REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES: MARCH 1777

As the 4th of July approaches, here’s another seasonal blog post, this one looking at often overlooked clashes during the Revolutionary War.

MARCH 8th – Another encounter during the Great Forage War. American and British troops continued foraging for supplies throughout the New Jersey No Man’s Land. Near Amboy, NJ an unknown number of U.S. forces under General William Maxwell ambushed hundreds of British-Allied Hessian troops and captured 70 Hessians in the resulting fighting.

ALSO MARCH 8th – The Battle of Punk Hill. A force of 3,000 British regulars were on the move near Bonhamton, NJ. Another unknown number of American soldiers – also under General William Maxwell – attacked the Brits at Punk Hill.

        While advance units were fighting it out, Maxwell and his counterpart General William Howe maneuvered their men to reinforce those advance units. Maxwell succeeded but American Rebels prevented the British reinforcements from reaching their comrades.

        A rout resulted, with the Americans driving the Brits back to Bonhamton. Whatever the American numbers were, they were not sufficient to safely continue their pursuit of the thousands of Redcoats. The usual sketchy information from such encounters indicates 4-7 British killed and at least 3 captured but how many were wounded is not known. Americans supposedly suffered no casualties.

MARCH 16th – In the state of New York, British forces including Queen’s Rangers and Hessians set out to attack American Rebels at DeLancey’s Mills. Captains John Branden and Archibald Campbell were in command.

        Around 9:00pm near Stephen Ward’s house outside Kingsbridge, NY the Brits clashed with the American troops and defeated them soundly. They killed 40-50 Rebels and captured 27, including a Major, a Captain and a Forage Master. In addition, the Brits seized 24 head of cattle and 4 horses from the Americans.   

MARCH 23rd – At Peekskill, NY, only 250 American soldiers under General Alexander McDougall were left watching over the Hudson Highlands out of the 3,300 that General George Washington had placed there the previous November. Desertions and other issues had whittled down the numbers and Massachusetts refused to provide the 8 regiments that Washington had requested they send to reinforce the 250 men remaining.

        British ships landed over 500 soldiers at Peekskill and attacked the Americans. McDougall failed to prevent the Redcoats from burning down some of the Rebel barracks and supply buildings. Colonel Marinus Willett arrived from Fort Montgomery across the Hudson River with 80 men.

        Willett ignored the ineffectual General McDougall and saved the situation in a firefight followed by a bayonet charge. Ultimately, Willett forced the British to retreat to their ships and leave the area.

MARCH 24th – The British won a skirmish near Highlands, NY. I have not been able to find further information. Other online sites simply state the Brits won a minor action on this date near Highlands. Any additional information would be welcome.