LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MH; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

GW appears to have established the main parameters of this operation as early as 28 June (see his entry for that date in Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 3:385–87). For his initial thoughts on Lincoln’s role, see Plan for the Surprise of the Enemy’s Posts on the North End of Manhattan Island, June. The operation involved three movements: Lincoln’s attack, GW’s march south with the rest of the Continental army, and French brigadier general Lauzun leading an assault on Col. James De Lancey’s Loyalist corps camped near Morrisania. Lauzun’s force consisted of his own legion, Col. Elisha Sheldon’s legion, Capt. Richard Sackett’s New York state troops, and Brig. Gen. David Waterbury’s Connecticut state troops. For orders given the commanders, see GW to Sackett, 30 June; to Waterbury, 30 June and this date; and to Lauzun and to Sheldon, both this date. GW advised Rochambeau of the operation (see his letter to Rochambeau, 30 June; see also GW to David Cobb, same date).

GW valued surprising, taking, and holding Fort George, Fort Charles, and the fort on Cox Hill. Anticipating a British counterattack and knowing the forts could not be held without immediate reinforcements, GW was prepared to call in New York militia for support (see GW to George Clinton, 30 June; see also GW to Henry Knox and to Alexander McDougall, both 2 July).

Lincoln embarked his troops in boats at Teller’s Point after dark on this date. Between 3:00 and 4:00 A.M., the men disembarked at the western landing of Dobbs Ferry and took cover in a nearby wood while Lincoln and Col. Alexander Scammell reconnoitered the British defenses. Looking across the river from Fort Lee, the two officers discovered conditions that made an attack on the forts impracticable. Lincoln then shifted to his secondary mission (see Lincoln to GW, 2 July). GW approved the change and ordered Lincoln to take the high ground in front of King’s Bridge to support Lauzun’s attack on Morrisania (see GW to Lincoln, 2 July). Lincoln’s detachment crossed the Hudson River before daylight on 3 July, landed near the Philipse Manor house, and marched south to occupy hills where the ruins of Fort Independence stood on the north side of Spuyten Duyvil Creek.

After learning of his part in the operation, Lauzun departed Bedford, N.Y., with his own legion, Sheldon’s legion, and Sackett’s troops on the evening of 2 July (see the entry for that date in French lieutenant Clermont-Crèvecœur’s journal in Rice and Brown, American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army description begins Howard C. Rice, Jr., and Anne S. K. Brown, eds. The American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783. 2 vols. Princeton, N.J., 1972. description ends , 1:31–32). These units met Waterbury’s troops at Clapp’s tavern, and the whole began their march to Morrisania.

While Lauzun’s and Lincoln’s forces moved, GW started his march from Peekskill with the rest of the Continental army at 3:00 A.M. on 2 July to be in position to support or exploit the attack. Pressing ahead all that day and through the night with just two short breaks, the army reached Valentine’s Hill “about Sun rise” (entry for 2 July in Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 3:388).

Events soon deflected Lauzun’s force from its primary mission. To achieve surprise, GW wanted Lauzun to have his corps at Westchester (about four miles from Morrisania) before sunrise. But by the early morning of 3 July, Lauzun’s combined brigade had reached only Eastchester, where firing was heard to the north. Rightly presuming that Lincoln’s force had become engaged and surprise had been lost, Lauzun abandoned the attack on De Lancey’s corps and marched his command north to aid Lincoln.

Germans manning the King’s Bridge defenses did not discover GW’s operation until near midnight on 2 July. Lt. Col. Andreas Emmerich had marched from King’s Bridge with forty British and sixty Hessian infantry at 9:00 P.M. intending to attack the crews of three armed whaleboats that came down the Hudson River from Dobbs Ferry every morning to gather fruit and vegetables at the Philipse Manor house. After reaching the house, they waited in ambuscade for the boatmen. Two hours after Emmerich marched, Major General Lossberg, the commander at King’s Bridge, received intelligence of GW’s advance. Dispatching a messenger to recall Emmerich, Lossberg ordered 200 jägers and 30 or 40 cavalrymen under Lt. Col. Ernst Carl von Prueschenck to cover Emmerich’s return and observe the Continentals approaching from the north. Meanwhile, Emmerich had spotted Lincoln’s force but remained concealed as the boats passed his position to a landing below. His troops became known when they fired on and scattered a fifty-man scouting unit from Lincoln’s command. Emmerich then retreated toward King’s Bridge (see the entry for 3 July in Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:556–58, and Baurmeister, Revolution in America description begins Carl Leopold Baurmeister. Revolution in America: Confidential Letters and Journals, 1776–1784, of Adjutant General Major Baurmeister of the Hessian Forces. Translated and annotated by Bernhard A. Uhlendorf. New Brunswick, N.J., 1957. description ends , 449).

Lt. Johann Schäffer, commander of the jägers’ van, “detached a noncommissioned officer and ten jägers to reconnoiter, by different routes, the hill of the old Fort Independence. This was before daylight. Lieutenant Schäffer got to within fifteen paces of the rebel detachment, which had formed behind the demolished works, and had to withstand a whole volley” (Baurmeister, Revolution in America description begins Carl Leopold Baurmeister. Revolution in America: Confidential Letters and Journals, 1776–1784, of Adjutant General Major Baurmeister of the Hessian Forces. Translated and annotated by Bernhard A. Uhlendorf. New Brunswick, N.J., 1957. description ends , 449). An account in The New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury for 16 July reported that the jägers returned fire “and fell back to a proper distance. Lieut. Colonel Prueschenck immediately, and with great resolution and presence of mind endeavoured to gain the height in the rear of the fort, and tho’ he received the enemy’s whole fire, succeeded so far as to take possession of the ruins of a house which was formerly fortified by Colonel Emmerich; from whence he attacked the rebels in their advantageous position, intending to dislodge them, but observing a battalion with flying colours in the fort, finding their superiority of numbers, being furiously attacked, with the bayonet, and at the same time seeing no possibility of gaining any ground, to his advantage, resolved to fall back under the cannon in Charles redoubt, but the rebels pressing t[o]o hard upon him, and his infantry, on account of the narrow passage, began to loose ground.”

Prueschenck ordered “thirty mounted jägers” to “charge the pursuing rebels.” It “was effective” and prompted “a second attack, which made the enemy abandon their position in order to gain the height at Devoe’s house.

“Immediately thereafter Lieutenant Colonel von Wurmb advanced with the rest of the Jäger Corps” (Baurmeister, Revolution in America description begins Carl Leopold Baurmeister. Revolution in America: Confidential Letters and Journals, 1776–1784, of Adjutant General Major Baurmeister of the Hessian Forces. Translated and annotated by Bernhard A. Uhlendorf. New Brunswick, N.J., 1957. description ends , 449–50).

Lincoln had drawn his force back while skirmishing with the jägers in hopes of enticing them further north where Lauzun’s corps, now approaching, could cut them off from Fort No. 8, the British stronghold on the east side of the Harlem River. Realizing his command’s predicament, Wurmb moved north only far enough to join with Emmerich and retire across King’s Bridge. Maj. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons’s division then took possession of the heights in front of King’s Bridge. Wurmb left only a small guard of infantry at the bridge (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 6 July, and the entry for 3 July in Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:558).

British commander Gen. Henry Clinton later reported: “Upon my hearing that the enemy’s army was so near me, I immediately rode out to Kings Bridge to observe their motions and catch at any advantage that might offer. But I soon saw that nothing could be attempted—without risking a general action—with the troops on duty in the lines, as I had not time to bring up more” (Willcox, American Rebellion description begins William B. Willcox, ed. The American Rebellion: Sir Henry Clinton’s Narrative of His Campaigns, 1775–1782, with an Appendix of Original Documents. New Haven, 1954. description ends , 307–8).

In the afternoon, De Lancey’s Loyalist troops at Morrisania, fearing a night attack, drove their cattle behind Fort No. 8 and sent their families across the Harlem River. Parties from De Lancey’s corps skirmished through the day to secure their position (see the entry for 3 July in Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:558–59).

The Continental army now controlled all the ground north of King’s Bridge.

GW, accompanied by Brigadier General Duportail and some dragoons, reconnoitered the British works from the heights above Spuyten Duyvil Creek. The enemy observed the reconnaissance: “About 1 o’Clock two of the Enemy’s dragoons appeared on Spikendevil hill, and having observed that all was clear there, they returned; soon after which about 20 horsemen came on the hill, apparently with an intention of reconnoitring the position. Tis thought those persons were Washington, with some French Officers, and their attendants. A few Cannon shot were fired at them from Cox-hill Redoubt and Prince Charles’s, on which they immediately retired” (entry for 3 July in Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:558; see also GW to Huntington, 6 July). In the afternoon, GW moved the Continental army back to Valentine’s Hill. Lauzun’s legion and Waterbury’s state troops remained east of the Bronx River “on the East Chester road” (entry for 3 July in Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 3:389; see also map 43 in Rice and Brown, American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army description begins Howard C. Rice, Jr., and Anne S. K. Brown, eds. The American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783. 2 vols. Princeton, N.J., 1972. description ends , 2:238–39).

Calculating from “the accounts of Prisoners & deserters, and from those of some of our own Officers,” British major Frederick Mackenzie, then stationed in New York City, placed American losses at “3 Officers and about 15 or 20 men, killed; & between 30 & 40 wounded. We took 10 prisoners.” He gave British and German casualties as “2 Jagers, killed; 1 Lieut 1 Serjt and 25 wounded, and 5 Missing” (entry for 3 July in Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:559). A modern estimate based on contemporary sources puts American casualties at 6 killed and 52 wounded (see Peckham, Toll of Independence description begins Howard H. Peckham, ed. The Toll of Independence: Engagements & Battle Casualties of the American Revolution. Chicago, 1974. description ends , 87).

For other accounts, see James Robertson to Lord Amherst, 5 July, in Klein and Howard, Letter Book of Robertson description begins Milton M. Klein and Ronald W. Howard, eds. The Twilight of British Rule in Revolutionary America: The New York Letter Book of General James Robertson, 1780-1783. Cooperstown, N.Y., 1983. description ends , 206–8; the entry for 4 July in Sabine, Smith’s Historical Memoirs (1971) description begins William H. W. Sabine, ed. Historical Memoirs from 26 August 1778 to 12 November 1783 of William Smith. . .. New York, 1971. description ends , 426; Hall, Life and Letters of General Parsons description begins Charles S. Hall. Life and Letters of Samuel Holden Parsons: Major General in the Continental Army and Chief Judge of the Northwestern Territory, 1737-1789. Binghamton, N.Y., 1905. description ends , 365–68; and Schecter, Battle for New York description begins Barnet Schecter. The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution. New York, 2002. description ends , 350–52.

Lauzun’s recollection of his role in the operation is at variance with GW’s diary entries and other reports. “The length of Duke Lauzens March & the fatiegue of his Corps, prevented his coming to the point of Action at the hour appointed,” GW wrote in his diary entry for 3 July (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 3:388). Lauzun claimed to have “arrived punctually at the place appointed” and that GW personally delivered his orders to assist Lincoln. Lauzun blamed Lincoln for prematurely firing around King’s Bridge and alerting the Loyalists. He then insisted that his command rescued Lincoln, whose troops had retreated “in considerable disorder” and suffered “two or three hundred” casualties (Memoirs of the Duc de Lauzun description begins C. K. Scott Moncrieff, trans. Memoirs of the Duc de Lauzun. 1928. Reprint. New York, 1969. description ends , 200–201; see also Campbell, William Hull description begins Maria Campbell. Revolutionary Services and Civil Life of General William Hull; Prepared from His Manuscripts. … New York, 1848. description ends , 202–4).

To his credit, GW achieved operational surprise. Mackenzie wrote in his diary entry for 3 July that the British lacked “the smallest information of their movement or approach until two hours after Emmerich marched” (Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:559). Another benefit was the deepening of Clinton’s fears (see Elias Dayton to GW, 26 June, n.3). Clinton later wrote: “Mr. Washington’s force being by this time assembled on the east side of the Hudson, it is obvious I could not venture to undertake” a planned offensive operation “before I should receive a reinforcement from the Chesapeake, as I might otherwise risk the extensive post of New York by detaching too largely from it. And, indeed, it was not long before the American chief let me know he was apportée to seize any advantage that should present itself, as he appeared in considerable force before my foreposts on the 3d of July, when a smart skirmish took place between his avant garde and about 200 Jägers supported by some refugees” (Willcox, American Rebellion description begins William B. Willcox, ed. The American Rebellion: Sir Henry Clinton’s Narrative of His Campaigns, 1775–1782, with an Appendix of Original Documents. New Haven, 1954. description ends , 307).