Battle of Bull's Ferry

Battle of Bull's Ferry
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Bulls Ferry Road descends from the top of the Hudson Palisades down to the river.
Date 20–21 July 1780 Location Bulls Ferry, New Jersey 40°47′20″N 74°00′00″W / 40.789°N 74.000°W / 40.789; -74.000Coordinates: 40°47′20″N 74°00′00″W / 40.789°N 74.000°W / 40.789; -74.000 Result British victory
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Anthony Wayne	Thomas Ward
Strength
Almost 2,000	70
Casualties and losses
15 killed, 49 wounded	5 killed, 16 wounded

The Battle of Bull's Ferry on 20 and 21 July 1780 saw two American brigades under Brigadier General Anthony Wayne attack a party of Loyalist Americans led by Thomas Ward. The Loyalists successfully defended a blockhouse against an ineffective bombardment by four American artillery pieces and a failed attempt to storm the position by Wayne's infantry. During the action, American light dragoons under Major Light Horse Harry Lee drove off a large number of cattle that were kept in the area for the use of the British army in New York City. The clash inspired British Major John André to write a satirical ballad entitled The Cow Chace. The skirmish was fought at Bulls Ferry, New Jersey in the Northern theater of the American Revolutionary War after Saratoga. At this stage of the conflict only raids and minor actions occurred in the north.

The Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778 was the last significant engagement in the north. After the battle, George Washington marched his army to New Brunswick, New Jersey, arriving there on 2 . Leaving William Maxwell's brigade in New Jersey, the main body of the American army crossed the Hudson River. By 24 July Washington's army arrived at White Plains, New York and placed the British garrison of New York City in a blockade that lasted the remainder of the war. In late July, the French admiral Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing arrived off Sandy Hook with one 90-gun ship of the line, one 80, six 74s, two 64s, and one 50, plus four frigates. Badly outgunned, Sir Richard Howe prepared to defend the entrance to New York harbor with six 64s, three 50s, six frigates, four galleys, and an armed merchantman. Meanwhile, British commander Sir Henry Clinton at Sandy Hook needed Howe's ships to transport his army to New York, otherwise he might be trapped. D'Estaing, whose larger vessels drew 30 feet (9.1 m) was informed by local pilots that there was only 23 feet (7.0 m) of water over the bar. On the morning of 22 July the frustrated French admiral sailed away. That afternoon a high tide pushed 30 feet of water over the bar and thus an opportunity to end the war in 1778 was missed.

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