Siege of Fort Lee

Siege of Fort Lee
Conflict	Siege of Fort Lee
Partof	American Revolutionary War
Date	November 20–21, 1776
Place	Fort Lee, New Jersey
Result	British victory; evacuation of Fort Lee
Combatant1	United States
Combatant2	Kingdom of Great Britain
Commander1	George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Israel Putnam
Commander2	William Howe, Charles Cornwallis, James Grant
Strength1	~2,500 (Continental Army, militia)
Strength2	~4,500 (British, Hessian, Loyalist units)
Casualties1	~200 captured or killed, several artillery pieces lost
Casualties2	light

Siege of Fort Lee

The siege of Fort Lee (20–21 November 1776) was a campaign episode during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War in which British Army forces under William Howe and Charles Cornwallis forced the Continental defenders to abandon the fort on the Hudson Palisades opposite Fort Washington. The British victory accelerated the Continental Army's retreat across New Jersey and contributed to the collapse of American positions in the region, preceding the famous Crossing of the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton.

Background

In the autumn of 1776, following defeats in the Battle of Long Island and the evacuation of New York City, George Washington sought to defend the strategic Hudson River approaches by occupying fortified positions along the Hudson River and its western shore. Fort Lee, built on the western cliff above the river near present-day Fort Lee townsite and overlooking Spuyten Duyvil Creek, formed a link with Fort Washington on Manhattan Island; together they were intended to control river traffic and deny Royal Navy access. Earlier operations after the Capture of New York had left Continental detachments under officers such as Nathanael Greene, Israel Putnam, and William Alexander, Lord Stirling tasked with holding these posts amid growing logistical strains and militia shortages.

Prelude and Strategic Context

After the Battle of White Plains and the British occupation of Manhattan, Howe reorganized his forces to clear remaining American strongpoints. With the Royal Navy providing command of the river, the British planned coordinated landings and overland movements to isolate and seize positions on both banks. The failure of Continental defenses in earlier engagements, combined with poor communications among commanders and shortages of provisions, weakened the American posture. Intelligence gathered by British scouts and Loyalist guides indicated that Fort Lee's garrison was undermanned and vulnerable to envelopment, and Howe ordered columns under James Grant and Cornwallis to move north from New Brunswick, New Jersey and westward along the Bergen Neck to cut off escape routes.

The Siege

Beginning on 20 November, British and Hessian detachments advanced through New Jersey passes and along the Hackensack and Hackensack Meadows, threatening Fort Lee's rear and blocking roads toward Palisades Interstate Park routes. Continental pickets under officers such as Nathanael Greene exchanged skirmishes with dragoons and light infantry, but British artillery and light companies exploited high ground and naval gunfire from ships like HMS Roebuck to menace the fort. As British grenadiers and light infantry pressed the approaches, Continental commanders recognized the risk of encirclement after reports of British movements toward the Hackensack and of ships ascending the Hudson. Overnight, under cover of darkness and amid a driving rain and sleet, George Washington and his staff ordered an evacuation.

The withdrawal commenced late on 20 November and continued into the morning of 21 November. Continental troops abandoned cannon, stores, and some sick and wounded in the haste; elements under Israel Putnam and William Alexander, Lord Stirling covered the retreat. British troops occupied the fort the next day, finding abandoned works and captured materiel. The rapid collapse of Fort Lee, combined with the earlier fall of Fort Washington’s counterpart, left significant stretches of New Jersey open to British foraging and raiding.

Aftermath and Consequences

The loss of Fort Lee precipitated a general American retreat across New Jersey toward the Delaware River frontier. The British occupation consolidated their control of the lower Hudson approaches and allowed for deeper penetration into New Jersey interior, fueling Loyalist raids and securing lines of communication for Howe's army. For the Continental Army, the evacuation strained morale and logistics but freed Washington to execute a winter counterstroke: crossing the Delaware River on 25–26 December and striking at Hessian garrisons at Trenton on 26 December in a move that revitalized the revolutionary cause after a string of defeats. Politically, the setbacks at Fort Lee and nearby actions emboldened King George III's ministers but also highlighted the Continental Army's resilience and Washington's capacity for strategic withdrawal and subsequent counterattack.

Order of Battle and Forces Involved

Continental forces at Fort Lee were drawn from regiments of the Continental Army and local militia units, including elements under Nathanael Greene, Israel Putnam, and staff officers from George Washington's headquarters. Troop numbers have been estimated at roughly 2,000–2,500, though detachments elsewhere and logistical detachments reduced effective strength; artillery detachments manned several field pieces and older cannon emplaced on the palisade.

British forces that executed the siege comprised British regulars, grenadiers, light infantry, and Hessian auxiliaries under overall command of Howe, with operational leadership by Charles Cornwallis and James Grant. Naval support came from Royal Navy vessels patrolling the Hudson, enabling cross-river fire and interdiction. Estimates place British and allied strength at some 4,000–4,500 for the operation, including marines and Loyalist companies recruited in New Jersey.

Category:Battles of the American Revolutionary War Category:1776 in the United States