Skip to main content

Retaking New York from the occupying British and Hessian forces was General Washington’s primary goal in July of 1781. He knew that this would be a difficult task, and planned a reconnaissance-in-force to accomplish his mission.

Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, Marechal De France, by Charles-Phillippe Larivière. (Courtesy of the Palace of Versailles)
Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, Marechal De France, by Charles-Phillippe Larivière. (Courtesy of the Palace of Versailles)
Manhattan had been controlled by the British since 1776 and their forces were well entrenched. Determining the layout of the British fortifications was an essential first step in preparing plans for an assault. To accomplish this, Washington, in combination with recently arrived French forces commanded by the compte de Rochambeau, planned a reconnaissance-in-force.

learn more about rochambeau

A classic military tactic, a reconnaissance-in-force uses a significant assault on enemy fortifications to draw the enemy’s fire. Once the enemy’s strength and the location of his defensive works has been exposed, the attacking forces withdraw, their objective having been accomplished.

Feint Attacks on the Unsuspecting British

The feint attack on the British works defending New York began in the early morning darkness of July 22, 1781. Roughly 4,000 American and French soldiers divided into four major columns picked their way over difficult terrain towards Manhattan. Ultimately in position over a front extending nearly two and a half miles long, Washington proudly boasted in his diary that, “The enemy did not appear to have had the least intelligence of our movement or to know we were upon the height opposite to them till the whole Army were ready to display.”

Retaliation

Though surprised, the British soldiers reacted quickly. Within fifteen minutes of the shots fired by Hessian jaegers on picket duty, British light dragoons were ferried across the Harlem River to oppose the American and French forces.

Washington and Rochambeau made careful notes as the British began to expose their fortified positions. They noted weaknesses in the British works along Spuyten Duyvil creek. To take a closer look at stronger fortifications down the island, they joined the advanced American battalion to the front of British Redoubt Number 8. It became clear that any direct attack on forts across the Harlem River would be costly. Searching for a good spot to cross the river further south, the two generals continued their exploration. At one point they were surprised by a party of about twenty Tories.

Quick action by the generals’ aides and a few dragoons saved them from capture.

Washington and Rochambeau Debrief

By 9 o’clock that night, after almost twenty-four hours in the saddle, Washington and Rochambeau and their staffs finally sat down to supper and to review the information that had been collected. However, they were back to work early the next day scouting landing sites on Long Island.

The reconnaissance finally completed, the generals ordered their troops to fall back to French and American camps near Dobbs Ferry. Over the next days, Washington and Rochambeau studied the notes they had taken. The results were conclusive: the British had used their five year occupation of Manhattan to tremendous effect. To attack northern Manhattan would have been a nightmare for the Americans and their French allies.

The July 22-23 reconnaissance of northern Manhattan and the realization of just how strong the British fortifications were, inspired Washington and Rochambeau to formalize their contingency plans and prepare for a movement to the south as early as August 1. When, on August 14, news that comte de Grasse’s fleet would arrive at the Chesapeake, orders to move against Cornwallis’s forces at Yorktown were already prepared.

Yorktown Campaign

Overall, the reconnaissance-in-force was an impressive piece of operational skill by two armies, and two commanders, that had never worked closely together. The success of the New York reconnaissance boded well for future Franco-American operations.

George Washington in the American Revolution
1775

June 15, 1775

George Washington is appointed by Congress as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army

July 3, 1775

Washington takes command at Cambridge, MA

March 2, 1776

Washington commences the bombardment of British positions in and around Boston

August 27, 1776

The Battle of Long Island

October 28, 1776

Battle of White Plains

December 26, 1776

The Battle of Trenton

September 11, 1777

The Battle of Brandywine

October 4, 1777

The Battle of Germantown

December 19, 1777

Washington Arrives at Valley Forge

June 28, 1778

The Battle of Monmouth

December 16, 1779

Winter Encampment at Morristown

August 19, 1781

Washington and Rochambeau's armies begin their march to Virginia

October 19, 1781

Victory at Yorktown

March 15, 1783

Washington Delivers the Newburgh Address

December 23, 1783

Washington surrenders his commission to Congress

1783
June 15, 1775

George Washington is appointed by Congress as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army

Attending the Second Continental Congress in military uniform, George Washington was appointed as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army by his fellow congressmen.

العربيةDeutschEspañolFrançaisItaliano한국어PortuguêsРусский中文(简体)
Powered by Localize
English