Fort Lee Historic Park#Fort Lee (American Revolutionary War)

File:A plan of the operations of the King's army, Chevaux de Frise between Fort Lee and Fort Washington, detail.jpg detailing the chevaux-de-frise between Fort Lee and Fort Washington]]

Fort Lee, originally Fort Constitution, was a Revolutionary War-era fort located on the crest of the Hudson Palisades in what was then Hackensack Township, New Jersey opposite Fort Washington at the northern end of Manhattan Island.

George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, issued orders to General Mercer to summon all available troops and erect a fort on the west side of the Hudson River. Construction commenced in July 1776 {{cite web| title = Wars and Battles, November 20, 1776| url = http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1288.html| access-date = March 15, 2009| archive-date = February 16, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090216134937/http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1288.html| url-status = live}} on the new fort, to be called Fort Constitution.

The fort was located on the western side of the road that led up the hill from the landing. Concurrently, Fort Washington was being built almost directly across the North River (Hudson River) in New York.{{cite web| last = Hoy| first = Carla| title = History and Profile, Fort Lee Historical Highlights| url = http://www.fortleenj.org/| access-date = March 10, 2009| archive-date = March 5, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090305084751/http://www.fortleenj.org/| url-status = live}} Chevaux-de-frise, south of the Hudson River Chain, were laid between them.{{cite book|last = Diamant|first = Lincoln|title = Chaining the Hudson: The Fight for the River in the American Revolution| publisher = Fordham University Press|year = 2004|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bkNjv-9mqocC&pg=PA44|page=44|isbn =978-0-8232-2339-8}}

File:Forcing a Passage of the Hudson.jpg

These twin forts were intended to protect the lower Hudson from British warships. At first, efforts were concentrated close to the water level near Burdett's Landing. Later, fortifications were added atop the bluff under the supervision of Joseph Philips, Battalion Commander of the New Jersey State Militia. The Bourdette's ferry service was taken over by the Army,{{cite web | last = Renner | first = James | title = Burdett's Ferry | date = October 2003 | url = http://www.washington-heights.us/history/archives/burdetts_ferry_105.html | access-date = March 5, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071213163031/http://www.washington-heights.us/history/archives/burdetts_ferry_105.html | archive-date = December 13, 2007 }} and Peter Bourdette was forced to vacate his house; although as a patriot he considered it no sacrifice and offered the work of his slaves to General Mercer's construction efforts.

At the end of September 1776, Fort Constitution was renamed Fort Lee, for General Charles Lee of the Continental Army. George Washington used the stone Bourdette house for his headquarters when he passed time at Fort Lee. At this stage of the war the ferry operated as a supply line and the only link between Forts Lee and Washington.{{sfnp|Adams|1996|loc=[https://archive.org/details/hudsonriverguide0000adam pp. 103–4]}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Battle of Fort Lee

| partof = the American Revolutionary War

| image = Landing of the British forces in the Jerseys - Thomas Davies.jpeg

| image_size = 300

| caption = Watercolor by Captain Thomas Davies depicting the British landing at the base of the Palisades.

| combatant1 = {{flag|United States|1776}}

| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Great Britain}}

• {{flagicon|Hesse}}Hesse-Kassel

| date = {{Start date|1776|11|19}}

| place = Fort Lee, New Jersey vicinity

| result = British victory

| commander1 = {{flagicon|United States|1776}} George Washington
{{flagicon|United States|1776}} Nathanael Greene

| commander2 = {{flagicon|Kingdom of Great Britain}} Charles Cornwallis
{{flagicon|Hesse}} Carl von Donop

| strength1 = 2,000

| strength2 = 5,000
8 guns

| casualties1 =

| casualties2 =

| campaignbox = {{campaignbox American Revolutionary War: Northern 1775}}

}}

The Battle of Fort Lee on November 19, 1776 marked the successful invasion of New Jersey by British and Hessian forces and the subsequent general retreat of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Peter Bourdette's sixteen-year-old son, also named Peter, provided assistance by direct use of the landing. During the week leading up to the evacuation of Fort Lee he rowed back and forth across the river gathering information for General Washington on the anticipated movements of the British forces.{{cite book | last = Van Walen| first = James M. | title = History of Bergen County, New Jersey| publisher = New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co| year = 1900| page = 499}} Well after dark on the night before the battle for New York at Fort Washington, George Washington was rowed from Burdett's Landing to the middle of the Hudson River for a strategy session with his senior officers in charge of New York, who rowed to meet him.{{cite web | last = Cheslow | first = Jerry | title = If You're Thinking of Living In: Edgewater; Factory Town Is Now Bedroom Community | work = New York Times | date = July 30, 1995 | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4D61338F933A05754C0A963958260 | access-date = March 16, 2009 | archive-date = April 22, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240422015009/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/30/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-edgewater-factory-town-is-now-bedroom-community.html | url-status = live }} On November 16, 1776, George Washington witnessed the battle for New York from across the river on the bluff of Fort Lee, above Burdett's Landing.{{sfnp|Adams|1996|loc=[https://archive.org/details/hudsonriverguide0000adam p. 105]}}

Fort Lee was rendered defenseless after Continental Army troops holding Fort Washington were defeated and captured on November 16, 1776. The Royal Navy controlled the Hudson River. General William Howe ordered Charles Cornwallis to "clear the rebel troops from New Jersey without a major engagement, and to do it quickly before the weather changed."{{sfnp|Fischer|2004|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Oreq1YztDcQC&pg=PA121 p. 121]}}

The force included Hessian units commanded by Colonel Carl von Donop.{{sfnp|Lefkowitz|1998|p=44}} The invasion of New Jersey began the night of November 19, when 5,000 British troops were ferried across the Hudson on barges. British military Commander Lord Cornwallis landed a force of between 2,500 and 5,000 at what was sometimes known as the "Lower Closter Landing", later known as Huyler’s Landing or "Huyler's", on November 20, 1776.

In an effort to ambush Washington and crush the rebellion in the wake of the rebel's defeat in the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Fort Washington, Cornwallis marched his men up the cliffs of the Palisades via a rough path, and southward through the Northern Valley. The landing was long erroneously thought to have taken place at the Closter Landing in Alpine, then known as "Upper Closter Landing", and now the site of the Alpine Boat Basin and picnic area. The actual path used by the British later became a road used to bring farm goods from the Northern Valley to a dock at river level ("Huyler’s"), where there were also buildings until later in the 20th century. Fischer, David Hackett "On His Lordship’s Mysterious Ascent" [https://www.njpalisades.org/hisLordshipsMysteriousAscent.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101145357/http://www.njpalisades.org/hisLordshipsMysteriousAscent.html |date=November 1, 2019 }}.[https://www.nynjtc.org/hike/huylers-landing-trailcloster-dock-trail-loop-alpine-headquarters#dialog-hike-description] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023015132/https://www.nynjtc.org/hike/huylers-landing-trailcloster-dock-trail-loop-alpine-headquarters#dialog-hike-description |date=October 23, 2020 }}. Hike description. Washington's Crossing; New Jersey Walk Book, NY/NJ Trail Conference. The Park trail follows the old farmers' road from the Shore Trail at the bottom to the top, where it connects with the Long Path.

George Washington and Nathanael Greene quickly ordered the evacuation of the fort on the morning of November 20, 1776.{{sfnp|Spring|2007|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Qq401Z0BEckC&pg=PA27 p. 27]}}

The soldiers then began a hasty retreat west, crossing the Hackensack River at New Bridge Landing and the Passaic River at Acquackanonk Bridge{{cite news | title = Main Avenue Bridge | publisher = NYC Bridges | date = 2012 | url = http://bridgesnyc.com/postcards/exhibits/show/then-and-now/passaic-river/main-avenue | access-date = May 26, 2015 | archive-date = March 19, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150319072204/http://bridgesnyc.com/postcards/exhibits/show/then-and-now/passaic-river/main-avenue | url-status = live }}{{cite web |title=Masonry and Metal The Historic Bridges of Bergen County, New Jersey |publisher=Richard Grubb and Associates |year=2008 |url=http://www.richardgrubb.com/Masonry%20and%20Metal%20Brochure.pdf |access-date=August 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710033930/http://www.richardgrubb.com/Masonry%20and%20Metal%20Brochure.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2012 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.lambertcastle.org/Passaicvictory.html |title=Passaic's Victory Day |access-date=September 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219010949/http://www.lambertcastle.org/Passaicvictory.html |archive-date=December 19, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/passaic_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm|title=Passaic, New Jersey Revolutionary War Sites – Passaic Historic Sites|work=revolutionarywarnewjersey.com|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928200054/http://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/passaic_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/washingtonhisarm00nels/washingtonhisarm00nels_djvu.txt|title=Full text of "Washington and his army at Acquackanonk : an incident of the retreat of 'seventy-six"|work=archive.org|access-date=September 28, 2015}}

During Washington's retreat, which began along a road that is now Main Street,{{cite web|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7657|title=Fort Lee Road Marker|work=hmdb.org|access-date=November 20, 2015|archive-date=November 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120173542/http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7657|url-status=live}}[http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/MBimages/ClaireThollmap1800pix.jpg The British Invasion & Washington's Retreat – Nov 20–21, 1776] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016122632/http://bergencountyhistory.org/MBimages/ClaireThollmap1800pix.jpg |date=October 16, 2010 }} jpg map of Bergen County. Thomas Paine authored and published his pamphlet, "The American Crisis", in Philadelphia, which began with the famed phrase, "These are the times that try men's souls".{{cn|date=April 2025}}

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Fort Lee Museum is located in Monument Park. which was created by the Daughters of the American Revolution and dedicated in 1908 at ceremony attended by General John "Black Jack" Pershing. The park was part of the original Fort Constitution of the Continental Army under the leadership of General George Washington. Over 2,600 troops were stationed in and around the Monument Park area.

In 2004, the park was reconstructed for the Fort Lee Centennial Celebration. A time capsule was placed at the foot of the monument, to be opened at the Bicentennial Celebration in the year 2104. Monument Park and Continental Army Plaza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are the only parks in the United States dedicated to the soldiers of the American Revolution.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fortleenj.net/parks-recreation/monument.html |title=fort lee Monument Park |access-date=February 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203185038/http://www.fortleenj.net/parks-recreation/monument.html |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

{{Cite web |url=http://www.fortleenj.net/departments/museum.html |title=Fort Lee Museum |access-date=February 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112030639/http://www.fortleenj.net/departments/museum.html |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7655|title=Thomas Paine Marker|work=hmdb.org|access-date=November 20, 2015|archive-date=November 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120154953/http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7655|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.fortleenj.net/parks-recreation/monument.html |title=Fort Lee Monument Park |access-date=February 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203185038/http://www.fortleenj.net/parks-recreation/monument.html |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

File:Fort Lee Historic Park Hiking Path.jpg|Hiking Path

File:Manhattan from Fort Lee Historic Park.jpg|View of Manhattan

File:GeorgeWashingtonBridge.jpg|View of the George Washington Bridge

File:Fort Lee Historic Park 03 - Cannon and George Washington Bridge.jpg|Historic Cannon

File:Fort Lee Historic Park, Ross Dock Picnic Area.jpg|Fort Lee Historic Park, Ross Dock Picnic Area

• New Jersey in the American Revolution
• Battle of Fort Washington
• Hudson River Chain
• New Bridge Landing
• Palisades Interstate Park

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last=Adams|first=Arthur G.|title=The Hudson River Guidebook|url=https://archive.org/details/hudsonriverguide0000adam|url-access=registration|location=New York|publisher=Fordham University Press|year=1996|isbn=978-0-8232-1679-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Fischer|first=David Hackett|author-link=David Hackett Fischer|title=Washington's Crossing|chapter=The Retreat. Cornwallis and the Conquest of New Jersey|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2004|isbn=0-19-517034-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Hall|first=Edward Hagaman|title=Fourteenth Annual Report|year=1909|publisher=The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society|location=New York|chapter=Fort Lee, New Jersey. A Sketch of its Revolutionary History|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWMAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA167}}
• {{cite book|last=Lefkowitz|first=Arthur S.|title=The Long Retreat: The Calamitous American Defense of New Jersey, 1776|location=New Brunswick, New Jersey|publisher=Rutgers University Press|year=1998|isbn=978-08135-2759-8}}
• {{cite book|last=Mack|first=Arthur C.|title=The Palisades of The Hudson|chapter=Historic Old Fort Lee|year=1909|publisher=The Palisade Press|location=Edgewater, New Jersey|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924028832801|page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924028832801/page/13 13]}}
• {{Cite book|editor-last=Karels|editor-first=Carol|title=The Revolutionary War in Bergen County|last=Spring|first=John|chapter=The Invasion and the Myths Surrounding It|publisher=History Press|year=2007|location=South Carolina|isbn=978-1-59629-358-8}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}} Palisades Interstate Park Commission
• {{cite web|title=Battle of Fort Lee and Retreat Across the Jerseys|url=http://www.revolutionarynj.org/battle-of-fort-lee-and-retreat-across-the-jerseys/|publisher=Crossroads of the American Revolution}}
• {{cite web|title=Fort Lee Historic Park, NJ|url=https://www.palisadesparksconservancy.org/historic_detail.php?historic_id=2|publisher=Palisades Parks Conservancy}}
• {{cite web|title=Fort Lee Historic Park|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=7707|publisher=Historical Marker Database}}
• [http://www.generalatomic.com/AmericanHistory/washingtons_retreat.html Route Description]

{{Fort Lee, New Jersey}}

{{New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War}}

{{Authority control}}

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Fort Lee Historic Park

Lee

Fort Lee

Lee Historic Park

Fort Lee Historic Park

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Fort Lee Historic Park

Fort Lee Historic Park

Fort Lee Historic Park

Category:Parks in Bergen County, New Jersey