Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | September 16, 2009
You wouldn’t think that a place like Harlem would be so crucial to the Revolutionary War. You would be wrong.
The Battle of Harlem, which occurred on this day in 1776, transferred a beleaguered Continental Army into a more confident, more aggressive force. A force that eventually defeated the greatest army on Earth.
September 16, 1776 – The Battle Of Harlem Heights Restores American Confidence
On this day in 1776, General George Washington arrives at Harlem Heights, on the northern end of Manhattan, and takes command of a group of retreating Continental troops. The day before, 4,000 British soldiers had landed at Kip’s Bay in Manhattan (near present-day 34th Street) and taken control of the island, driving the Continentals north, where they appeared to be in disarray prior to Washington’s arrival.
In the early morning hours of September 16, 1776, General Washington ordered the Continentals to hold their line at Harlem Heights while he sent Captain Thomas Knowlton and a volunteer group of Rangers to scout British movements and possibly lure the British into combat. While Captain Knowlton and the Rangers engaged the British in a frontal assault, Washington sent a second force of Patriots to attack the British from their right flank. During the short but intense fighting that ensued, the Americans were able to force a small British retreat from their northern positions.
Despite the American failure to stop the British invasion of New York City the previous day at Kip’s Bay, the successful Battle of Harlem Heights restored public confidence in the American troops and lifted the spirits of the Continental Army. The Americans and British each lost approximately 70 troops in the fighting. One of the Americans lost was the Ranger leader, Captain Thomas Knowlton. (H/T – History.com)
David McCullough goes into the battle, and every battle of that year, in his excellent work, 1776. It has become one of my favorite books, and I highly recommend it.
Topics: HHH | 4 Comments »
September 16th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I’ve been on a couple of field trips to Harlem. We went to the spot where the battle took place/was orchestrated from (there is a building, is what I’m trying to say). You can see old Yankee stadium from it. It is neat to stand there, surrounded by apartment buildings, an old section of rowhomes, and modern-urban sites (not too much blight), and think about the history that took place. There is a lot of neat areas connected to history Harlem Heights and immediate areas.
I got all excited, because I knew this one.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
This is fascinating. Did the Continentals hold their rifles sideways?
September 17th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Great read! Saratoga, by Richard M. Ketchum is a good one also.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am
RT – It’s a shame more of these places and sites aren’t protected as historical landmarks.
BIG – No, but they wore lots of bling!
Alan – I’ll check it out. I just purchased “His Excellency” by Joseph Ellis. A bio of George Washington.