Fort Washington (New York)

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Fort Washington was a fortified position near the north end of Manhattan Island (now part of New York City) and was located at the highest point on the island. The fort was held by American forces as the British completed their occupation of New York City in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War.

George Washington had crossed over to New Jersey, leaving Fort Washington under the command of Colonel Robert Magaw, who refused to surrender the fort to the British. He informed the British that he would fight to the last extremity.

British General William Howe ordered Hessian mercenaries under Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, and other British soldiers, totaling around 8,000 men, to capture the fort from the Patriots. They did so on November 16, 1776, taking 2,818 prisoners and a large store of supplies. Many of those captured subsequently died in prison ships anchored in New York Harbor.

The English had been materially assisted by the treason of one of Magaw's officers, William Demont, who on November 2, had deserted and furnished Howe with detailed plans of the American works. The American losses were 53 killed and 96 wounded in addition to the rest of the garrison taken prisoner. The British and Hessian troops suffered 132 killed and 374 wounded.

At this battle was Margaret Corbin of Virginia, who is recognized as the first female soldier to fight in the American Army. Married to John Corbin of the First Company of the Pennsylvania Artillery, Margaret cleaned, loaded and fired her husband’s cannon when he was killed during the assault on Fort Washington. Although severely injured, Margaret survived the battle but never fully recovered from her wounds, leaving her unable to use her left arm.

The modern day location of Fort Washington is marked by Bennet Park at the intersection of Fort Washington Ave. and 183rd St. in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. The park is a few blocks north of the George Washington Bridge. Along the banks of the Hudson River below is Fort Washington Park and the small point of land alternately called Jeffery's Hook or Fort Washington Point.

[edit] References

De Lancey, The Capture of Fort Washington, the Result of Treason, (New York, 1877)
Dawson, Battles of the United States, (New York, 1858)
Carrington, Battles of the American Revolution, (New York, 1876)
McCullough, 1776, (New York, 2005)