Battle of Newtown

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Battle of Newtown Part of the American Revolutionary War Date August 29, 1779 Location near Elmira, New York Result American victory Belligerents United States British Commanders Gen. John Sullivan John Butler, Walter Butler, Sayenqueraghta, Cornplanter, Joseph Brant Strength 3,462 regulars and milita 600-1,200 regulars {Butler's Rangers and 8th Kings Regiment} and Iroquois natives Casualties and losses 9 dead, 20-40 wounded 12 Iroquois and 5 British killed 9 Iroquois and 3 British wounded 2 British captured

v • d • e Northern theater after 1777 Cobleskill – Wyoming Valley – Big Runaway – Rhode Island – German Flatts - Carleton's Raid – Cherry Valley – Stony Point – Minisink – Penobscot Expedition – Sullivan Expedition – Newtown – Battle of Young's House  -Springfield – Royalton Raid - Klock's Field  - Groton Heights  - Johnstown

The Battle of Newtown (29 August 1779), was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by General John Sullivan that was ordered by the Continental Congress to end the threat of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War. John Butler and Joseph Brant did not want to make a stand at Newtown, but proposed instead to harass the enemy on the march, but they were overruled by Sayenqueraghta and other Indian chiefs.

Contents 1 Battle 2 Sullivan's casualites 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Battle

The battle took place at the foot of a hill just outside of what is now Elmira, New York, along the Chemung River.

Sullivan led the brigade of General Edward Hand, with that of General William Maxwell in reserve, against the Loyalists and Iroquois at this site. He ordered the brigade led by Colonel Matthias Ogden to flank the enemy along the Chemung River to the west, and those led by James Clinton and Enoch Poor to secure the hillside on the eastern flank.

The battle ended with a sound defeat for the Iroquois and Loyalists (led by Major John Butler and his son Walter Butler).

[edit] Sullivan's casualites

Died of wounds: Capt. Elijah Clayes. See [[1]] Lt. Nathaniel McCauley of 1st New Hampshire; See [[2]]
Wounded:Major Benjamin Titcomb; {See [[3]]; and[[4]]}; Various numbers of wounded Privates are given from 20 to 39-with at least 27 in General Poor's Brigade and 4 others in the rest of the Army. See [[5]] of whom 1 Corporal and 2 Privates were killed in the battle while in additional to those listed above at least 1 NCO and 3 Privates died of wounds.

[edit] Legacy

The site of the battle is today the Wellsburg exit of Interstate 86 and New York State Route 17.

Several roadside signs in the vicinity of the interchange mark various troop locations. A tall monument now stands in a state park on a hillside near the position taken by Clinton and Poor's brigades. This hillside area, which overlooks the interchange, is now known as Newtown Battlefield State Park.

[edit] References

Graymont, Barbara, The Iroquois in the American Revolution, 1972, ISBN 0-8156-0083-6

[edit] External links

• Journals of Sullivan Expedition online
• Map of the battle and some first-hand accounts
• Description of the 8th Regiment of foot
• Chemung County History
• Newtown Battlefield Reservation State Park

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