British Warships Enter the Hudson
The American defenders of New York had spent a lot of time fortifying and preparing against a British attack. There were trenches and artillery emplacements along the shoreline, and even obstacles in the river to keep ships from sailing up it. But on July 12, 1776, the Royal Navy showed that the Americans couldn’t even stop a couple of British warships. And although the only thing killed by British fire that day was a cow, six American artillerymen were killed from their own carelessness in handling their cannon.
That afternoon, the Phoenix, which had 44 guns, and the Rose, which had 20, sailed up the Hudson River with a couple of tenders (small vessels that often accompanied the larger ships). The American artillery blazed away at them and inflicted some damage, but couldn’t stop them, and the obstacles in the river turned out to not be a problem for them. American lieutenant Isaac Bangs described it in his journal:
In the afternoon a fine Brieze arose at S. W., & the Tide being favourable at the same Time we soon discovered 2 Ships & 3 Tenders making for the Town, whereupon we repaired as soon as possible each one to their several alarm posts; but before I got from the City our Batteries began to play upon them. I stoped to observe them, but found that our Shot chiefly fell short of them, but saw several shot strike the larger Ship; one Tender was obliged to put back. On my arrival at the Camp I found the Tents all struck, as the Enemy by seeing them might fire on the Camps; however, they had knowledge of the place, & before I got ten Rods from it they had got abreast of the Incampment; but as they were under quick way their shots fell chiefly to the Northward, & many of them went over my head, & 3 or 4 struck within 20 Rods of me. The Regt. [i.e., regiment] had gone to their Alarm Post. Before I got to the Alarm Post, being behind a hill, I discovered a Ball which had hit on the opposite side of the hill & was hoping [hopping] over it. I saw that it was in a direction that would bring it very near my Waiter (Simeon Chubbuck), who was about 5 or 6 Yards before me. I hallowed to him. He had just Time to discover & dodge it, but it passed him at not more than ½ Yard distance at the heighth of his Breast. Before this I was not in the least intimidated, but must confess that on seeing so narrow a chance of a Young Mans Life for whom I had a very great Regard, I had feelings different from what I before had. The Ball struck a Post in a fence on the opposite side of the Road, knocked it down, & then proceeded on its course. By the slow Motion which it had when I first discovered it I thought it would stop in a few Rods, but I immediately traced it for more than 20 Rods but could find nothing of it. I then proceeded to the Alarm Post; Sim was so weak that he went but a little farther & returned to Camp. Before any of our Regt (as they were but a small distance before me) arrived to our Alarm Post, the Ships had past it; in their Way many Balls passed very near them, & one killed a Cow at a very small distance from them. This was the only Life which was taken away by their Cannon, but by the carelessness of our own Artilery Men Six Men were killed with our own Cannon, & several others very badly wounded.
It is said that several of the Company out of which they were killed were drunk, & neglected to Spunge, Worm, & stop the Vent, and the Cartridges took fire while they were raming them down.
The Cannon from the City did but very little execution, as not more than half the Number of the Men belonging to them were present. The others were at their Cups [i.e., drinking] & at their usual place of abode, Viz., on the Holy Ground [New York’s red-light district]; but from Red Hooke, which was at a very great distance, they fired very well, & from Powles [Paulus] Hook they Hulled them several Times. What particular Dammage we did can’t yet learn.
There was some damage done, but the ships proceeded on up the river, where they stayed for a few weeks, causing trouble for the Americans.
Incidentally, that same evening, the commander of the British fleet arrived in the harbor on board his flagship, HMS Eagle. His name was Richard, Lord Howe, and he was an older brother of Sir William Howe, who was the British commander-in-chief on land. He was also a friend of Benjamin Franklin.
Sources
- Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library. “Taken from the height above the watering place on Staaten Island. View of the bay & town of New York with the Phoenix & Rose men of war passing their battery & going up Hudson’s River. 12th July 1776” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed August 9, 2020. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/be0f6d75-d1ea-1529-e040-e00a18065909
- Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, 58-60.