Fort Lee Historic Park

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Fort Lee Historic Park
FortLeeHistPark 04.JPG
Location map of Bergen County, New Jersey.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States
Coordinates 40°51′01″N73°57′47″W / 40.8503°N 73.963°W / 40.8503; -73.963
Area33 acres

Fort Lee Historic Park is located atop a bluff of the Hudson Palisades overlooking Burdett's Landing, known as Mount Constitution, [1] in Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States. The park was conceived as early as 1952. [2] [ verification needed ]

Contents

Native Americans appear to have lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. [3] The bluff was the site of George Washington's 1776 encampment opposite Fort Washington at the northern end of Manhattan. [4] Fort Lee is named for General Charles Lee. The site is a reconstruction of the encampment including the blockhouse, battery, quarters as well as a visitors center. It is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.

At the north end of the park there are two overlooks with views of the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River, and the skyline of Upper Manhattan.

Fort Lee

A 1777 map during the Revolutionary War detailing the chevaux-de-frise between Fort Lee and Fort Washington A plan of the operations of the King's army, Chevaux de Frise between Fort Lee and Fort Washington, detail.jpg
A 1777 map during the Revolutionary War detailing the chevaux-de-frise between Fort Lee and Fort Washington

Fort Lee, originally Fort Constitution, was a Revolutionary War-era fort located on the crest of the Hudson Palisades in what was then Hackensack Township, New Jersey opposite Fort Washington at the northern end of Manhattan Island.

Construction

George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, issued orders to General Mercer to summon all available troops and erect a fort on the west side of the Hudson River. Construction commenced in July 1776 [5] on the new fort, to be called Fort Constitution. [1]

The fort was located on the western side of the road that led up the hill from the landing. Concurrently, Fort Washington was being built almost directly across the North River (Hudson River) in New York. [6] Chevaux-de-frise , south of the Hudson River Chain, were laid between them. [7]

Defense of the Hudson River

A portrait of British warships attempting to pass between Fort Lee and Fort Washington Forcing a Passage of the Hudson.jpg
A portrait of British warships attempting to pass between Fort Lee and Fort Washington

These twin forts were intended to protect the lower Hudson from British warships. At first, efforts were concentrated close to the water level near Burdett's Landing. [6] Later, fortifications were added atop the bluff under the supervision of Joseph Philips, Battalion Commander of the New Jersey State Militia. [1] The Bourdette's ferry service was taken over by the Army, [8] and Peter Bourdette was forced to vacate his house; although as a patriot he considered it no sacrifice and offered the work of his slaves to General Mercer's construction efforts. [6]

At the end of September 1776, Fort Constitution was renamed Fort Lee, for General Charles Lee of the Continental Army. [1] George Washington used the stone Bourdette house for his headquarters when he passed time at Fort Lee. [1] At this stage of the war the ferry operated as a supply line and the only link between Forts Lee and Washington. [6] [9]

Battle of Fort Lee

Battle of Fort Lee
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Landing of the British forces in the Jerseys - Thomas Davies.jpeg
Watercolor by Captain Thomas Davies depicting the British landing at the base of the Palisades.
DateNovember 19, 1776 (1776-11-19)
Location
Fort Lee, New Jersey vicinity
Result British victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1776-1777).svg  United States

Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain

Commanders and leaders
Flag of the United States (1776-1777).svg George Washington
Flag of the United States (1776-1777).svg Nathanael Greene 		Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Charles Cornwallis
Flag of Hesse.svg Carl von Donop
Strength
2,000 5,000
8 guns

The Battle of Fort Lee on November 19, 1776 marked the successful invasion of New Jersey by British and Hessian forces and the subsequent general retreat of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Background

Peter Bourdette's sixteen-year-old son, also named Peter, provided assistance by direct use of the landing. During the week leading up to the evacuation of Fort Lee [6] he rowed back and forth across the river gathering information for General Washington on the anticipated movements of the British forces. [10] Well after dark on the night before the battle for New York at Fort Washington, George Washington was rowed from Burdett's Landing to the middle of the Hudson River for a strategy session with his senior officers in charge of New York, who rowed to meet him. [8] [11] On November 16, 1776, George Washington witnessed the battle for New York from across the river on the bluff of Fort Lee, above Burdett's Landing. [12]

British invasion

Fort Lee was rendered defenseless after Continental Army troops holding Fort Washington were defeated and captured on November 16, 1776. The Royal Navy controlled the Hudson River. General William Howe ordered Charles Cornwallis to "clear the rebel troops from New Jersey without a major engagement, and to do it quickly before the weather changed." [13]

The force included Hessian units commanded by Colonel Carl von Donop. [14] The invasion of New Jersey began the night of November 19, when 5,000 British troops were ferried across the Hudson on barges. British military Commander Lord Cornwallis landed a force of between 2,500 and 5,000 at what was sometimes known as the "Lower Closter Landing", later known as Huyler’s Landing or "Huyler's", on November 20, 1776.

In an effort to ambush Washington and crush the rebellion in the wake of the rebel's defeat in the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Fort Washington, Cornwallis marched his men up the cliffs of the Palisades via a rough path, and southward through the Northern Valley. The landing was long erroneously thought to have taken place at the Closter Landing in Alpine, then known as "Upper Closter Landing", and now the site of the Alpine Boat Basin and picnic area. The actual path used by the British later became a road used to bring farm goods from the Northern Valley to a dock at river level ("Huyler’s"), where there were also buildings until later in the 20th century. [15] [16] The Park trail follows the old farmers' road from the Shore Trail at the bottom to the top, where it connects with the Long Path.

George Washington and Nathanael Greene quickly ordered the evacuation of the fort on the morning of November 20, 1776. [17]

American retreat

The soldiers then began a hasty retreat west, crossing the Hackensack River at New Bridge Landing and the Passaic River at Acquackanonk Bridge [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

During Washington's retreat, which began along a road that is now Main Street, [23] [24] Thomas Paine authored and published his pamphlet, "The American Crisis", in Philadelphia, which began with the famed phrase, "These are the times that try men's souls". [25]

Fort Lee Museum and Monument Park

Fort Lee Museum is located in Monument Park. which was created by the Daughters of the American Revolution and dedicated in 1908 at ceremony attended by General John "Black Jack" Pershing. The park was part of the original Fort Constitution of the Continental Army under the leadership of General George Washington. Over 2,600 troops were stationed in and around the Monument Park area.

In 2004, the park was reconstructed for the Fort Lee Centennial Celebration. A time capsule was placed at the foot of the monument, to be opened at the Bicentennial Celebration in the year 2104. Monument Park and Continental Army Plaza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are the only parks in the United States dedicated to the soldiers of the American Revolution. [26]

[27] [28] [29]


See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Revolution: Pre-Revolution". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Restoration of Fort Lee of 1776 Atop Palisades, A Hudson River Defense, Planned by Park Board" (PDF). The New York Times. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ Winson, Terrie (March 2002). "Lenni Lenape". Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  4. ↑ Adams (1996), p. 106.
  5. ↑ "Wars and Battles, November 20, 1776". Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Hoy, Carla. "History and Profile, Fort Lee Historical Highlights". Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  7. ↑ Diamant, Lincoln (2004). Chaining the Hudson: The Fight for the River in the American Revolution. Fordham University Press. p. 44. ISBN   978-0-8232-2339-8.
  8. 1 2 Renner, James (October 2003). "Burdett's Ferry". Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  9. ↑ Adams (1996), pp. 103–4.
  10. ↑ Van Walen, James M. (1900). History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co. p. 499.
  11. ↑ Cheslow, Jerry (July 30, 1995). "If You're Thinking of Living In: Edgewater; Factory Town Is Now Bedroom Community". New York Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  12. ↑ Adams (1996), p. 105.
  13. ↑ Fischer (2004), p. 121.
  14. ↑ Lefkowitz (1998), p. 44.
  15. ↑ Fischer, David Hackett "On His Lordship’s Mysterious Ascent" Archived November 1, 2019, at the Wayback Machine .
  16. ↑ Archived October 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine . Hike description. Washington's Crossing; New Jersey Walk Book, NY/NJ Trail Conference.
  17. ↑ Spring (2007), p. 27.
  18. ↑ "Main Avenue Bridge". NYC Bridges. 2012. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Masonry and Metal The Historic Bridges of Bergen County, New Jersey" (PDF). Richard Grubb and Associates. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Passaic's Victory Day". Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Passaic, New Jersey Revolutionary War Sites – Passaic Historic Sites". revolutionarywarnewjersey.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Full text of "Washington and his army at Acquackanonk : an incident of the retreat of 'seventy-six"". archive.org. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Fort Lee Road Marker". hmdb.org. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ The British Invasion & Washington's Retreat – Nov 20–21, 1776 Archived October 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine jpg map of Bergen County.
  25. ↑ "Hackensack New Jersey (History)". rays-place.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  26. ↑ "fort lee Monument Park". Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Fort Lee Museum". Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Thomas Paine Marker". hmdb.org. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Fort Lee Monument Park". Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2010.

Bibliography

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