The Battle of New York
When you think of a U.S. battlefield, would the streets of New York City come to mind? Probably not, but long before this city became a center of the nation's business and the arts, it was the site of a major battle against the British.
At the time, George Washington was a general in the Revolutionary War. His army suffered a great defeat in the Battle of New York, but that loss led to one of his greatest victories.
The Battle Begins
After being forced out of Boston in 1775, the British went to Canada. There, they planned an invasion of New York City. The British believed that if they controlled New York, they would cut off the mid-Atlantic and southern colonies from New England. The divided colonies would then be easier to defeat.
Washington understood the importance of defending New York. The city sat at the southern end of the Hudson River, a major waterway. In April of 1776, Washington arrived in the city to prepare its defense.
Meanwhile, British ships began to gather. About 32,000 British and Hessian soldiers sailed to New York harbor during the summer of 1776. The British commanders hoped their show of force would frighten the Americans into an agreement ending the revolution. But that was not to be.
In July, both armies prepared for battle. British troops crossed over to present-day Brooklyn, and on August 27, the Battle of New York began.
The Americans suffered a bitter defeat on the first day of the fighting. The British forced them from their positions. With their backs to the water, Washington's army was in danger of being destroyed.
Retreat to Fight Another Day
Two nights later, under the cover of rain and fog, Washington led a retreat to the island of Manhattan. When the British awoke the next morning, the Americans were gone from Brooklyn.
The armies fought several battles over the next few weeks. In October, the British commanders moved their army north to cut off an American retreat. The American patriots suffered heavy losses, including ammunition and cannons. Yet Washington and his men escaped once again.
Washington's army was defeated, but it held together. Once they were out of reach from the British, the army began to regain its strength. The troops marched into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. General Washington went on the attack in December. He crossed the Delaware River on Christmas and won an important victory at Trenton. Later he led the army to another victory at Princeton.
Those victories, made possible by Washington's escape from New York, saved the American fight for independence.