History - Kings Orange Rangers

Attack against Fort Montgomery, which we found afterwards had succeeded at the same Instant
that of Fort Clinton did, and that by the excellent Disposition of Lieut. Colo. Campbell, who was
unfortunately killed on the first Attack, but seconded by Colonel Robinson of the Loyal American
Regiment, by whose Knowledge of the Country I was much aided in forming my Plan, and to
whose spirited Conduct in the Execution of it I impute on a great Measure the Success of the
Enterprize. …
About 10 o’Clock at Night the Rebels set fire to their two ships, Mongomery and Congress, some
Gallies [Lady Washington and Shark] and other armed Vessels [the New York privateer sloop
Camden] with their Cannon Stores &ca in them. …
The Commodore [William Hotham] has assisted me with his Advice, and every effort. We sent a
joint Summons to Fort Constitution, but our Flag meeting with an insolent Reception unkown in
any War, we determined to chastise, & therefore an Embarkation in Major General Tryon, and Sir
James Wallace with the Gallies was ordered. They found the Fort evacuated in the greatest
Confusion, the Store Houses burnt, but their Cannon were left unspiked. The Commodore
immediately ordered Sir James Wallace up the River, and if it shoulc be possible to find a Pasaage
through the Cheveaux de Frize, between Polypus Island [Pollepel Island] and the Main, he may
probably do most essential Service. …
PS 10 o’Clock at Night
Major General Tryon whom I detached this Morning with Emericks Chasseurs, 50 Yagers, the
Royal Fuzileers & Regiment of Trumback, with two three Pounders, to destroy the Rebel
Settlement called the Continental Village, has just retuned and reported to me that he has burned
Barracks for 1500 Men, several Storehouses, and loaded Waggons. The expreme Badness of the
Weather making it necessary to be as expeditious as possible no Account could be taken of the
Stores, but I believe them to have been considerable. I need no point out to your Excellency the
Consequence of destroying this Pose, as it was the only Extablishment of the Rebels in that Part
of the Highlands and Place from whence any neighbouring Body of Troops drew their Supplies.
Fannings and Byards [Bayard’s King’s Orange Rangers] marched from Verplancks Point to
cooperate with General Tryon, but finding he met no Opposition, they were ordered back to their
Post. 44
With the rebels disbursed, the three forts and various redoubts firmly in friendly hands and the
booms and chevreaux-de-frises across the Hudson removed, the way was clear to make further
incursion up river. Consequently General Vaughan in cooperation with Sir James Wallace’s
squadron spent from the 15 th to the 17 th laying waste as far up river as Esophus Creek or
Kingston. Two batteries were found along with an armed galley at the mouth of Esophus Creek.
Vaughan was determined not to leave his back exposed to them and he sent troops ashore to
destroy them. The rebels abandoned their batteries and fled into Kingston, taking refuge in
several houses and firing from them as the British entered the town. It was known that after the
capture of forts Montgomery and Clinton, rebel New York Governor Clinton had been given
refuge there. In fact, at the time of the attack the New York State Legislature had been meeting at
Kingston.
All that said, the place was notorious “for harbouring the most rebellious People in that Part of
44 Op. Cit. Naval Documents etc. Sir Henry Clinto to Sir William Howe, Fort Montgomery Octover 9, 1777.
King’s Orange Rangers
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