NOVEMBER 16TH, 1776

Battle of Fort Washington

By By Sean VittiSean Vitti

Belligerents and Defenders

American Continental Army defending Fort Washington

British and Hessian troops attacking the Fort

Location

Last remaining American position in Manhattan

Commanded by Colonel Robert Magaw

British Plan

General Howe proposes three pronged attack of the Fort.

General Percy would attack the Fort from the South

General Matthews would attack via amphibious landing towards the east across the Hudson River

Main attack on American forces under Rawlings by Hessian troops under the command of General Von Knyphausen

Hessians

Mercenary units hired to fight along side British Regulars.

In this engagement, General Von Knyphausen commanded a unit ofHessian soldiers.

General Von Knyphausen – New York Public Library – Digital Library

Day of Attack

Hessian troops, under General Von Knyphausen attack first.

American retreat back to Fort.

Fort encircled by British troops under General Percy, General Mathews, and the Hessians

Americans within Fort Washington forced to surrender

Result

Fort Lee deemed “untenable”; Washington pulls remaining supplies from base.

Last of American forces removed from Manhattan Island.

British casualties: 84 dead, 374 woundedAmerican casualties: 59 dead, 96 wounded,

2,837 captured.

Fort Washington Today

Park managed by City of New York Parks & Recreation.

Located Riverside Dr., Hudson River, W. 155 St. to W. 179 St. Manhattan

References

http://www.britishbattles.com/fort-washington.htm http://www.uswars.net/revolutionary-war-battles/761116-fort-washington/ http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battledetail.aspx?battle=13 http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g38

04n+ar115700)) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=1027552

&imageID=1551293 Continental Soldier

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=697752&imageID=831330&word=Continental%20Army%20soldiers&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=12&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=3

Hessian Soldier http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=697120&imageID=830689&word=hessian&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=17&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=3

Fort Washington http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?

trg=1&strucID=118263&imageID=54209&word=battle%20of%20fort%20washington&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=11&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=3