Battle of Fort Washington facts for kids
The Battle of Fort Washington was an important fight during the American Revolutionary War. This war was when the United States fought for its freedom from Great Britain. The battle happened on November 16, 1776, and the British army won.
After a tough fight against the American army, called the Continental Army, the British wanted to take over Fort Washington. This fort was the last American stronghold, or strong military base, in Manhattan.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
General George Washington, who led the Continental Army, thought about leaving Fort Washington. He wanted to move his soldiers, about 1,400 of them, to New Jersey. But another general, Nathaniel Greene, convinced him to stay and fight for the fort. So, the number of soldiers at the fort grew to 3,000.
The British Attack
On November 16, 1776, the British army, led by General William Howe, attacked Fort Washington. They attacked from three sides: the north, east, and south. The attack was delayed a little because of the water levels in the Harlem River. This made it hard for some British troops to land.
When the attack finally began, the American defenses on the south and west sides of the fort quickly fell. The American soldiers in the north fought bravely and held out longer. But eventually, their defenses also weakened.
Surrender and Aftermath
With the fort surrounded by land and sea, the American commander, Robert Magaw, had a difficult choice. He decided to surrender the fort instead of continuing to fight.
In this battle, 59 American soldiers were killed. A large number, 2,837 Americans, became prisoners of the British. After this big loss, General George Washington's main army had to retreat. They were chased across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. This defeat set the stage for two other important battles later on: the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton.
Images for kids
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A tablet remembering where Fort Washington was located.
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A memorial in Bennett Park for Fort Washington.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Fort Washington para niños
