Revolutionary Women: Margaret Corbin

It is said that behind every great man, there is a woman shaking her head. Though the sarcasm may be false, many great men in history were aided by their female companions. Never was this a more poignant topic than during the Revolutionary War. In the coming weeks, a series of “Women of the Revolution” blogs will bring the heroic stories of the sometimes little known game changers of our past.

            Margaret Cochran Corbin is the first up to bat. Her early years prepared her for harsh times as she was orphaned at five years old and raised by relatives. In 1772, as the American campaign for freedom started brewing, she married John Corbin. Once the Revolution took hold, John joined the Continental Army and Margaret followed. Although it was a typical practice for many women to become camp followers, she went above and beyond the call of womanly duty.

            When stationed at Fort Washington, NY in the winter of 1776, the troops were attacked by British and Hessian troops. John Corbin was struck down while doing his artillery duties and Margaret stepped in to continue her husbands’ work loading and firing the cannon by herself. She was badly injured in this show of heroics and her fellow soldiers moved her to the rear of the field. The fort was overrun and taken by the British. Thankfully, the wounded Americans were paroled and ferried across the river to Fort Lee then to Philadelphia.

Margaret Corbin loads the cannon to victory!

            Margaret never fully recovered and had to do without out the use of her left arm, but for her troubles, the Continental Congress granted her a pension in 1779. She was the first woman to ever receive a pension for her active duty in the war effort. She passed away near West Point, NY just shy of her 50^th birthday. She now resides with other soldiers behind the Old Cadet Chapel at West Point near a monument to honor her bravery. The bronze plaque reads, "the first American woman to take a soldier's part in the War for Liberty"

A state and revolutionary hero!

Margaret Corbin's plaque.

B.A.R. Fort Lee Retreat to Victory!

Good day everyone!

Well now that Thanksgiving is over I figured I’d give my AAR of the recent Fort Lee Retreat to Victory! 

Even though we are a New York Regiment, I am one of the few members who reside in New Jersey.  I often worked in Fort Lee as a contractor in my college years but never knew the story of what took place here.  This small city on the heights above the Hudson River tells a bigger story than just urban sprawl.  It was here that the great retreat started across New Jersey that eventually led to the banks of the Delaware River and Washington’s crossing.    

Fort Lee was designed to defend the Hudson River from British use by creating a field of cannon fire from above.  Together with Fort Washington on the Manhattan side, the American’s goal was to stop any British ships from heading north.  This was a sound plan until things began to deteriorate for the Americans.  Repeated losses at in New York caused the evacuation of most of the troops with only Fort Washington remaining.  The hope was that this fort would be able to withstand attacks and continue to serve its Hudson protecting service.

HMS Phoenix, Roebuck and Tartar, accompanied by two smaller vessels, forcing their way through a cheval-de-frise on the Hudson River with the Forts Washington and Lee and several batteries on both sides. The painting is a copy by Thomas Mitchell after the original rendering of the subject, a scene from the American Revolutionary War, by Dominic Serres the Elder.

On November 16, 1776 Fort Washington fell with most of its garrison captured. This was a major blow to the American cause as it rendered Fort Lee rather defenseless.    Three days later on the 19^th of November, Washington evacuates Fort Lee as the British land roughly 5,000 troops nearby.  And so begins the famous chase across New Jersey.  We will see how that ends!

I showed up to Fort Lee Historic Park and met with other members of the 5^th New York.  We ran into many friends that day from the other Regiments, some even as far away as Rhode Island!  We were there, the 2^nd NY, the 3^rd New Jersey, the RI boys, the 4^th Battalion NJ Volunteers, I want to say the 22^nd Regiment  Of foot?  Buff facings on red coats.  I also want to say Butler’s rangers as well as a handful of other Loyalists. There were also a few members of what looked like the 23^rd Welch Fusiliers and even some Hessians!  Always a pleasure to see the Hessians.   

Photo by Gary Vorwald

We talked with the public all day and did musket firing demonstrations and drills. A beautiful museum complemented the grounds.  Inside the visitor’s center were demonstrations and tables set up representing all walks of life during the revolutionary war.  Even George Washington’s map makers were there showing their skills in fine form.  Lamb’s Artillery was on hand and fired a 3 pounder, an 8 inch mortar, an 18 pounder, and 32 pounder cannons!   It was an excellent demonstration.  Mott’s Artillery repeated the firing the next day.  It is always a good show by the artilleryman.

By noon all of the regiments, Crown and Rebel alike, gathered and proceeded to march to the memorial in Fort Lee.  Dignitaries gave speeches and we all let off a massive brigade volley under B.A.R. commander Mark Hurwitz.  It was a spectacular volley!   Upon completion of ceremonies we had cider and donuts and headed back to the Historic Park for battle preparations!

As the bell chimed 3 o’clock the Americans formed up and decided it would behoove us to recapture our blockhouse from those pesky Brits and Tories.  Onward!

We advanced in line and at first a company of Loyalists came to meet us. Skirmishers were sent out on both sides as the general advance took place.  Shots fired and eventually when in range the Companies began volley fire.   Firing by sections gave a great show to the audience as the battle progressed and even with British reinforcements the Americans pushed them back into the blockhouse.   It was here they shut themselves in and we surrounded the building awaiting their surrender.

Photo by Gary Vorwald

The problem arose when they refused!   Luckily a soldier produced a grenade in an attempt to bust them out of the blockhouse!  Unfortunately for the Americans they also were waiting with a bucket of water and spilled it out on our grenadier!   A tough nut to crack!  With some cunning thought, an American solider placed his hat on a stick and stuck it towards the window in an attempt to distract the green coats while we infiltrated the bottom floor. 

Photo by Gary Vorwald

It was at this point I was shot in the shoulder and put out of commission! I do not know the outcome but was dragged away by another member of my regiment.

Sunday was smaller than Saturday but the 5^th had a good turnout and Mott’s artillery stole the show with their cannonade.

Overall the event was a smashing success and a blast for the public and reenactors alike.  This B.A.R. event was my first time here and most certainly won’t be my last!  The 5^th New York Regiment would like to thank all of the other Regiments and groups that attended this fine event and the B.A.R. for a stellar day!

Courtesy of the Fort Lee Historical Society

NEW BOOK from New Jersey's very own Todd Braisted!

Todd Braisted of the 4th Battalion New Jersey Volunteers has just launched his new book! This looks great! I will be ordering my copy shortly.  Also was a pleasuring blasting away at his troops at Fort Lee on Nov. 17th!  HUZZAH!

Bergen County saw much of the American Revolution from its own doorstep. Close to British-occupied New York City, this corner of New Jersey was divided by the Revolution. Some people were staunch Loyalists or Patriots, in disagreement with their families and neighbors; others wavered or remained neutral; while still others changed their minds as was expedient. In the end, the years of hostilities led to massive damage and upheaval within the community as men either left home or stayed nearby to fight for or against secession from Great Britain. After the war, their pension applications allow glimpses into their experiences. Compiled and edited by local historian and Revolutionary War expert Todd W. Braisted, these are the stories of the Revolutionary soldiers of Bergen County.


http://www.amazon.com/Bergen-County-Voices-American-Revolution/dp/1609498364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353345303&sr=8-1&keywords=todd+w+braisted

Chains of Iron

A mock up of the great Iron chain at West Point.

Today’s blog is going to be a brief overview of the famous iron chains and defenses that spanned the Hudson River blocking the British from cutting New England off  from the mid-Atlantic colonies.   We will go over the origins the chains and how they were ultimately brought about.

The Hudson River (known as the North River at the time) was well known to be a great physical dividing line in the colonies.  Any army that would like to head from the mid-Atlantic colonies to New England would have to cross over this vital waterway. The Dutch knew of this importance as early as 1672.  By the revolution, both the colonists and the British saw this importance and made immediate preparations for attack and defense.   The lower Hudson was wide enough and deep enough for large ships to traverse. This would become instrumental to any British advance to cut the colonies in two.  No better way to prevent that than to block the river.  But was it just a chain?

Not many people know there were multiple attempts at stopping the British advances up the Hudson from the very beginning of the war.    Fort Lee and Fort Washington in New Jersey and Manhattan were the first major obstacles the British would run into.  These formidable forts had many cannons and could fire down into the river as well as defend themselves on land.   A special devise known as chevaux-de-frise were sunk into the mighty North river in an attempt to stop ships from sailing up.  These devices were basically large wooden boxes of rocks and Iron with pointed sharpened poles sticking out of them at an angle.  These were then capped with Iron so they could penetrate a ship. The idea was that there would be solid enough to puncture a hull and sink a ship, or at the very least deter the enemy from trying.    This was a very sound idea and would be used in other places during the war.  The problem arose when the passage left for American vessels to travel through was betrayed to the British by a Tory. Enemy ships could pass through unimpeded.

Chevaux-de-frise spike found in Delaware river from Philadelphia campaign.

The British along with their Hessian friends attacked Fort Washington and captured it on November 16^th 1776.   This was a massive blow to the patriot cause and Washington ordered a withdrawal from Fort Lee 3 days later on Nov. 19^th.  The first line of defense was gone.

Materials for Fort Montgomery were being supplied as early as Jan 16^th 1776.   After work had been halted at Fort Constitution on Jan5th, everything was diverted to the new fortifications to be built on the Popolopen gorge. This spot was deemed a suitable place for defense as it was a great angle down the Hudson to shoot at a longer range.    A battery was erected here that eventually garnished six 32 ponder cannons, a very formidable obstacle.  To protect the fort, a smaller but equally important fort was built on the ground above it across the creek. This was Fort Clinton.   In November 1776 the first massive Iron chain was built across the Hudson to stop the British from sailing up.  Each link weighed over 140 pounds and truly sealed the upper Hudson off from the lower. A wooden boom was also built as well as a Continental Navy flotilla including frigates and sloops and galleys designed to defend the chain.

The British plan for 1777 was to do exactly what the colonists feared most; split the colonies in two by way of the Hudson.  General Burgoyne would come down from Canada and take Albany. General Barry St. Leger would come from the West through New York and meet Burgoyne.  Finally, General Howe would attack up the Hudson and reach Albany smashing the Americans enroute.   

Well we all know the General Howe had other ideas and he went and captured Philadelphia. Burgoyne was successful but was stopped outside of a place called Saratoga NY and Barry St. leger never made it passed Fort Stanwix (Schuyler.)      

The Bear Mountain Bridge end on Anthony's Nose is the approximate location of Fort Montgomery's Iron chain east end.

 

The Chain at Fort Montgomery was broken through in mid Oct. 1777.  General Henry Clinton overpowered the twin forts with a massive assault on Oct. 6^th, and after the 5^th New York, Lamb’s Artillery, and the Ulster and Orange county militias were severely mauled, the British broke the chain and sailed north.  Kingston was burned and the enemy made it was far as Esopus NY before they stopped.  Luckily by then Burgoyne had surrendered to gates. HUZZAH!

So the waterway was open once again but the importance was still there.  Nothing could stop the British from sailing north with thousands of troops later on if something wasn’t done to plug this plan.

Enter West Point and the unfinished Fort Constitution.  In April 1778 a second Iron chain was forged and strung across the Hudson from West Point to Constitution Island.  This was where the unfinished Fort Constitution was in 1775-76.     Redoubts were built and cannon aimed in a great crossfire that would screen the river.  

 

This illustration shows the fields of fire from West Point and Constitution Island.

Forged at Sterling Iron works (I believe owned by Lord Stirling,) the links were shipped New Windsor and sailed down the river to be installed. The creator of the chain was the same man who was in charge of its construction at Fort Montgomery, Captain Machin.   This chain weighed over 186 tons when it was complete and like Fort Montgomery’s chain, was supplemented by a wooden boom. 

This chain remained unbroken throughout the war.  West Point grew to become one of the largest most fortified military installations of the American army.  As the war progressed, it was apparent that the Hudson could still be the key to victory.   West Point and the iron chain were almost turned over to the British by the traitorous benedict Arnold in late 1780.  This could have finally given the British the control of the river they sought from the beginning.  Luckily as we all know, Benedict Arnold’s treachery was found and the betrayal of West Point and its mighty chain was never completed.

                There were many other lesser known defenses protecting the Hudson.  Smaller forts, encampments, and even such places as the depot at Fish Kill all played an important role in keeping the area safe.  The British held New York City the entire war after it was captured in 1776 so the threat was real and constant.    Thankfully, the British never could split the colonies and the United States of America prevailed.

Today you can see some of the original chain and boom pieces at West Point and in New Burgh, NY at Washington’s HQ.  Copies of the chain pieces can be found in various museums such as Ringwood Manor State park in NJ and on Constitution Island. 

 

 The Chain memorial at West Point. 

Sources: 

 Diamant, Chaining The Hudson, 1989

Fisher, C. (2004). The Most Advantageous Situation in the Highlands: An Archaeological Study of Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, Cultural Resources Survey Program Series No. 2, New York State Museum. ISBN 1-55557-174-3

Twin Forts of the Popolopen, Hudson River Valley website

Mock chain pictures, http://www.kismeticproductions.com/chaining/