Battle of Fort Washington

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Date	November 16, 1776
Location	Manhattan, New York
Result	British victory

Combatants

United States

Britain
Hessians

Commanders

George Washington
Robert Magaw

William Howe
Wilhelm von Knyphausen

Strength

2,900

8,000

Casualties

53 killed, 96 wounded, & 2,818 captured

78 killed, 374 wounded

New York and New Jersey, 1776–1777
Long Island – Kip's Bay – Harlem Heights – Pell's Point – White Plains – Fort Washington – 1st Trenton – 2nd Trenton – 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.

1 Background
2 Battle
3 Consequences
4 References

[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 Hessian troops, under the command of the Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, 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 cannons, 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 for the remainder of the war.