Battle of Stony Point in the American Revolution

Clash of Stony Point in the American Revolution The Battle of Stony Point was battled July 16, 1779, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). In the mid year of 1779, the initiative of the Continental Army chose to mount an ambush against Stony Point, NY after the position had been involved by the British. The task was given to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne and the Corps of Light Infantry. Striking around evening time, Waynes men led a challenging blade assault that made sure about Stony Point and caught the British army. The triumph gave a required lift to American resolve and Wayne got a gold award from Congress for his authority. Foundation In the wake of the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, British powers under Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton to a great extent stayed inactive in New York City. The British were watched by General George Washingtons armed force which accepted situations in New Jersey and toward the north in the Hudson Highlands. As the 1779 battling season started, Clinton looked to bait Washington out of the mountains and into a general commitment. To achieve this, he dispatched around 8,000 men up the Hudson. As a component of this development, the British held onto Stony Point on the eastern bank of the stream just as Verplancks Point on the contrary shore. <img information srcset=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/HVEinr-vZ3MQ8r-i6t3JjmEzgKY=/300x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/henry-clinton-huge 56a61b563df78cf7728b5f26.jpg 300w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/v5McROk_4VZRmMS4tnvWG0XLclo=/425x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/henry-clinton-huge 56a61b563df78cf7728b5f26.jpg 425w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/F4y_PTmc6JMCdMwmJmOziOAwa1I=/550x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/henry-clinton-huge 56a61b563df78cf7728b5f26.jpg 550w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/ - vUvDzkSXTJMIdNpqAZuDaiTau4=/800x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/henry-clinton-huge 56a61b563df78cf7728b5f26.jpg 800w information src=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/uKCtoy52E1XqFPKkKHDv_9ceUIw=/800x537/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/henry-clinton-huge 56a61b563df78cf7728b5f26.jpg src=//:0 alt=General Sir Henry Clinton in red dress uniform. class=lazyload information click-tracked=true information img-lightbox=true information expand=300 id=mntl-sc-square image_1-0-5 information following container=true /> General Sir Henry Clinton. Photo Source: Public Domain Claiming the two focuses toward the finish of May, the British started strengthening them against assault. The loss of these two positions denied the Americans of utilizing Kings Ferry, a key waterway traverse the Hudson. As the principle British power pulled back to New York having neglected to drive a significant fight, a battalion of somewhere in the range of 600 and 700 men was left at Stony Point under the order Lieutenant Colonel Henry Johnson. Comprising of forcing statures, Stony Point was encircled by water on three sides. On the territory side of the point streamed a marshy steam that overwhelmed at elevated tide and was crossed by one interstate. Naming their position a little Gibraltar, the British built two lines of resistances confronting west (to a great extent fleches and abatis instead of dividers), each kept an eye on with around 300 men and ensured by big guns. Stony Point was additionally ensured by the outfitted sloop HMS Vulture (14 weapons) which was working in that piece of the Hudson. Viewing the British activities from on close by Buckberg Mountain, Washington was at first hesitant to ambush the position. Using a broad insight arrange, he had the option to find out the quality of the battalion just as a few passwords and the areas of guards (Map). The American Plan Rethinking, Washington chose to push ahead with an assault using the Continental Armys Corps of Light Infantry. Directed by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 1,300 men would move against Stony Point in three segments. The primary, drove by Wayne and comprising of around 700 men, would make the fundamental assault against the southern side of the point. Scouts had announced that the outrageous southern finish of the British safeguards didn't reach out into the waterway and could be flanked by intersection a little sea shore at low tide. This was to be bolstered by an assault against the northern side by 300 men under Colonel Richard Butler. To guarantee shock, Waynes and Butlers segments would make the attack with their black powder guns emptied and depending exclusively on the blade. Every segment would send a development power to address roadblocks with a 20-men forsaken plan to give assurance. As a preoccupation, Major Hardy Murfree was requested to organize a diversionary assault against the primary British protections with around 150 men. This exertion was to go before the flank assaults and fill in as sign for their development. To guarantee legitimate distinguishing proof in the haziness, Wayne requested his men to wear bits of white paper in their caps as an acknowledgment gadget (Map). Clash of Stony Point Strife: American Revolution (1775-1783)Dates: July 16, 1779Armies and Commanders:AmericansBrigadier General Anthony Wayne1,500 menBritishLieutenant Colonel Henry Johnson600-700 menCasualties:Americans: 15 murdered, 83 woundedBritish: 20 executed, 74 injured, 472 caught, 58 missing The Assault On the night of July 15, Waynes men assembled at Springsteels Farm roughly two miles from Stony Point. Here the order was advised and the sections started their development in the blink of an eye before 12 PM. Moving toward Stony Point, the Americans profited by substantial mists which constrained the evening glow. As Waynes men approached the southern flank they found that their line of approach was overflowed with two to four feet of water. Swimming through the water, they made enough commotion to caution the British pickets. As the alert was raised, Murfrees men started their assault. Pushing forward, Waynes section came aground and started their attack. This was followed a couple of moments later Butlers men who effectively slice through the abatis along the northern finish of the British line. Reacting to Murfrees redirection, Johnson hurried to the landward guards with six organizations from the seventeenth Regiment of Foot. Fighting through the guards, the flanking segments prevailing with regards to overpowering the British and removing those drawing in Murfree. In the battling, Wayne was incidentally put down and out when a spent round struck his head. <img information srcset=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/waoNaFi6rfjtKtc4_N1ShdnELMk=/300x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stony-popint-83dc64dcaf8447999409874af2ee1dd2.jpeg 300w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/mgorQNaHMzNR4Zm0st33Y_DcEEY=/425x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stony-popint-83dc64dcaf8447999409874af2ee1dd2.jpeg 425w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/LD0rAkMRdrTXQo_V8eciY66Lj6A=/550x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stony-popint-83dc64dcaf8447999409874af2ee1dd2.jpeg 550w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/hXdyNJMIsgLdCHOqx_rbT0n7WQA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stony-popint-83dc64dcaf8447999409874af2ee1dd2.jpeg 800w information src=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/vTbTXJ2ZZUWEqAKtxefBdMewqVM=/800x533/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stony-popint-83dc64dcaf8447999409874af2ee1dd2.jpeg src=//:0 alt=American troops ambushing Stony Point in 1779 class=lazyload information click-tracked=true information img-lightbox=true information expand=300 id=mntl-sc-square image_1-0-21 information following container=true /> Clash of Stony Point, 1779. Library of Congress Order of the southern segment regressed to Colonel Christian Febiger who pushed the assault up the inclines. The first to enter the deepest British protections was Lieutenant Colonel Francois de Fluery who chop down the British ensign from the flagstaff. With American powers amassing in his back, Johnson was eventually constrained to give up after under thirty minutes of battling. Recouping, Wayne sent a dispatch to Washington advising him, The fortification battalion with Col. Johnston are our own. Our officials men carried on like men who are resolved to be free. Result A dazzling triumph for Wayne, the battling at Stony Point saw him lose 15 slaughtered and 83 injured, while British misfortunes totaled 20 murdered, 74 injured, 472 caught, and 58 missing. Moreover, a large group of stores and fifteen firearms were caught. Despite the fact that an arranged follow-on assault against Verplancks Point never appeared, the Battle of Stony Point demonstrated an imperative lift to American resolve and was one of the last clashes of the contention to be battled in the North. Visiting Stony Point on July 17, Washington was incredibly satisfied with the outcome and offered sumptuous acclaim upon Wayne. Surveying the landscape, Washington requested Stony Point relinquished the following day as he did not have the men to completely ensure it. For his activities at Stony Point, Wayne was granted a gold award by Congress.