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October 6th, 1777
Read further about the Battle of the Forts Montgomery and Clinton
5th New York Regiment-Col. Dubois
Ulster and Orange County Militia under Cols. Allison, Hasbrouck, Woodhill and McClaughry
Two companies of Lambs Artillery (one in each fort)
1,000 men for two forts.
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"A walk of several hours brought them (Tunis and John Van Arsdale from Montgomery NY) to a little stream at the
foot of the hill upon which Fort Montgomery stood, and where
they had intended to stop and eat their dinner; but hearing a great
deal of noise and bustle in the fort, they-only took a drink from
the brook, and hastened up into the works, when they soon
learned that a large body of the enemy had landed below the
Dunderbergh, and were advancing by a circuitous route to attack
the fort in the rear. About the middle of the afternoon the British
columns appeared, and pressed on to the assault with bayonets
fixed...........
About half-past four, they (the British) sent a flag, which
Lt.-Col. William Livingston was deputed by the Governor (Brigadier Gen'l George Clinton)
to go out and receive. They demanded a surrender in five minutes, to
prevent the effusion of blood, otherwise we should all be put to
sword ! The gallant young colonel answered, with irony, that he
would accept their proposals if they meant to surrender, and could
assure them good usage ; that we were determined to defend the
fort to the last extremity!
.............our men poured down upon them such a destructive
fire of bullets and grape shot that they fell in heaps, and were
kept at bay till night-fall, when our folks, being worn out by continued
fighting, and overpowered by numbers, were obliged to
give way. Then Gov. Clinton told them to escape for their lives,
when many fought their way out, or scrambled over the wall,
and so got away..............
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The first to enter the fort were the New York Volunteers [ Loyalists] (led by
Capt. George Turnbull and Col. Beverly Robinson) a provincial corps, whose commander,
Major Grant, was killed before the assault.
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Inside the Forts.....
................nearly all the officers, got away.
But many were taken prisoners, and about 100 were slain ( 275 prisoner) ; among
the latter was a son of Colonel Allison, and Capt. Milliken, of
McClaughry's regiment ; also James Van Arsdale,
of Hanover Precinct, a kinsman1 of Tunis and John, and a
private in Dubois's regiment. The enemy paid dearly
for their conquest, both in officers and men, the total being 41
killed and 142 wounded. Among the officers killed, besides Col.
Campbell, Majors Grant and Sill, and Capt. Stewart, was Count
Grabouski, a Polish nobleman acting as aid-de-camp to Sir Henry
Clinton ; and Sir Henry himself narrowly escaped our grape-shot,
as also Maj. Gen. John Vaughan, whose horse was shot under
him.......
Excerpts from Evacuation Day by James Riker
Returns of Troops captured at the Fort
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British and Loyalist Troops at Fort Montgomery: 52nd Regiment, 57th
Regiment, Emmerick Chasseurs,
Loyalist Americans, and New York Volunteers.
Suggested Reading on the Battle:
Evacuation Day : By James Riker (1883) Story of Captain John Van Arsdale
The Memoirs of Revered John Gano (who was at the battle)
TWIN FORTS OF THE POPOLOPEN (Forts Clinton and Montgomery 1775-1777)
Bear Mountain Trailside Museum - 1937
Hudson Valley Magazine article on Mr. Jack Mead, who conducted an archaeological dig from 1967-1971.
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Estimated at 4,000 total troops
British and Loyalist Regiments engaged at Fort Montgomery
Lieutenant-Colonel Mungo Campbell
Commanding 500 Regulars, 400 loyalist troop
Loyal American Regiment (Loyalists)
"The navigation of the Hudson river, three miles above Peekskill, was blockaded by the Americans who had strung, across the river, an iron chain and boom. The boom was protected by four war-ships and two fortifications named Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton on the western bank of the river.
The 52nd and 57th Regiment of Foot, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell disembarked at Stoney Point early on the day of October 6th.
The British troops attacked both forts simultaneously on the afternoon of October 6th, successfully defeating the Americans by nightfall. Major-General Henry Clinton with Hessian troops commanded by Emmerich Chasseur; the American Loyalist troops commanded by Captain George Turnbull, and Lieutenant-Colonel Mungo Campbell with the 57th and 52nd, were engaged at the Fort Montgomery attack. The attack of Fort Clinton included the 26th, Fraser's Highlanders, one company of German Chasseurs, and the 63rd. "
57th Regiment of Foot
Lieutenant Polycarpus William Taylor
British, Hessian units engaged at Fort Clinton
Major-General Henry Clinton
Maj. Gen. John Vaughan
Commanding 1100 Regulars, Hessian and Loyalist troops
1 Company of Hessians
71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders)