King's Ferry, Westchester County, New York

Tree: New England Hall Families Master Tree

Notes: http://revolutionaryday.com/usroute9/kingscross/default.htm
Kings Ferry was a major crossing point on the Hudson. It connected Verplanck’s Point on the east side of the Hudson with Stony Point on the west side. Since the British controlled New York City for most of the war, Kings Ferry was the southernmost crossing point for American personnel and supplies for most of the war. It was also a very important communication line between the north and the south. Therefore, Kings Ferry was a very strategic target for the British.

On October 5, 1777, Clinton dispersed the American forces at Verplanck’s Point and landed 3,000 troops to secure the area for an attack up river. On October 6th, they took Stony Point across the river and then moved north to take Fort Montgomery, Fort Clinton and Constitution Island.

On October 8, 1777, George Washington sent a letter to William Livingston. “Sir: I yesterday received certain intelligence, that the enemy had proceeded up Hudson’s River from New York, and landed a body of men at Verplanck’s Point, a few miles below Peekskill. … Should any disaster happen, it is easy to foresee the most unhappy consequences. The loss of the Highland passes would be likely to involve the reduction of the forts. This would open the navigation of the river, and enable the enemy, with facility, to throw their force into Albany, get into the rear of General Gates, and either oblige him to retreat, or put him between two fires.”

On May 30, 1779, the British returned to Kings Ferry. Six thousand troops left New York City, by land and water, and moved north toward Stony Point. On June 1st, while 40 American soldiers were finishing a blockhouse at Stony Point, the first British ships appeared in Haverstraw Bay. The soldiers burned the blockhouse and fled.

Also on June 1st, British forces attacked 70 North Carolina troops stationed at Fort Lafayette at Verplanck's Point. The American troops surrendered cutting off the important east-west link at King's Ferry. Also, the victories put the British in control of the gateway to the Hudson, just 12 miles south of West Point.

Died

Matches 1 to 1 of 1

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Died		Person ID	Tree
1	Thacher, Joseph	16 Oct 1778	King's Ferry, Westchester County, New York	I9667	New England Hall Families Master Tree