landing bay landing bay british amphibious landing american revolutionary war september occurring eastern shore present day manhattan heavy advance fire british naval forces caused inexperienced militia guarding landing area flee making possible british land unopposed bay skirmishes aftermath landing resulted british capture militia british maneuvers following landing nearly cut escape route continental_army forces stationed southeast island flight american troops rapid george_washington attempting rally left exposed dangerously close british lines operation british success resulted withdrawal continental_army control new_york_city lower half island following day resulted american victory campaign decisive victory british enemy resistance broken efforts rebellion failed armies destroyed background gone british military early besieged boston arrival heavy guns continental_army camp prompted general withdraw boston halifax nova scotia march acquired supplies reinforcements embarked june campaign gain control new_york_city anticipating british attack new_york general george_washington moved army assist general defensive preparations task complicated large number potential landing sites british force howe troops began unopposed landing early july unopposed landing long_island washington continental_army organized significant defenses august august howe successfully flanked washington defenses leaving washington position narrow british_army night august washington successfully evacuated entire army troops manhattan known despite showing discipline unity evacuation army quickly despair anger large numbers militia ending august departed home leadership questioned ranks soldiers openly wishing return colorful charismatic general washington sent philadelphia asking direction specifically new_york_city occupied southern tip abandoned burned ground derive great hand property destroyed washington wrote geography occupied principally southern tip considered new_york_city western tip north village harlem sparsely populated center island featured low hills principally ferry services connected island surrounding lands primary ferry mainland crossing king bridge near northern tip island island bordered rivers west hudson_river east separated island long_island bay cove eastern shore island extending roughly present day 32nd 38th streets far west second avenue bay longer exists having filled provided excellent place amphibious landing deep water close shore large meadow landed troops opposite bay long_island wide mouth creek surrounded offered equally excellent staging area planning washington uncertain step spread troops shores shore actively sought intelligence yield clues howe plans ordered attempt flagship brother commander royal_navy new_york admiral september documented case submarine warfare volunteered pilot turtle eagle attach explosives ship drill struck iron band penetrate lee unable attach required explosives lee able escape forced release explosive fend small boats sent british investigate surfaced orient exploded british troops led moving north east shore night september british frigate rose took advantage north flowing tide thirty moved anchored mouth creek day transports moved warships hms pearl schooner sailed hudson september general recently returned duty illness sent washington letter urging immediate withdrawal new_york possession long_island argued new_york_city held army scattered americans able stop british attack decisive defeat argued catastrophic regard loss men damage morale recommended burning city british control recovered comparable superior naval force american benefit preserving new_york_city summarized recommended washington war council time council gathered september letter arrived stating congress resolution new_york destroyed washington required defend congress decided send man delegation lord howe preparations september british troops moved long_island occupy small island mouth day later september congressional delegation arrived met admiral lord howe hours meeting came lord howe authorized grant terms congressional delegation insisted postpone impending british attack allowing washington time decide confront enemy september war council washington generals decision abandon new_york_city thousand general remained defend city lower manhattan main army moved north harlem king bridge afternoon september major british movement started warships phoenix frigates moved anchored carrying total cannons accompanied troop transport ships september americans moving stores ammunition american sick new_york available horse wagon employed described grand military scouts reported movement british army camps washington uncertain british strike late afternoon american army moved north washington followed night general howe originally planned landing september recalling date key landing battle plains general clinton disagreed point attack clinton arguing landing king bridge cut washington howe originally wanted landings bay north near modern street eastern shore struck option ship pilots warned dangerous waters hell gate waters meet delays unfavorable winds landing targeted bay began morning september landing admiral howe sent noisy demonstration royal_navy ships hudson_river early morning september washington aides determined diversion maintained forces north end island connecticut militia command colonel erected crude american line bay farmers inexperienced muskets carried instead constructed blades attached poles having awake night having little eat previous hours dawn looked british warships near position militia ditches british ships anchored yards offshore lay quiet day hot general sir howe given task making landing ordered crossing begin wave eighty carried british soldiers standing shoulder shoulder left entered waters heading bay warships began broadside fire flattened american panicked connecticut militia terrible guns army navy heard wrote private secretary lord howe nearly eighty guns fired shore hour americans half buried dirt sand unable return fire smoke dust guns ceased british appeared smoke headed shore americans panicked retreat british began amphibious landing washington aides arrived command post soon landing began unable rally retreating militia mile inland bay washington rode horse men trying turn impose order violently accounts lost control temper pistol drew sword threatening run men shouted walls threw hat ground disgust men defend america fleeing men refused turn engage party advancing washington reportedly struck officers riding crop shot number american troops trying surrender thousand continental_army troops command generals arrived north sight chaotic militia retreat turned fled washington rage rode yards enemy aides managed field british soldiers came ashore including light infantry spread advancing directions late afternoon british troops landed howe sent brigade new_york_city officially taking possession americans managed escape north got away saw rebel head body pole recorded british officer southern advance pushed half mile farm near present day 23rd street meeting stiff american resistance northern advance stopped rise west west present lexington avenue orders wait rest invading force extremely fortunate thousands american troops south invasion point clinton continued west hudson cut general troops nearly washington forces main army trapping lower manhattan general come north troops landing began briefly washington risk forces city rode south lead retreat abandoning supplies equipment slow column guidance aide marched north hudson forced march men quick british advance sufficiently slow companies column advancing british men marched main camp harlem dark greeted cheers having given lost arrived later narrow escape possible seizing boat hudson received excited enthusiastic embraced washington aftermath british welcomed remaining new_york_city population pulling continental_army flag raising howe wanted capture new_york quickly minimal considered invasion complete success wanting continue battling americans day howe stopped troops short harlem washington extremely angry troops conduct calling actions connecticut militia poor reputation labeled held blame rout general said wounds received long_island bleeding officers men knew city defended connecticut men stayed defend cannon fire face overwhelming force annihilated day september armies fought
Landing at Kip's Bay