battle fought new_york november american revolutionary war united_states great_britain british victory gained surrender remnant garrison near north end worst patriot defeats defeating continental_army commander chief general george_washington battle white plains british_army forces command lieutenant general planned capture american stronghold manhattan general washington issued order general abandon fort remove garrison numbered men later grow new_jersey colonel commanding fort declined abandon believed defended british howe forces attacked fort washington reached assess situation howe launched attack november led assault sides north east south tides prevented troops landing delayed attack british moved defenses southern western american defenses fell quickly patriot forces north offered stiff resistance attack eventually overwhelmed fort surrounded land sea colonel chose surrender total americans killed taken prisoners war defeat washington army chased new_jersey pennsylvania british consolidated control new_york eastern new_jersey background construction defenses american revolutionary war located highest point island manhattan large manhattan near northernmost tip located hudson_river atop twin forts intended protect lower hudson british warships june american patriot officers examined terrain fort washington located agreed fort properly fortified practically impossible later june commander chief continental_army george_washington inspected location determined area key defense lower hudson shortly washington survey troops pennsylvania began construction fort supervision prepared prevent british ships sailing hudson american position month troops transported heights manhattan edge river loaded collection timber stretched river finished began work fort little soil covered rocky surface men haul soil low ground unable dig customary ditches trenches fort fort built shape pentagon main walls earth constructed openings guns angle fort enclosed total acres troops built fort barracks finished september troops area placed command washington established headquarters near fort supporting fort numerous defenses batteries placed hook extended hudson cox hill looking creek north end manhattan controlling bridge laurel hill east fort went south fort lines defense lines went hills trenches line supported second line north line planned built north second movements british general gaining control western long_island end august launched invasion manhattan september northward progress checked day battle sought flank strong american position north island abortive landing attempt october howe began landing troops southern new_york october intending cut continental_army avenue retreat washington aware danger withdrew troops north left garrison men fort washington command colonel force inadequate fully defend extensive works order monitor american garrison fort howe left small force morning october informed troops launching attack supported frigates sailing hudson ordered attack frigates british ships badly damaged guns frigates elevate guns height american positions british towed away frigates artillery duel continued time british american gunners november dozen american soldiers drove slightly larger company forward held higher ground better cover advantage artillery support minor skirmish unable maintain position single man wounded lost men killed wounded burning looting temporary structures site occupied dark returned main lines day spot quickly driven larger american force time left dead single american wounded minor successes boasted able hold fort siege end december november adjutant deserted british gave details fort sent information howe defeated washington days earlier battle white plains weeks washington northward retreat british assault fort reinforcements continued fort increasing size garrison nearly men plans preparations washington considered abandoning fort washington believed fort held vital argued holding fort open communications river dissuade british attacking new_jersey concurred washington deferred abandon fort november howe ordered army south ferry pursue american forces highlands possibly prompted intelligence acquired decided attack washington responded dividing army seven thousand troops remain east hudson command prevent british invasion new_england general men guard prevent british advance north washington men 13th washington army reached fort lee howe plan attack storm fort directions fourth force received reinforcements garrisoned men troops command attack fort north lead brigade british battalions south lord general light infantry attack east 42nd land east manhattan south fort attacking howe sent lieutenant colonel flag truce november deliver message fort surrender entire garrison killed said patriots defend fort battle initial fighting dawn november british troops moved troops ferried landed manhattan turned river ferry troops river tide unable close shore bring british troops troops forced halt advance wait cross guns opened fire american battery laurel hill british frigate pearl began fire american south fort artillery open fire fort artillery aimed guns damaged british ships weeks noon restarted advance soon tide high troops accompanied howe ferried landed heavy fire american artillery manhattan shore british troops charged dispersed americans reached defended companies brief fighting americans turned ran fort north fort right commanded moved steep south creek resistance americans began bring artillery point main body men began advance post road ran laurel hill hill crossed land approached wooded near fort fired maryland command col moses men hid rocks trees place place shoot tried advance fallen trees rocks second charges repulsed time south advanced men advanced columns brigade left leading right yards american lines halted advance waiting place facing company superior second command charge holding defensive lines south hearing landing shore rear sent men oppose men ran col 42nd foot men landed happened defended area american defenses heard men sent men reinforce sent earlier british landing parties spread looking path rough terrain landing spot americans took position began firing british troops crossing river killing wounding men british troops charged american position hearing shooting ordered troops continue advance british artillery fire forced defensive line fall second line washington located encouraged leave manhattan immediately sailing river fort lee realized danger surrounded sent orders withdraw fort force pursued troops time troops opposing landing chased fort troops landed rear believing troops retreating americans engaged giving rest american troops time escape collapse collapse outer lines south east fort general american retreat perceived safety fort took place south defensive line completed left retreat fort north held barely fewer increased firing jammed men weapons men forced push hill attacking american battery fort washington pearl time fire ceased slowly advanced hill engaged americans hand hand fighting americans reached hill bayonet charge capturing quickly washington watching battle river sent note asking hold nightfall thinking troops evacuated night time taken ground fort hudson_river given honor requesting american surrender sent captain spoke english french flag truce fort surrender met requested given hours consult officers denied request gave americans half hour decide consulting officers washington messenger captain arrived fort completely surrounded washington request hold nightfall attempted easier terms men allowed belongings failed announced decision american flag brought fort replaced british flag surrender fort cliff evaded musket fire bayonet stabs managed boat arriving fort lee short later aftermath entered fort american officers attempted commander captain charge surrender invited barracks offered punch wine cake left fort stripped american troops baggage beat officers intervened prevent injuries deaths british captured thirty cannon tents blankets tools ammunition british suffered killed wounded americans lost killed wounded casualties men captured usual treatment prisoners war american revolutionary war survived captivity released months later prisoner exchange nearly quarters prisoners died days fall patriots abandoned fort lee washington army retreated new_jersey crossed pennsylvania northwest pursued far new_brunswick new_jersey british forces month night december washington crossed delaware defeated garrison command washington went defeat british princeton revived morale american army colonies affected fall seven years november peace treaty signed governor reclaimed fort washington marched lower manhattan british forces left new_york site neighborhood manhattan north george washington bridge location walls stones placed park commemorative plaque
Battle of Fort Washington