The Battle of Trenton

The day was cold and the rain froze us to the bone. On December 29, 2012, a couple hundred of reenactors and spectators gathered to remember and celebrate the Continental Army's victory over the Hessians and to mourn the passing of a long time Brigade of the American Revolution officer, Wayne Daniels. Regiments gathered from New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania to march through the modern day streets of Trenton. In one of the most interesting and integrating reenactments this blogger has seen, the troops in their 18th century clothing marched next to eager, modern-day spectators. The camp followers were impromptu security, walking the anachronistic line marked by the sidewalk and keeping the modern folk safe from musket fire.

The 5th New York was fortuinate enough to fall in with the kind gents of the 14th Mass Continentals, or more commonly called, the Marbleheaders. The troops marched forward to teach the Tories and Hessians a lesson!

The battle culminated on the park green where the 5th NY and 14th MA took the high grounds over the bridge. The troops successfully won the first battle, but the celebration was short lived. Once reformed in three blocks, the announcer said his condolences for the loss of the BAR founder, Wayne Daniels. Heartfelt and hurting, the troops fired off three volleys in respect. The troops marched back to the barracks for a break and lunch.

Credit: The History Girl

The second battle was just as successful as the first, if not a bit more soggy. The snow had turned to rain, and the perma-cloud above provided a perfect backdrop for the battle. The Continentals successfully defended the field and bridge against the oppressors. These two battles were a huge morale booster for the rebel cause and gave reason for majority of Washington's troops to reenlist.

It was a memorable time for all civilians and troops and continues to be a wonderful tradition.  We thank the tireless work of the BAR association and the memory of Wayne Daniels for giving us this amazing opportunity to relive such a poignant piece of history.

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.

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/