatory propositions from Lord North -- Treaty of alliance between France and the United Colonies-Howe abandons Philadelphia, and retreats to New York-Arrival of a French fleet-D'Estaing offers to co-operate in the reduction of Newport -- Puts out to sea- Americans retire from before Newport -- War on the frontiers -Massacre at Wyoming-American expedition against Unadilla-Indian incursion into Cherry Valley-Campaign of 1779-Predatory incursions by the enemy-Capture of Stony Point by the British-Recapture by Wayne-Sulli- van's expedition against the Indians-Exploration and de- struction of the Indian villages in the Genesee Valley- Campaign of 1781-South Carolina overrun by the enemy --- Defeat of Gates-Arrival of Rochambeau at Rhode Island -Treason of Benedict Arnold-Execution of Andre-Vir- ginia ravaged by Arnold and Phillips-Operations of Corn- wallis-Battle of the Cowpens-Battle of Guilford Courthouse -Greene recrosses the Dan-Cornwallis enters Virginia- Takes post at Yorktown -- Siege of Yorktown-Capitulation.
HAD it been possible for the invading army to have held out but for a short time longer, the campaign of 1777 might yet have terminated favourably for the British arms. While the Americans were pushing their advantages to the utmost, Sir Henry Clinton, with three thousand men, was rapidly ascending the Hudson to the relief of the embarrassed Burgoyne. On the 5th of October he attacked Forts Clinton and Montgomery, which, after a brief defence, were
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1778.
captured, with a loss to the Americans in killed and wounded of two hundred and fifty men. To General Putnam had been confided the charge of guarding the passes of the Highlands ; but he was compelled to fall back before the British advance, and retreat to Fishkill, leaving Peekskill, for- merly his head-quarters, together with Forts In- dependence and Constitution, in the hands of the enemy. The Tories under Tryon, and a strong detachment of regulars under Vaughan, ravaged and burned the shores of the Hudson almost with impunity. The surrender of Burgoyne at length put a stop to these wanton outrages. After as- cending the river to within sixty miles of Albany, the British forces returned to New York, bearing with them, from the captured forts, an immense supply of artillery and ammunition.
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