Battle of Harlem Heights

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The Battle of Harlem Heights was a 1776 American Revolutionary War engagement on northern Manhattan in which George Washington’s forces repelled British troops, boosting Patriot morale after earlier defeats.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf American Revolutionary War battle
battle
armedForce Loyalist and British forces
Patriot forces
associatedWith George Washington’s early war leadership
belligerent Great Britain
Hessian auxiliaries
United States
campaignObjective defense of northern Manhattan by American forces
category 1776 in New York (state)
Battles of the American Revolutionary War
History of Manhattan
cityArea near present-day Columbia University
near present-day Morningside Heights
combatant British Army
Continental Army
commander Alexander McDougall
George Washington
Thomas Knowlton
conflict American Revolutionary War
country United States
date 1776-09-16
engagementType reconnaissance-in-force
skirmish
followedBy Battle of White Plains
hasLanguageOfPrimarySources English
historicalRegion Harlem Heights
location Manhattan
New York City
Province of New York
northern Manhattan
notableConsequence encouraged continued American resistance in New York campaign
notableUnit Knowlton’s Rangers
opponentObjective British reconnaissance and pressure on American positions
opposingCommander Alexander Leslie
William Howe
partOf New York and New Jersey campaign
precededBy Battle of Kips Bay
Battle of Long Island
result American victory
boosted Patriot morale
strategicSignificance demonstrated effectiveness of Continental light infantry
restored American morale after earlier defeats
tacticalOutcome limited American tactical success
terrain open fields
ravines
wooded hills
timePeriod 18th century
year 1776


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