Battle of Hubbardton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Hubbardton Part of American Revolutionary War Date July 7, 1777 Location Hubbardton, Vermont 43°42′N 73°08′W / 43.7, -73.133Coordinates: 43°42′N 73°08′W / 43.7, -73.133 Result British Tactical Victory American Strategic Victory Belligerents  United States Great Britain Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Commanders Seth Warner Simon Fraser Baron Friedrich Adolf Riedesel zu Eisenbach Strength 1,200 men[1] 1,030 men[2] Casualties and losses 41 killed, 96 wounded, 200 captured[3] 60 killed, 168 wounded[4]

v • d • e Saratoga campaign, 1777 Ticonderoga – Hubbardton – Fort Anne – Fort Stanwix – Oriskany – Bennington – 1st Saratoga (Freeman's Farm) – Forts Clinton and Montgomery  – 2nd Saratoga (Bemis Heights)

The Battle of Hubbardton was an engagement in the Saratoga campaign of the American Revolutionary War. On the morning of July 7, 1777, British forces, under General Simon Fraser, caught up with the American rear guard of the forces withdrawing from Fort Ticonderoga. It was the only battle of the revolution fought on Vermont soil.

Contents 1 Background 2 Attack 3 Results 3.1 See also 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Background

Following the evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga, American forces under Major General Arthur St. Clair sought safety with a hurried retreat to the southeast. The American general left a rear guard near the town of Hubbardton, Vermont, with Green Mountain Boys led by Colonel Seth Warner, 11th Massachusetts Regiment under Colonel Ebenezer Francis and the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment under Colonel Nathan Hale^[5] (along with men from Whitcomb's Rangers).

[edit] Attack

The British pursuit was headed by Brigadier Simon Fraser, whose Advance Corps attacked the Americans early on July 7, catching the American forces by surprise. Falling back to a secure position on Monument Hill, the Americans repulsed several vigorous British assaults. The tide of the battle turned when, after more than an hour of battle, Brunswick Grenadiers under the command of General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel arrived. These disciplined forces entered the fray singing hymns to the accompaniment of a military band. Francis fell mortally wounded during this part of the fighting, and the Americans eventually gave way.

[edit] Results

The British and German troops defeated the American rearguard and forced it off of the field, but the action gave sufficient time to allow St Clair's rearguard to escape. Unlike earlier battles, the Continental Army troops continued to fight in a disciplined manner despite suffering heavy losses. Once they had achieved their aim, the Americans executed a dangerous but successful disengagement from the enemy and retreated to join St. Clair.

The British losses at Hubbardton were sufficient to end thoughts of further pursuit. The force returned to Fort Ticonderoga and linked up with John Burgoyne’s main army.

[edit] See also

• 20th Regiment of Foot
• 24th Regiment of Foot
• 29th Regiment of Foot
• 34th Regiment of Foot

[edit] Gallery

Hubbardton Battlefield visitor center

Monument

West side of Monument Hill; British forces attacked up (towards the camera) this hill at dawn, July 7, 1777.

Sergent Hill, north of Hubbardton Battlefield. First Colonial then British forces made their way along a military road through the gap visible in the center background of the photo during the night of July 6-7, 1777; skirmishes occurred.

[edit] References

• Anburey, Thomas. (1923). Travels Through the Interior Parts of America 1776-1781 Volumes 1 and 2. Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Ketchum, Richard M. (1997). Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 0-8050-4681-X; (Paperback ISBN 0-8050-6123-1)
• Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. (n.d.). Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site. Retrieved 17 November 2008.

[edit] External links

• Middlebury College account
• Hubbardton Battlefield Website

v • d • e New York in the American Revolutionary War Pre-war Sons of Liberty 1770 Battle of Golden Hill 1775 Capture of Fort Ticonderoga – Invasion of Canada 1776 New York and New Jersey campaign – Battle of Long Island – New York Prison Ships Begin – Landing at Kip's Bay – Battle of Harlem Heights – Great Fire of New York – Execution of Nathan Hale – Battle of Valcour Island – Battle of Pell's Point – Battle of White Plains – Battle of Fort Washington 1777 Meigs Raid – Saratoga campaign – Battle of Ticonderoga – Battle of Hubbardton – Battle of Fort Ann – Battle of Oriskany – Battle of Saratoga – Battle of Freeman's Farm – Battle of Bemis Heights 1778 Setauket Spy Ring Launched – Battle of Cobleskill – West Point established – Cherry Valley massacre 1779 Battle of Stony Point – Sullivan Expedition – Battle of Newtown 1780 First Purple Heart – André Capture Reveals Traitor Benedict Arnold 1781 HMS Culloden Runs Aground at Montauk – Washington Calls Off Invasion of New York to Support Yorktown 1782 Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh – Newburgh letter 1783 Newburgh conspiracy – British Evacuate New York – Washington's Farewell to His Officers