1781
NEW WINDSOR ON THE HUDSON
& WEST POINT.
Summary:
TROUBLES: MUTINY AT KEMBLE HILL MORRISTOWN AND
POMPTON, NJ
To RINGWOOD, NJ. THE VICTORY AT
COWPENS, NC.
To NEWPORT,
RI HARTFORD, CT NEW WINDSOR,
NY.
A PARTIAL VICTORY AT GUILFORD COURTHOUSE, NC;
A LOSS AT CAMDEN, SC. THE BRITISH
LOSE WEST FLORIDA.
GW WENT TO Fishkill,
NY Litchfield,
CT, Farmington,
CT, WETHERSFIELD,
CT
to plan strategy with French General Comte de Rochambeau with a focus on recapturing NEW YORK TOWN.
British
evacuate Camden, Fort Mott, Orangeburgh, and Fort Granby,
SC.
TO TARRYTOWN NORTH CASTLE DOBBS
FERRY KINGSBRIDGE
FROGS NECK PHILLIPSBURG, NY.
A SOUTHERN STRATEGY WITH MAJOR HELP FROM THE FRENCH
NAVY. To WEST
POINT MONTVILLE, NJ
CHATHAM, NJ NEW BRUNSWICK
TRENTON
PHILADELPHIA HEAD OF ELK,
MD
BALTIMORE
MT
VERNON WILLIAMSBURGH, VA.
THE DECISIVE VICTORY AT YORKTOWN, VA
CORNWALIS
GIVES HIS SWORD TO GENERAL LINCOLN.
A VISIT TO THE FRENCH ADMIRAL DEGRASSE.
GW's STEPSON HAD DIED, A VISIT TO ELTHAM, VA.
A VISIT TO MOTHER AT FREDERICBURG, VA.
To MT VERNON ANNAPOLIS
PHILADELPHIA.
1781 - MUTINY AND A DECISIVE VICTORY !
"It was the worst of times; it was the best of times."
MUTINY !
On January 8, 1781, GW was at NEW
WINDSOR HQ in the William
Ellison House (where Martha
entertained officers and wives).
GW at WEST
POINT received news of the defection of the PA line at
Kemble Hill, Morristown.
On the 11th, a council of war was held at General Heath's quarters regarding
Morristown shortages.
At MorrisTown
on January 7, about 1,500 veterans of the Pennsylvania regiment, who were
dedicated to fighting the British, went on a rampage,
killing a captain - after seeing that new recruits were being paid
in coin, when the veterans had not received back-pay for a year.
Some of them took supplies and a cannon, and they marched to
Princeton. The troops received a pardon and payment after negotiations
with Joseph Reed of the Pennsylvania Council.
At
NEW WINDSOR
on January 16,
GW wrote a thank you letter to Benjamin Franklin's daughter, Mrs.Sarah
Bache, for collecting contributions for soldiers. La Fayette gave one
hundred guineas and another six thousand dollars paper money in the name of
his wife, the Countess de Luzerne.
On January 22 at WEST
POINT, GW, Count Dumas
and La Fayette visited the forts and reviewed the garrisons. On
the return up river, the boat ran into danger with chunks of ice.
GW took the helm. They walked a league, even though La
Fayette had a wounded leg.
At RINGWOOD,
NJ from January 26 to 28, 1781
Washington rode to ten miles north of Pompton
before returning to NEW
WINDSOR.
On January 27, 1781, in response to a revolt
of New Jersey troops stationed at Pompton, NJ - a detachment of
five hundred arrived, shot three ringleaders and arrested the mutineers.
At Pompton, NJ on
January 27, other factions who continued to be rebellious
were made part of a firing squad commanded by General Robert Howe.
They executed the mutinous leaders.
The
Battle of COWPENS, SC
Good
news ! On January 17,
1781,
American General
Daniel Morgan captured 830 of Tarleton's men (and 110 were
killed) vs. the Americans 61 (and 12) at the Battle
of COWPENS, SC. The Americans had feigned retreat around a hilltop;
then they swept back forward and enveloped the British.
At NEW
WINDSOR, NY on February 20, GW wrote Congress in praise of
General Morgan's signal victory at Cowpens.
GW ordered a detachment to
rendezvous at Peekskill and another, about 1200
from the Jersey troops, under La Fayette, to march via Pompton, and
Morristown to Head-of-Elk at Chesapeake Bay to try to capture Benedict
Arnold in Virginia with the help of three French ships.
On February 24, GW wrote to
Count de Rochambeau thanking him for his 2-11-81 birthday celebrations with
parades and proclamations by the French troops.
On March 1, GW wrote to La
Fayette of the promise of arrival of 1100 French troops to operate at
Chesapeake Bay with the French fleet.
On March 2, 1781, GW set out for
Rhode Island via Hartford and Lebanon,
Connecticut. Washington arrived at the Vernon
House in NEWPORT, RI on
March 6. He arrived via ferry at Jamestown
and via the admiral's barge to the flagship
Bourgogne to meet all the French generals.
At Barney's Ferry, a close line
of French troops greeted GW on the way to the Count Rochambeau HQ at William
Vernon's house, 802 New Lane (at Mary and Clarke Streets). The
next night, all houses received free candles to illuminate the whole town
during a night procession. There was a ball held where GW danced with a
pretty Newport belle at Mrs. Crowley's Assembly Room.
On March 11, GW wrote, warning La
Fayette that in addition to the French fleet
setting sail for the Chesapeake Bay, the British had also
set sail in full force for the same destination.
GW passed through BRISTOL
on the way to PROVIDENCE,
R I at night on March 13 via ferry. He rode the length of Hope Street
with flowers and evergreens being cast in his path. He addressed
the crowd thanking them for their greeting and kindness. He was
entertained at the house of Hon. Jabez Bowen
and then attended a military ball.
GW returned via HARTFORD,
CT on March 16 in the evening. He dined at Mr.
Platt's and spent the afternoon at Jonathan Trumbull's
lodgings and departed on March 18, 1781.
GW arrived on March 20, 1781 at
the William Ellison NEW
WINDSOR HQ on the
North River (Hudson). He wrote Congress and also thanked Joseph
Willard for electing him to be a member of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences.
The
Battle of GUILFORD COURTHOUSE, NC
On March 15,
1781 General Cornwallis fought with inferior numbers, but
with men having superior experience. Though America's General
Greene lost 312 men - wounded and captured - and 78 were killed vs. 738 and
184 British. But the Americans had to retreat from the town.
Cornwallis retired to Wilmington, NC.
On April
4, 1781, at NEW WINDSOR
HQ, GW visited West Point
and wrote a letter to General Lincoln about the loss of field at Guilford
Court-House, but recognized that the British offensive operations could
begin to be curtailed in the South.
GW wrote two
letters to La Fayette, which reached La Fayette in time for
him to redirect his troops south to Baltimore, from Head-of-Elk, where the
French Fleet had met with a setback.
GW got
word of a potential assassination plot.
Loss
at Hobkirk's Hill -
CAMDEN, SC
On April 25, General
Nathaniel Green's army averted capture by Lord Rawdon's British
troops - when the Americans retreated after receiving support from Virginia
artillerymen and cannons. Elsewhere, General Cornwallis' forces moved to try
to conquer Virginia.
British loss
of WESTERN FLORIDA
In early May,
the British surrendered after a long siege to a Spanish fleet and
2,600 men from Cuba under Bernado de Galvez in Pensacola, FL -
giving-up lands along the Gulf of Mexico, including parts of Mississippi and
Florida.
On May 18, 1781,
GW set out to Wethersfield, CT for an interview with the newly appointed
French Admiral Count de Barras and Count de Rochambeau.
Washington
dined at Colonel Vanderberg's and stayed overnight at Morgan's
Tavern, about 40 miles from Fishkill,
NY.
On May 19,
GW breakfasted at Litchfield,
CT, dined in Farmington
and lodged at the Joseph Webb, Esqr. house
in WETHERSFIELD,
CT. As he dismounted, he was saluted with a 13 gun salute.
On
Sunday, they heard a sermon on Matthew chapter 7 -
"blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
Heaven."
Washington
met with French General Comte de Rochambeau to Plan
Strategy.
On May
21, 1781, Count de Rochambeau and Chevr de Chastellux arrived at WETHERSFIELD,
but the arrival of British Admiral Arbuthnot's fleet off Block Island
prevented attendance of Admiral Count de Barras.
The next day,
they dined at Stillman's and settled upon a plan. The Squadron
would sail to Boston, and the French troops would march toward the North
River (Hudson) and concentrate near Peekskill - for an operation
against New York (unless situations developed in the South).
They
dined at Colyer's
and GW wrote to New England Governors about completion of their
Continental Army Battalions for the Campaign against New York.
On May
24, Washington dined at Farmington
and slept at
Litchfield.
On May
25, GW dined at NEW WINDSOR
at Squire Cogswells. Washington
again made his Headquarters at the William Ellison House in New Windsor,
NY.
Washington
received a letter from John Laurens, our minister at the court of
Versailles mentioning a grant of 6,000,000 Livres from France (double an
earlier grant) to the United States for purchase of arms and clothing for
American Troops.
On June
15, GW issued an order congratulating the army on the successes of General
Greene and General Marion in South Carolina. He cited the forced British
evacuation of Camden, Fort Mott, Orangeburgh, and Fort Granby.
On June 25,
1781, GW said a temporary farewell to his faithful Patcy, Martha,
who set out towards Virginia.
He joined
the army at PEEKSKILL, NY. His
quarters were at the Van
Cortland House, two miles east of
Peekskill. He met with Governor Clinton, Lt. Governor Courtlandt and
Generals Schuyler and Tenbrook.
Washington
announced to his troops the approach of the French troops. GW wrote a thank
you letter to Robert Morris for a supply of flour.
On June 30, GW
wrote to New York Governor Clinton that he intended to surprise the enemy
posts at the north end of York Island.
On July 2
at 3AM, the army was taken on a march via TarryTown
and continued the next evening and night on the march to VALENTINE'S
HILL (Mile square), arriving at
sunrise.
The French
army had left Newport to: Providence, Plainfield, Windham, Bolton,
Hartford, Farmington, Newtown, Ridgebury, CT, Bedford, NY - to the east side
of the Brunx river at East Chester, NY.
GW spent
most of the day reconnoitring the British works. At NORTH
CASTLE, near Dobbs Ferry,
Phillipsburg, GW met with Rochambeau.
On July 6,
the French troops left New Castle and marched to join the main body of the
Continental Army (about 4000 men) at Dobbs'
Ferry.
GW made
his HQ at Joseph Appleby's
house on the road to White Plains.
Rochambeau stayed at Odell house just
over a mile from the Appleby place.
At PHILLIPSBURG,
NY from July 6 until the 14th, GW and Rochambeau reviewed both armies.
A
letter arrived on the 9th from General de la Fayette telling of
Cornwallis' retreat to Williamsburg, VA.
On July
18, with an escort of 150 New Jersey troops, Generals Washington and
Rochambeau, with General de Beville and General Duportail crossed the North
River into New Jersey
to reconnoitre the British Posts on the North end of York Island
(Manhattan).
On July
21, about 5000 troops marched starting at 8PM to KINGSBRIDGE
(fourteen miles from Manhattan). They arrived at about daylight on the
heights back of Fort Independence
near Delancy's Mill.
The
generals reconnoitred the enemy positions at Kingsbridge and far to the east
at (TH) FROGS NECK
and overlooking Long Island. They were shot at; they
arrived back at camp at midnight.
They dined
at the Van Cortlandt house, one mile above Kingsbridge. Back at PHILLIPSBURG,
they determined that their pressure on York (Manhattan) Island had
obliged the enemy to recall a large part of their force from the Southern
States.
On July 30, GW wrote to General
de la Fayette in Virginia, that they must now turn full attention
to driving the British totally from the southern States, if "we
find ourselves incompetent to siege New York."
On August
11, Superintendent of Finance, Robert Morris arrived at Phillipsburg
with Richard Peters, a member of the Board of War, to fix particulars needed
for manpower and support for the next campaign.
On August 14, dispatches
were received from the Count de Barras, announcing the intended
departure of the Count de Grasse from Cape Francois in the Caribbean to
Chesapeake Bay with 25 or more line ships and 3000 land troops!
GW
fired off a note to General de la Fayette telling him that Count de
Grasse's forces left St. Domingo on the 3rd of August for Chesapeake Bay.
The
LONG MARCH of American and French Forces
to Meet with the FRENCH NAVY at YORKTOWN, VA
Washington's
plan to attack General Henry Clinton's superior forces in New York were
abandoned to take advantage of the news that French Admiral Comte
Francois de Grasse would be at the Chesapeake Bay with the
potential of trapping the army of General Cornwallis in Virginia.
On
August 16, a letter arrived from La Fayette informing Washington that Lord
Cornwallis and troops from Hampton Road, had proceeded up the York River and
landed at Gloucester and York Towns in Virginia, where they were throwing up
defensive works!
Washington
sent a message to Comte de Grasse saying that since the
British had just received 3000 Hessian reinforcements, and
De Grasse's fleet-arrival at the Chesapeake Bay, it was deemed expedient to
give up, for the present, the enterprise against New York.
We
would turn our attention to the south to
recover and secure Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Georgia!
"We"
have determined to remove the whole of the French army and a large
detachment of Americans. These were two regiments of New
Jersey, the first regiment of New York, Colonel
Hazen's regiment, Colonel Olney's regiment from Rhode
Island, Colonel Lamb's regiment of artillery, and light
troops of Colonel Scammel.
They are to meet
Admiral de Grasse at the Head-of Elk on the Chesapeake River for an
expedition against Lord Cornwallis.
Washington
left PHILLIPSBURG
on August 19. He passed Sing
Sing with the American column
and arrived at King's Ferry
at 10 AM the next day. He stayed at Udny Hay's at Haverstraw, NY.
On the 21st, all
baggage, artillery and American stores and troops crossed over the North
river.
GW made
his HQ at the Joshua Hett
Smith house (the house where Benedict
Arnold and Andre had their meeting the year before), about two miles below
Stoney Point.
The French Army
followed; they marched by way of Northcastle and King's
Ferry. On August 23 through 25, they also transferred their army
and supplies over the river.
Rochambeau
and Washington rode nine miles north to view West
Point. Both
armies began their march southwest toward Montville
and Chatham, NJ. They rested one night at and near the Doremus
house on Route 202 at Montville, NJ (in much need of repair!), near
Boonton, NJ.
On August
27 at Chatham, NJ,
GW wrote to Robert Morris,
" I
must entreat you, if possible, to procure one month's pay in specie for
the detachment, which I have under my command. Part of those troops
have not been paid anything for a long time past, and have upon several
occasions shown marks of discontent. The service they are going upon
is disagreeable to the northern regiments; but I make no
doubt that a douceur of a little hard money would put them in proper
temper .... The American detachment will assemble in this
neighborhood to-day; the French army to-morrow."
The forces
moved southwest via New
Brunswick and Trenton,
NJ. to Philadelphia,
arriving on August 30. They were escorted into the
city from the suburbs by the militia light horse with Generals Rochambeau
and Chastellux.
Washington
stopped at the City Tavern
and greeted several gentlemen. Then he went to see Robert Morris about
finances, and then to the State
House to pay respects to Congress.
At Robert
Morris' home on South Front Street, GW
dined with others, including the French Generals and Generals Knox, Moultrie
and Sullivan. Some local ships set sail into the river and fired
salutes while the Generals drank. In the evening, the city was
illuminated as George Washington walked through some of the streets attended
by a numerous concourse of admiring people.
On September 2,
Washington wrote to the 24 year old General Marquis de la Fayette
encouraging him to continue trying to prevent the escape of Cornwallis'
army.
GW had attempted
to arrange for procurement vessels to no avail. So it was concluded
best to let the troops march by land to Head of Elk to the south.
All were set
underway, except the 2nd York regiment, which was ordered, with baggage, to
come down in the Batteaux they had ... to Christiana bridge. The troops
passed in review as the set out for Head of Elk.
On
September 4, GW dined at M. de la
Luzerne, on the north side of Chestnut
Street between 6th and 7th Streets.
On
September 5, George Washington set out southward via Chester,
where he received word that Admiral Count de Grass had arrived at Chesapeake
Bay with 28 sail of the line ships, four frigates and 3000 land troops (to
debark at Jamestown and to later join with the Marquise de la Fayette).
On
September 6, GW greeted Count de Grasse at Head
of Elk, MD.
GW sent a
message to La Fayette that he was on the way to join him. Most of the allied
army went south via water to Annapolis.
GW and
others, escorted by Captain Moore's troop of light dragoon, were saluted
with cannons and greeted by citizens at Baltimore.
He arrived with Count Rochambeau and generals Hand, Baron Viomenil, Chatelux
and Clinton and stayed at Fountain-Inn.
GW and
attendants headed south and arrived at his home at Mount
Vernon on September 9, 1781. The Count
de Rochambeau arrived on September 10.
GW wrote a
dispatch to La Fayette that they would proceed via Fredericksburg and New
Castle - to arrive at Williamsburg on September 14.
He also
wrote an apology, for not taking time to visit, to Maryland Governor
Lee.
Green
weakened the British Southern Army at EUTAW,
SC
On September 8,
1781, British losses were nearly double American losses as General Nathaniel
Green withdrew from British Colonel Alexander Stewart's campsite near Eutaw
Creek.
Eutaw
Springs - by Philip Freneau
At
Eutaw Springs the valiant died:
their limbs with dust are covered o'er;
Weep on, ye springs, your tearful tide;
How many heros are no more !
If in
this wreck of ruin they
Can yet be thought to claim a tear,
O smite thy gentle breast, and say
The friends of freedom slumber here !
Thou,
who shalt trace this bloody plain,
If goodness rules thy generous breast,
Sigh for the wasted rural reign;
Sigh for the shepherds sunk to rest !
Stranger,
their humble groves adorn;
You too may fall, and ask a tear:
'T is not the beauty of the morn
That proves the evening shall be clear.
They
saw their injured country's woe,
The flaming town, the wasted field;
Then rushed to meet the insulting foe;
They took the spear --- but left the shield.
Led
by the conquering standards, Greene,
The Britons they compelled to fly:
None distant viewed the fatal plain,
None grieved in such a cause to die ---
But
like the Parthians famed of old,
Who, flying, still their arrows threw,
These routed Britons, full as bold,
Retreated, and retreating slew.
Now
rest in peace our patriot band;
Though far from nature's limits thrown,
We trust they find a happier land,
A brighter Phoebus of their own.
The Greatest
Victory at YORKTOWN
On September 14, Washington
arrived at Williamsburg, VA at
about 4 PM to the sound of a twenty-one cannon salute. He made Wythe
House his headquarters.
On September 17, he went to Cape
Henry with Count de Rochambeau, Chevr Chastellux, Generals
Duportail and Henry Knox.
On the 18th, Washington
went on board the ship Ville de Paris.
Washington returned to Williamsburg on
stormy seas aboard the Queen Charlotte,
after settling strategy with Admiral Count de Grasse.
Additional French troops arrived
from Baltimore at College Creek.
On September 28, the allied
armies bivouacked on the ground in open air.
Washington slept under a mulberry tree. With the
French Army and the Continental Army on the left and center, and the local
Militia on the right, they moved forward when the British abandoned their
exterior defensive works.
The allies began extensive
defense works at Pidgeon Hill.
The siege involved these allied
armies a mile and a quarter from the British works.
Marquis de St.-Simon had
regiments on the left and light infantry, next to the right, under Baron and
Viscount Viomenil.
To his right (at
the center) was French artillery, Generals
Washington and Rochambeau, and further to the right across
marshland were American artillery under Knox. Steuben commanded the
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland troops.
To their right were troops from
New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island under General James Clinton. The
light infantry was under the Marquis de la Fayette. The Virginia
militia was under Governor Nelson. The quarters of General Lincoln
completed the semi-circle around York, he was near Wormley's Creek.
Generals Choisy, Weedon and the
Duke de Lauzun blockaded Gloucester.
On October 14, Major
General La Fayette commanded the American and French troops.
He and Baron Viominel undertook an attack and took key
redoubts through British cannon and musket fire.
The Blockade of French Admiral Count de Grasse
On October 16 and 17, British
and French batteries were opened at each other. The American grand
battery consisted of 12, 24, and 18 pairs of Morters and two Howitzers.
Cornwallis had tried to retreat
across the York river to Gloucester. In the afternoon of October 17, the
British sounded a parley with cessation of Hostilities.
Negotiations dragged on at the Moore house
near General Lincoln's position. Copies of the articles
of surrender were sent to Cornwallis.
VICTORY
at Yorktown
On October 19, 1781,
the
depressed General Cornwallis sent
his surrender sword
with his General O'Hara. Rochambeau redirected it to Washington, who
directed that it be given to the American General Benjamin Lincoln,
whose army had been defeated and captured at Charleston by Cornwallis.
The combined American and French army was about 16,000; including 7,000
French, 5,500 Continental soldiers, and 3,500 militia.
The British lost about 53 men
before surrendering. About 274 French and Americans were killed
or wounded.
Washington set out to thank
Admiral Count de Grasse.
Naval related prisoners and
vessels were assigned to the admiral.
About 7,247 land prisoners were
assigned to Washington, and thus were prisoners of Congress. Those
prisoners were divided and marched to Winchester, VA, Fredericktown, MD.
When Benjamin Franklin
was told of the detail, he wrote to Washington from Paris,
"All the world agree,
that no expedition was ever better planned or better executed. It
has made a great addition to the military reputation you have already
acquired, and heightens the glory that surrounds your name, and that must
accompany it to our latest posterity."
Divine
service was performed in several
brigades and divisions on Sunday, October 21, 1781. Troops, not on duty,
would universally attend.
John Parke
Custis,
George's stepson and aide at Yorktown came down
with camp fever. He was taken to Eltham,
the home of George's sister, in New Kent County -for close attention;
however, he died. Of his four children, the two youngest were adopted
by George and Martha, who lovingly reared them.
Washington spoke at William
and Mary College, Williamsburg on October 27.
On November 5, he departed
Yorktown and rode to Burwell Bassett's at Eltham, VA,
where he was advised of the death of John Parke Custis.
On November 12, at Fredericksburg,
he visited his mother, and in the evening, attended a citizen's ball
dedicated to French and American officers.
The next day, he traveled to Mount
Vernon, where he stayed until November 20, 1781.
LaFayette was highly praised; he
received permission to return to France. He said farewell to Congress
at Philadelphia, and went to Boston to sail on the Alliance - to France.
Washington spoke at Alexandria
and at Annapolis. George and Martha
arrived in Baltimore on November 23, and in Philadelphia on November
26, 1781.
They remained there until
March 22, 1782 at the Benjamin Chew house at
110 South Third, between Spruce and Walnut Streets; it was where Don
Juan de Marailles, Spanish Ambassador had lived (Washington had been
present at his burial in Morristown, NJ on April 28, 1870).
Washington met with
Congress. He answered an address from our 1st President, John
Hanson.
He met with the Supreme
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, members of the House of Assembly of
Pennsylvania, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Then George and Martha
Washington visited with General Greene and the minister of France, and later
with Robert Morris, the "Financier of the Revolution."
#1775, #1776, #1777, #1778, #1779, #1780, #1781,
#NEXT 1782,
#1783,
Westward-ho! ...
Continue module ==> 1800
... 1812 ... 1813
...1814 ... 1815
... Zebulon Pike ... 2nd
National Anthem
(c)
Copyrighted 1998-August, 2007
-etc., by Tom
j. Collins, for this site and the elements.
He does not endorse or control third party Web Site(s) contents. Images,
other than by T. Collins, are the (c) of their representative
owners. Permission from T. Collins is required via the site's guest book
for links with this site or elements thereof, except access by popular and
public Search Engines.
This
page was l a s t u p d a t e d by Morristown
. org and
Revwar . org
God
Bless America
T. Collins in NJ, USA on 08/05/07 10:32 AM
= * = * = * = * = * = * = *
= * = * =
In God We Trust
...TOP
HOME