montgomery battle forts clinton montgomery battle fought highlands hudson_river valley far west_point october british forces command general sir captured dismantled purpose attack create diversion draw american troops army general gates army opposing british general attempt gain control hudson forts garrisoned continental_army troops command brothers general governor new_york general general led additional troops nearby new_york battle called battle number participants brothers probably related sir henry series withdrawing troops east landed troops west hudson assault forts hours hiking hilly terrain clinton divided troops stage simultaneous assaults forts approach contested company armed small field piece attacked forts nearly time captured relatively short battle half defenders killed wounded captured british followed success raids far north kingston recalled new_york_city action came late assistance surrendered army october notable consequences action casualties suffered british destruction forts departure background hudson_river valley strategically critical area american revolutionary war area moved supplies men materials new_england states south important british largely abandoned new_england objective military control later war june general began attempt gain control key area moving south british province quebec early success campaign logistical difficulties reaching new_york mid september held expectations campaign supported military forces based new_york_city command general forces meet albany miles south apparently result poor communications lord britain secretary state colonies political official charge conflict general howe decided instead attempt capture philadelphia sailed south army july leaving sir command new_york howe instructions general clinton primarily hold new_york_city engage offensive operations consistent goal instructions clinton july included promise reinforcements arrive promised time clinton consider making favor general approaching albany security opportunity presented letter howe reached august informing philadelphia clinton instructions clinton wrote letter september received 21st push fort montgomery days think men assist prelude american defenses highland region hudson_river valley near west_point defended continental_army troops state militia command major general based miles gorge enters hudson americans placed chain hudson prevent british naval vessels sailing chain western end guarded named late general overlooked gorge south west river south gorge established probably named general undergoing construction command general governor new_york command older brother james combined forces numbered primary camp british naval movements need pass roughly men men sites regular troops remainder short term new_york militia forces originally larger general washington ordered troops assist washington defense howe gates defense number local militia companies dismissed howe movements known received word arrival transports new_york september wrote governor clinton assistance immediately came south kingston charge forts british movements mid september time wrote letter sir men including poorly trained loyalists defend new_york_city letter expectation expected reinforcements arrive time hudson days september received letter written response direct plea action end september additional troops landed fleet arriving new_york october sir henry started hudson_river men frigates number smaller vessels day landed troops near draw troops troops marched ships continued north similar maneuver point miles south october poorly manned american outpost maneuvers completely drew troops eastern highlands sent messages hudson reinforcements shortly movement sir henry received dispatch explicitly appeals clinton instruction attempt advance retreat based likelihood clinton arrival albany support indicated receive response october forced retreat clinton response written october markedly formal response indicating providing requested diversion expectation reaching albany adding sir orders general fortunately clinton copies letter reached carrying captured battle morning october sir landed men point west hudson assistance loyalist guide marched local rise called descending place called encountered scouting party governor clinton sent reconnaissance retreated brief exchange fire sir henry divided force attack groups forts force men lieutenant colonel campbell composed 52nd 57th regiments detachment loyalists led began miles trek gorge fort montgomery sir henry waited remaining men starting trail order campbell time longer journey beginning simultaneous attacks forts governor clinton alerted skirmish immediately sent reinforcements shortly sending message learned scouts sir henry forces divided waiting reinforcements came sir henry successful brother james sent men sent company fort montgomery oppose campbell force fort montgomery detachment numbered men included small artillery piece commanded captain setting defensive position mile fort engaged campbell tired forces spirit eventually forced retreat able spike field piece abandoning british stand closer fort supported pound piece retreated cannon defense campbell position hour sunset having left offered chance surrender governor clinton refused battle joined campbell loyalists left german center british regiments right despite vigorous defense death colonel campbell british forces broke fort engaged near massacre avenge loss campbell officers narrowly escaped killed bayonet orderly book weapon point portion fort garrison escaped woods north fort main approach narrow strip land yards wide small lake river addition covered fort cannons governor clinton protected placing british advance sir henry sent 63rd foot lake attack fort northwest sent light companies 7th 26th regiments company main works followed 26th foot detachment 17th remaining british german companies fort montgomery defenders eventually overwhelmed surrendered subjected took place north number garrison including general clinton escaped embankment river took safety river aftermath casualties british casualties killed wounded americans officers enlisted men captured killed wounded apart wounded prisoners garrison americans forced destroy number boats area unfavorable winds prevented escaping day sir henry sent small detachment fort constitution small outpost opposite west_point demanded surrender lightly manned garrison refused retreated october face larger attack force governor clinton general clinton opted north troops western shore defense attacks steps defend attacks east british action captain begun clearing river american laid obstacles following battle october able report river clear far north sir henry returned new_york illness leaving general charge forts delays sending transports reinforcements north flotilla carrying men depart october orders clinton proceed hudson river feel general assist operations anchored evening near speculated movement effect surrender negotiations ongoing slow pace horse based communications unlikely general gates aware movement surrender terms agreed october troops burned day sailed north raided estate seat noted patriot family fleet pursued eastern shore forces grown considerably arrival militia companies connecticut posed significant threat withdrew boats october sir henry received request men general howe probably sent washington failed attack support occupation philadelphia new_york garrison operation hudson clinton recalled garrison holding forts forts destroyed troops evacuated october legacy site largely demolished way completed remains preserved bounds includes ghost town designation received placed national_register_of_historic_places located fort montgomery state historic site
Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery