Forts Clinton and Montgomery, Battle of

The Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery is an American Revolutionary War battle fought in the highlands of the Hudson River valley, not far from West Point, on October 6, 1777.

British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton capture Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, then dismantle the Hudson River Chain.

The purpose of the attack is to create a diversion to draw American troops from the army of General Horatio Gates, whose army is opposing British General John Burgoyne's attempt to gain control of the Hudson.

The forts are garrisoned by about six hundred Continental Army troops under the command of two brothers, General (and Governor of New York) George Clinton, and General James Clinton, while General Israel Putnam leads additional troops at nearby Peekskill, New York. (This battle is also sometimes called the "battle of the Clintons" due to the number of participants with that name. The brothers are probably not related to Sir Henry.)

Using a series of feints, Henry Clinton fools Putnam into withdrawing most of his troops to the east, then he lands over two thousand troops on the west side of the Hudson to assault the two forts.

After several hours of hiking through the hilly terrain, Clinton divides his troops to stage simultaneous assaults on the two forts.

Although the approach to Fort Montgomery is contested by a company armed with a small field piece, they attack the two forts at nearly the same time and capture them after a relatively short battle.

More than half the defenders are killed, wounded, or captured.

The British follow up this success with raids as far north as Kingston before being recalled to New York City.

The action comes too late to be of any assistance to Burgoyne, who surrenders his army on October 17.

The only notable consequences of the action are the casualties suffered and the British destruction of the two forts on their departure.

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