Battle of Stony Point in the American Revolution

Skirmish 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 late spring 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 directed a challenging knife assault that made sure about Stony Point and caught the British army. The triumph gave a required lift to American spirit and Wayne got a gold award from Congress for his administration. 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 crusading season started, Clinton tried 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 feature of this development, the British held onto Stony Point on the eastern bank of the waterway 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-enormous 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 invigorating them against assault. The loss of these two positions denied the Americans of utilizing Kings Ferry, a key waterway traverse the Hudson. As the fundamental British power pulled back to New York having neglected to constrain 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 terrain side of the point streamed a damp steam that overwhelmed at elevated tide and was crossed by one highway. Naming their position a little Gibraltar, the British developed two lines of guards confronting west (generally fleches and abatis instead of dividers), each kept an eye on with around 300 men and ensured by mounted guns. Stony Point was additionally secured by the outfitted sloop HMS Vulture (14 firearms) 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 attack the position. Using a broad insight arrange, he had the option to learn 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 sections. The principal, drove by Wayne and comprising of around 700 men, would make the primary assault against the southern side of the point. Scouts had detailed that the extraordinary southern finish of the British resistances didn't stretch out into the stream 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 sections would make the attack with their black powder rifles emptied and depending exclusively on the pike. Every section would send a development power to address issues with a 20-men melancholy want to give assurance. As a preoccupation, Major Hardy Murfree was requested to arrange a diversionary assault against the principle British resistances with around 150 men. This exertion was to go before the flank assaults and fill in as sign for their development. To guarantee appropriate distinguishing proof in the haziness, Wayne requested his men to wear bits of white paper in their caps as an acknowledgment gadget (Map). Skirmish of Stony Point Struggle: American Revolution (1775-1783)Dates: July 16, 1779Armies and Commanders:AmericansBrigadier General Anthony Wayne1,500 menBritishLieutenant Colonel Henry Johnson600-700 menCasualties:Americans: 15 slaughtered, 83 woundedBritish: 20 executed, 74 injured, 472 caught, 58 missing The Assault On the night of July 15, Waynes men accumulated at Springsteels Farm roughly two miles from Stony Point. Here the order was informed and the segments started their development in a matter of seconds before 12 PM. Moving toward Stony Point, the Americans profited by substantial mists which restricted the evening glow. As Waynes men approached the southern flank they found that their line of approach was overwhelmed with two to four feet of water. Swimming through the water, they made enough clamor to alarm the British pickets. As the alert was raised, Murfrees men started their assault. Pushing forward, Waynes segment came shorewards 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 resistances with six organizations from the seventeenth Regiment of Foot. Fighting through the protections, the flanking sections prevailing with regards to overpowering the British and removing those connecting with 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 degenerated to Colonel Christian Febiger who pushed the assault up the inclines. The first to enter the deepest British resistances was Lieutenant Colonel Francois de Fluery who chop down the British ensign from the flagstaff. With American powers amassing in his back, Johnson was at last constrained to give up after under thirty minutes of battling. Recuperating, Wayne sent a dispatch to Washington advising him, The stronghold army with Col. Johnston are our own. Our officials men acted like men who are resolved to be free. Result A dazzling triumph for Wayne, the battling at Stony Point saw him lose 15 executed and 83 injured, while British misfortunes totaled 20 slaughtered, 74 injured, 472 caught, and 58 missing. What's more, a large group of stores and fifteen firearms were caught. In spite of the fact that an arranged follow-on assault against Verplancks Point never appeared, the Battle of Stony Point demonstrated a fundamental lift to American confidence and was one of the last skirmishes 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 recognition upon Wayne. Evaluating the territory, Washington requested Stony Point relinquished the following day as he came up short on the men to completely ensure it. For his activities at Stony Point, Wayne was granted a gold decoration by Congress.