Battle of Pell's Point

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Battle of Pell's Point Part of the American Revolutionary War Date October 18, 1776 Location Bronx, New York Result Strategic American victory [1] Belligerents Continental Army British Army Hessian Mercenaries Commanders John Glover William Howe Strength 840, 3 cannon 4,000, 6 cannon Casualties and losses 8 killed, 13 wounded 25 killed or wounded [2]

v • d • e New York and New Jersey 1776–1777 Long Island – Kip's Bay – Harlem Heights – Pell's Point – White Plains – Fort Washington – Trenton – Assunpink Creek – Princeton – Forage War – Bound Brook

The Battle of Pell's Point, also known as the Battle of Pelham, was a skirmish during the American Revolutionary War. It took place on October 18, 1776, in what is now part of Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, New York City.

October 18, 1776, Sir William Howe, Commander-in-Chief of the British army, landed around 4,000 English and Hessian troops near the stables on Pelham Parkway in an action which became the first permanent invasion of the American mainland in the American Revolution. Howe's objective was to outflank the American army by marching west across today's Bronx along the Boston Post Road. This would also cut off Washington's vital supply route from New England and enable the British to surround Washington and quickly end the rebellion. Washington ordered his troops to fall back to White Plains, New York (see the Battle of White Plains), leaving 4 skeleton regiments 14th Continental Regiment under the command of Col. John Glover from Marblehead, Massachusetts ("The Marbleheaders") to defend Rodman's Neck against 3,000 British and Hessian troops.

These primarily Massachusetts regiments were as follows (on October 5):

• 14th Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. John Glover

  179 privates fit for duty

• 13th Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. Joseph Read

  226 privates fit for duty

• 3rd Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. William Shepard

  204 privates fit for duty

• 26th Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. Loammi Baldwin

  234 privates fit for duty

Total: 843 privates and 3 small cannon
Col. John Glover, of Marblehead, MA, was in command.

The British forces which landed at Rodman's Point, were composed of:

• 4th Regiment of Foot's Light Infantry and Grenadiers

  exact numbers unknown

• 16th Regiment of Foot's Light Infantry and Grenadiers

  exact numbers unknown

• 16th Light Dragoons (dismounted)

  exact numbers unknown

• 4 Hessian Regiments (Von Stirn's Brigade)

  3,000 men

Total: more than 4,000 men and 6 cannon

[edit] External links

• NYC Parks Official Website
• William Abbatt, The Battle of Pell's Point (Or Pelham) October 18, 1776
• Otto Hufeland, Westchester County During the American Revolution Chapter V
• Brief history from Pelham Bay Park
• [http://www.historicpelham.com/eBooks/Bolton1848Pelham.htm
• [1]

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