1776 New Jersey Part 3 The Evacuation of Fort Lee Traditional Cache
mike380: Sorry just don't have the time to maintain this cache. I would like to thank everyone who came to find it.
Thanks Mike
1776 New Jersey Part 3 The Evacuation of Fort Lee
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Palisades Interstate Park, Fort Lee, NJ
Fort Lee found its place in American History during the 1776
British campaign to control NYC and the Hudson River. After the
seige of Boston, George Washington turned his attention to the
defense of NYC and the Hudson River Valley along with the
construction of fortifications at New York and Long Island,
Washington felt it imperative to build and strengthen his defenses
along the Hudson River. The British plan was to control the length
of the Hudson with the overwhelming dominance of its Royal Navy.
The plan, if successful, would split the Colonies in half and, it
was hoped bring an early end to the American rebellion. In July of
1776, work was begun on this site, which was first named "Fort
Constitution." The name was later changed to "Fort Lee," to honor
General Charles Lee, whose army had achieved a major victory at
Charleston, South Carolina, that summer. On the high ground of
northern Manhattan opposite Fort Lee, work had by that time already
begun on another fort, called Fort Washington. On July 12, Admiral
Richard Howe sent two British ships, the Rose and the Phoenix, up
the Hudson. Cannon fire from Fort Washington had had little effect
on their passage; Whashington ordered work on Fort Lee to proceed
as quickly as possible. At Major General Israel Putnam's
suggestion, vessels were sunk in the river channel between the
forts. With these obstructions, and artillery fire from the twin
forts, it was believed by the Americans that no British ships would
be able to sail past without sustaining severe losses. King George
III, wanting to end the rebellion as quickly as possible, had sent
the largest armada of British ships and troops ever to leave
England's shores. By mid-August, Sir William Howe, British
Commander-in-Chief (and brother to Admiral Howe), had assembled an
army of over 31 thousand British and Hessian troops on Staten
Island. On August 22, the British landed on Long Island and five
days later forced the Americans to retreat to NYC (at the time, the
City comprised only the southern tip of Manhattan island). In
September, the British took NYC and the rest of Manhattan-except
for Fort Washington. On November 16, Fort Washington fell to an
overwhelming assault by British forces, who captured over three
thousand American troops. Washington, realizing that with the loss
of Fort Washington, Fort Lee was of little military value, ordered
General Nathanael Greene, the commander at Fort Lee, to begin
preparations to evacuate the fort. An orderly withdrawl, however,
was not in store for the Americans. On November 20, just four days
after taking Fort Washington, the British had Lieutenant General
Cornwallis ferry five thousand men across the Hudsom several miles
north of Fort Lee. When word of the crossing reached Washington, he
ordered an immediate retreat, before his army could be cut off and
captured by the British force. Most of the American supplies and
artillery had to be left behind. These were indeed among the
darkest days for the American cause, leading to Thomas Paine's
famous words,
"These are the times that try men's souls..."
At the heart of this 33 acre historic park is the visitor center
providing information on the role of Fort Lee in the American
Revolution. There is a parking fee on weekends during the summer
months, often there is noone there to collect it. This cache is
meant to be educational and family freindly, please enjoy. As
always please practice stealth. For park info call 201-461-1776.
There is revolutionary war memorabilla in the cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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