Henry K. Van Rensselaer

Henry K. van Rensselaer, his given name Hendrick Kiliaen, (July 25, 1744 – September 9, 1816) was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War when he played a pivotal role in the Battle of Fort Anne.

Henry Kiliaen Van Rensselaer was born on July 25, 1744. He was the son of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer (1717–1781), a Colonel of the 4th Albany Regiment of militia, and Ariaantie Schuyler (1720–1763). He was the grandson of Hendrick van Rensselaer, who built Fort Crailo, and the brother of Philip K. Van Rensselaer (1747–1798) and Killian K. Van Rensselaer (1763–1845).

Henry van Rensselaer engaged in a fierce battle near Fort Anne, acting on orders from General Philip Schuyler. He was given at least two objectives:

Colonel John Hill and his British troops pursued the Rebels of the Crown from Lake Champlain up Wood creek to a point North East of Fort Anne. As planned, Van Rensselaer met Long and his regiment from New Hampshire to assist in their retreat. Their objective was to slow British movement. They assessed a numerical advantage over the British. Meanwhile, what appeared to be an American traitor, tricked Colonel Hill into believing there were twice as many as the true amount of Rebel troops. This news may have made Hill act more cautiously than he had planned, knowing his reinforcements have not arrived and otherwise not wanting to be spotted in an unprovoked retreat.

A series of retreats and advances by the Patriots and the British culminated into a two sided bombardment. Van Rensselaer led an advance on British troops when he was shot in the thigh through to his knee, shattering his femur. As he lie near the British troops, he could hear little noise. He was confidant the British were in retreat as he ordered his troops to "Attack! ...Attack"! Colonel van Rensselaer is credited for this critical decision in the battle of Fort Anne July 8, 1777.

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