George Washington and the Final British Campaign for the Hudson River, 1779

In the summer of 1779, British general Sir Henry Clinton launched one last attempt to gain control of the Hudson River, the most strategically important waterway during the American Revolution. The campaign involved all of George Washington’s main Continental Army and most of the forces around New York City under Clinton’s command, but ended without a major battle. Still, the summer saw plenty of action. American cavalry sparred with their British counterparts in eastern New York; thousands of militiamen resisted brutal British raids along the Connecticut coast; and Washington stunned the British with daring night bayonet attacks on the fortified posts of Stony Point and Paulus Hook. This study details the strategy, tactics, officers, soldiers, and spies that shaped this critical campaign, which helped set the stage for America’s final victory in the Revolution.

Michael Schellhammer, a retired Army officer, has served in the Persian Gulf War, Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq. His work has previously appeared in The Washington Post, The Washington Times and The Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin.

Michael Schellhammer
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 234
Bibliographic Info: 18 photos, 5 maps, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6807-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9051-6
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Prologue      7
Introduction: Washington’s War      11

1. Committee of Conference      19
2. “He Could Fight as Well as Brag”      25
3. The Culper Ring      36
4. “Chicane Might Draw Him into It”      47
5. “A Very Interesting Crisis”      61
6. “Men That Will Support the Reputation of His Regiment”      68
7. Little Gibraltar      77
8. “Surrender, You Damned Rebel”      88
9. “Too Pretty a Place to Burn”      102
10. Desolation Warfare      118
11. “You’ll Hear from Me This Evening”      125
12. Stand to Arms      135
13. The Push of the Bayonet      142
14. Colors Flying      156
15. Veteranship      165

Epilogue: The Ghost of “Mad” Anthony      181
Notes      197
Bibliography      213
Index      219

“well written, and providing interesting detail on the organization, equipment, and tactics of both armies, as well as profiles of numerous soldiers, including many relatively minor figures who played notable roles, this work will prove valuable reading for anyone interested the American Revolution”—The NYMAS Review; “Schellhammer describes the strategy, tactics and intelligence gathering involved in the entire 1779 Hudson River campaign in fascinating style…excellent maps…well written narrative…a must read”—Journal of the American Revolution.