Battle of Hubbardton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Hubbardton
Part of the American Revolutionary War
A map from 1780 showing the area around Fort Ticonderoga
Date July 7, 1777 Location Hubbardton, disputed New Hampshire Grants territory; now in Rutland County, Vermont 43°42′N 73°08′W / 43.700°N 73.133°W / 43.700; -73.133 Result Tactical British victory, Strategic American victory
Belligerents
United States Vermont Republic	Great Britain Quebec Loyalists Brunswick Iroquois
Commanders and leaders
Ebenezer Francis  † Nathan Hale  Seth Warner	Simon Fraser Freiherr Riedesel
Strength
2,000 men	1,030 men
Casualties and losses
41-150 killed 96-457 wounded 230 captured	49–60 killed 141–168 wounded

The Battle of Hubbardton was an important fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened in the small village of Hubbardton, Vermont. At the time, Vermont was a new, independent area called the Vermont Republic. But New York and New Hampshire also claimed this land.

On the morning of July 7, 1777, British soldiers caught up with the American army. The Americans were retreating after leaving Fort Ticonderoga. This battle was the only one fought in Vermont during the entire Revolutionary War.

The American army, led by General Arthur St. Clair, had to leave Fort Ticonderoga. They saw British cannons on a high hill overlooking the fort. This made the fort unsafe. Most of the American army marched towards Castleton. But a group of soldiers, called the rear guard, stayed behind in Hubbardton. They needed to rest and wait for other soldiers who had fallen behind.

General Simon Fraser led the British forces. He quickly chased after the Americans. He wanted General John Burgoyne to send more soldiers to help him. Fraser's troops camped close to Hubbardton. Later, German soldiers led by General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel joined the chase.

Early the next morning, Fraser's troops reached Hubbardton. They surprised some American soldiers. But other Americans quickly got ready to fight. The battle was fierce. The Americans were pushed back, but they almost managed to surround Fraser's soldiers. Then, Riedesel and his German troops arrived. Their arrival helped the British win the battle.

The fight was tough for the British, too. They lost many soldiers. Because of this, they did not chase the main American army any further. Many American prisoners were sent to Ticonderoga. Most British soldiers went to Skenesboro to meet up with Burgoyne's army. The American soldiers who escaped eventually rejoined their main army.

Why the Battle Happened

The Battle of Hubbardton was part of a bigger plan called the Saratoga campaign. In 1777, British General John Burgoyne wanted to control the Hudson River valley. This would cut off New England from the other American colonies.

Burgoyne's army moved down Lake Champlain. They arrived near Fort Ticonderoga on July 1. On July 5, the American soldiers defending the fort saw something worrying. Burgoyne's men had placed cannons on a hill called Mount Defiance. These cannons could easily fire down into the fort.

Because of this danger, the Americans decided to leave the fort that night. This was a difficult decision. Most of the army marched on a rough road towards Hubbardton. It was a hot and sunny day. The march was very tiring. Many soldiers walked about 30 miles (48 km) to Castleton before stopping to rest.

British Soldiers Chase the Americans

The old military road to Hubbardton went through the middle of these hills

On July 6, British General Simon Fraser found out the Americans had left Ticonderoga. He immediately started chasing them. He led a group of elite soldiers. These included grenadiers and light infantry. About 100 Loyalists (Americans who supported the British) and Native American scouts also joined him.

General Burgoyne told General Riedesel to follow Fraser. Riedesel set out with some German soldiers. He ordered the rest of his troops to follow as fast as they could. Fraser's soldiers were very close behind the American rear guard. This group was led by Colonel Ebenezer Francis.

American General St. Clair stopped at Hubbardton. He wanted his tired soldiers to rest. He also hoped the rear guard would catch up. But they didn't arrive in time. So, he left Colonel Seth Warner and his famous Green Mountain Boys behind. Colonel Nathan Hale and his New Hampshire soldiers also stayed. Their job was to wait for the rest of the rear guard.

When Francis's and Hale's men arrived, Warner made a big decision. He decided they would spend the night in Hubbardton. This went against St. Clair's orders to keep marching. Warner had experience fighting as a rear guard. He set up their camps in a good defensive spot on Monument Hill. He also sent out patrols to watch the road from Ticonderoga.

Baron Riedesel caught up with Fraser around 4 PM. Riedesel said his men were too tired to go further. Fraser agreed, even though he was allowed to fight the enemy. He told Riedesel he would leave his camp at 3 AM the next morning. Fraser then moved his troops a few miles closer to Hubbardton and camped there. Riedesel waited for his main group of about 1,500 men and also made camp.

The Battle Begins

A map of the battle drawn by a British officer

Fraser's soldiers woke up at 3 AM. But it was still dark, so they moved slowly. Riedesel also left his camp at 3 AM with a small, fast group. He was still behind Fraser when Fraser reached Hubbardton at dawn. Fraser's troops almost completely surprised some of Hale's American soldiers. These Americans were scattered in the first moments of the fight.

A messenger arrived from General St. Clair. He brought bad news. The British had reached Skenesboro. This was where the Americans had planned to regroup. Now, they needed to take a longer, different route to the Hudson River. St. Clair ordered the soldiers at Hubbardton to follow him immediately to Rutland.

Francis's men were just starting to march out around 7:15 AM. Suddenly, the British soldiers appeared over the hill behind them. The Americans quickly formed a line behind some cover. They fired a strong volley of shots at the British. General Fraser quickly looked at the situation. He decided to send some soldiers to attack the American left side. This was risky for his own left side, but he hoped it would hold until Riedesel arrived.

Riedesel reached the top of another hill. From there, he saw that the American line was pushing hard on Fraser's left side. This line now included some of Hale's soldiers. So, Riedesel sent his grenadiers to help Fraser's left. He also sent his jägers (German light infantry) to attack the center of the American line.

The west side of Monument Hill. British soldiers attacked up this hill.

General St. Clair heard the sounds of gunfire in the distance. He immediately sent two officers, Henry Brockholst Livingston and Isaac Dunn, to help. They were to tell the closest American militia groups to go help the battle. But when they reached those camps, they found the militia running away from the sound of the fighting. Nothing could convince them to turn around. Livingston and Dunn kept riding towards Hubbardton.

The Americans fell back to a strong position on Monument Hill. They fought off several strong British attacks. Colonel Francis was shot in the arm, but he kept fighting. He directed his troops to a weak spot he saw on Fraser's left side.

The battle changed after more than an hour of fighting. Riedesel's grenadiers arrived. These well-trained soldiers joined the fight singing hymns. A military band played music to make them seem like a much larger force. The American flanks (sides of their army) were surrounded. They had to run across an open field to avoid being completely trapped. Colonel Francis was killed by musket fire as his troops ran away. The American soldiers scattered into the countryside.

What Happened Next

The American soldiers who escaped slowly made their way towards Rutland. They wanted to rejoin the main army. Fraser's scouts and Native American allies chased them. Without food or shelter, some soldiers took five days to reach the army. By then, the army was near Fort Edward. Other Americans, including Colonel Hale and 230 men, were captured by the British.

Colonel Francis was buried with respect by his opponents. He was buried with the German soldiers who died.

Baron Riedesel and his German troops left for Skenesboro the next day. General Fraser was not happy about this. He was left in a difficult area with only 600 tired men. He also had many prisoners and wounded soldiers, and not enough supplies. On July 9, he sent the 300 prisoners to Ticonderoga. He then marched his exhausted soldiers towards Castleton and Skenesboro.

Livingston and Dunn, the two officers St. Clair sent, met the retreating Americans after the battle. They returned to Castleton with the bad news. The American army then marched on. They finally reached the American camp at Fort Edward on July 12.

Who Won and What They Lost

The British army reported their losses. They had 39 British soldiers and 1 French-Canadian killed. They also had 127 British and 2 French-Canadians wounded. The German troops reported 10 killed and 14 wounded. So, the British and German forces together lost 50 killed and 143 wounded.

Historian Richard M. Ketchum gives slightly different numbers for the British. He says 60 were killed and 168 were wounded.

Ketchum also states American losses were 41 killed, 96 wounded, and 230 captured. However, a British officer at the battle, Lt. Anburey, said that 200 dead and 600 wounded from both sides were found on the field. If we use his numbers, American losses might have been higher. They could have been 150 killed, 457 wounded, and 230 captured.

Visiting the Hubbardton Battlefield

Hubbard Battlefield Historic Site

The Hubbardton Battlefield Visitor Center
Location	5696 Monument Hill Road Hubbardton, Vermont
Type	Visitor center
Owner	State of Vermont

In 1859, a monument was built on the battlefield. The state of Vermont started buying land there in the 1930s. Now, it is a state historic site. The battlefield was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Each year, people hold reenactments of the Revolutionary War battle here. The visitor center has an exhibit that tells the story of the Battle of Hubbardton. It also explains its place in the wider Revolutionary War. There is a trail at the site called the Hubbardton Battlefield Trail. It has signs that point out important places and moments from the battle.

Images for kids

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  The Hubbardton Battlefield Visitor Center