October 17, 18, 19, 2008

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The Battle of the Hook A Brief History

The Declaration of Independence had been adopted five years earlier. Its words created a vision for the American people and the Republic. But in 1781, the outcome of the rebellion against the British Crown is far from certain. The War is essentially at a stalemate in New England and British forces have been sweeping through the southern states. The British Gen. Lord Cornwallis has moved his army to the Tidewater area of Virginia and is seeking a port to receive reinforcements and establish a British stronghold for winning the war in the south.

He chooses the port of York Town.

Lord Cornwallis is an experienced soldier and he realizes that to control York Town, he must also control Gloucester Town - present day Gloucester Point. British forces occupy Gloucester Town by August 1, 1781, and engineers actually start building fortifications in Gloucester Town one day sooner than in York Town.

Word of Cornwallis' presence and intent reaches Gen. George Washington in New York. Both sides know that the key to the War in the south, and perhaps the entire country, is who will control Virginia. Gen. Washington sees an opportunity to strike a blow at the British by moving the main Allied forces, American and French, to Virginia to trap British Gen. Lord Cornwallis' army that is now entrenching itself at York Town and Gloucester Town. Bolstered by the news that French Adm. DeGrasse, with a fleet that includes 28 ships of the line and 3,000 troops, is sailing for the Chesapeake from the Caribbean. The Allied armies of Washington and Rochambeau began to secretly move on August 19 to reposition themselves into Tidewater Virginia.

In the meantime, Gloucester is at the mercy of British Col. Dundas' troops. While the Gloucester Safety Committee has mustered the Gloucester Militia under John Page, Warner Lewis, and others, it is no match for the British garrison. While some skirmishing occurs, the British forage essentially at will. The British forces confiscate - take by force - food and supplies from the homes and farms in Gloucester. The food and supplies are being channeled to Cornwallis' main body of troops on the south shore of the York River.

However, the odds are about to change. Washington orders 1,500 Virginia Militia under the command of Gen. George Weedon to take up a position in Gloucester. Included in this number are 400 men who are chosen to form the Select Brigade under the command of Lt. Col. John F. Mercer - who is all of 22 years of age. These men are veterans of the Continental Army and many have seen combat. The militia forces include mounted troops and light artillery.

In addition, Lauzun's Legion is ordered to Gloucester. Commanded by Armand Louis de Gontaut, the Duc de Lauzun, these French forces include the Hussars (cavalry), artillery, and infantry. Lauzun's Legion is made up of men from over a dozen European countries. Many, especially the Hussars, are from the area of the current Republic of Hungary. Washington and Rochambeau know all too well that the only way for Cornwallis to escape the siege they are planning in York Town is to move through Gloucester and make his way back to New York City. Eight hundred more French infantry from Degrasse's fleet land at Ware House Landing to bring the total number of allied troops in Gloucester to around 3,000. Gen. Washington appoints Brig. Gen. Claude Gabriel de Choisy, of the French army, as the overall commanding officer of the Allies in Gloucester.

The allied forces began to move south in Gloucester to contain and confront the British garrison. Successive camps were near Adner, Ware Church, Roanes, and Abingdon Church. As Cornwallis' situation becomes bleaker in York Town, he sends Tarleton's Legion to Gloucester Town. Col. Banastre Tarleton was well known in the American ranks for his military successes against them as well as "Tarleton's quarter," referring to his "take no prisoners" position at Waxhaws, South Carolina against the Virginians under Col. Buford. Tarleton's troops bring the British strength at Gloucester Town to over 1,000.

On the morning of October 3, 1781, Col. Tarleton leads the British Legion out of Gloucester Town for a "grand forage." It is likely that Cornwallis knew he would soon have to brace his army for the impending bombardment at York Town and that he must build his stockpile of food and supplies - at the expense of the citizens of Gloucester.

Philip Taliferro, stationed as a lookout at the Perrin's home "Little England," sends a dispatch to de Choisy at Abingdon Church that the British were on the move. The Duc de Lauzun leads his troops down the main road (basically today's Route 17) and Col. Mercer leads the Select Brigade down an alternate route east of the main road to seek out Tarleton.

As the French forces pass near Seawell's Ordinary, the Duc deLauzun tells us in his diary the following, "I saw a very pretty woman at the door of a farm house on the high road. I went up to her and questioned her. She told me that Col. Tarleton had left her house a moment before and had said that he was very eager to shake hands with the French Duke. I assured her I had come on purpose to gratify him." This lady was Mrs. Whiting.

Soon after this, the forward French troops encounter Tarleton's Legion. Shots ring out and the main body of French troops rush towards the sounds of gunfire. Lauzun's cavalry, the Hussars, see the British line, form up, and charge Tarleton's dragoons. The Hussars charge is strong and rattles the British. Col. Tarleton himself is actually unhorsed, possibly from his horse being wounded.

The British infantry attack Lauzun's flank and provide an opportunity for Tarleton to be rescued by his dragoons (cavalry). The British cavalry fall back behind their infantry and reform for a counterattack. Tarleton counterattacks Lauzun's Hussars and drives them back.

By this time, the 200 men of the Select Brigade of the Virginia Militia are on the field. Lauzun's horsemen fall back under attack through the Virginians. Lt. Col. John Mercer dismounts from his horse and leads the Virginians at a run towards the British.

After a short but intense firefight, the Select Brigade repulses Tarleton's counterattack as well as killing the British infantry commanding officer. Tarleton beats a retreat back to fortified Gloucester Town.
Later in the day Brigadier Gen. de Choisy sends the following dispatch to George Washington:

Sir,
I have the hounor to inform you that by our arrival at Saoul's Tavern we have met with the ennemi who was in number about 500 men Cavalry and Infantry, that the Cavalry of the Duc of Lauzun has attaqued them, pierced through and that we have had a great advantage on them We can esteem they have 30 men killed or wounded The 200 men grenadier Americans who were the only Infantry advanced enough to have part in the affair and who have behaved excedingly well have killed one officer who was at the head of the Infantry of the ennemi. T'is a general report that Tarleton has been wounded. The ennemi have retired to Gloucester and we are quickly in our Camp where I expect you will join to morrow as we have already agreed.

I have the hounor to be your
Most humble servant,
Choisy

The food supply for the British at York Town is cut off. The French and Americans establish a defensive line across Gloucester that lets Cornwallis know any attempt to escape through Gloucester will be strongly resisted.

In just a few days the bombardment of the British at York Town begins. On the night of October 14, the Allied forces in Gloucester fein an attack on Gloucester Town to distract the British while the real action is the taking of British redoubts 9 and 10 at York Town. This results in French and American artillery coming within nearly point blank range of the British lines.

With his options running out, Cornwallis assembles a fleet of barges and small boats and starts ferrying his soldiers to Gloucester Town on the night of October 16, in order to make an attempt to break through the defensive line of the Allies. A severe storm turns the York River into tall waves and white froth. Many lives are lost from capsized boats and the crossing is stopped. By the time the storm is over, it is too near daylight to resume the crossing.

On October 17, a British officer emerges from the fortifications at York Town under a white flag. A surrender of the British forces at York Town and Gloucester Town is negotiated on October 18. On October 19, one hour after the British surrender at Yorktown, the British garrison at Gloucester surrenders 1,100 men and 300 horses to the Allies. Like Cornwallis, Tarleton does not appear on the surrender field.