British Invasion of New York

Background. The Revolutionary War had gone poorly for Britain in 1775 and early 1776, prompting General William Howe to withdraw from Boston to Halifax in March 1776. On August 27, Howe flanked Washington's defenses at the Battle of Long Island, leaving the American army in a precarious position. On September 10, British troops occupied Montresor's Island at the mouth of the Harlem River.

Landing at Kip's Bay and American Retreat. On September 15, 1776, heavy naval fire from British warships in the East River sent the inexperienced American militia guarding Kip's Bay fleeing, and British troops landed unopposed. Washington and his aides arrived from Harlem Heights but could not rally the panicked militia. By late afternoon most of the American army had moved north to King's Bridge and Harlem Heights, and New York City fell to the British.

Battle of Harlem Heights. On September 16, a clash of outposts escalated into a running battle below Washington's lines. An early morning skirmish between Knowlton's Rangers and British light infantry pickets developed as the British pursued the Americans through the woods toward Harlem Heights. Washington ordered a flanking maneuver that failed to cut off the enemy, but the outnumbered British withdrew after some units fired away their ammunition. The action took place in what is now Morningside Heights and east into the future Harlem neighborhoods of northwestern Manhattan.

Aftermath and Nathan Hale's Execution. The stand at Harlem Heights boosted American morale after the previous day's debacle and gave the British a renewed respect for American fighting ability. Henry Johnston's 1897 study assessed British losses at 14 killed and 157 wounded, and American losses at about 30 killed and 100 wounded, including Colonel Knowlton. Meanwhile, Nathan Hale, who had volunteered on September 8 to spy on British troop movements, was captured and hanged on the morning of September 22 near the Dove Tavern.