The Battle of Bull's Ferry

July 20-21, 1780 at Bulls Ferry, New Jersey

Battle Summary

The Battle of Bull's Ferry saw two American brigades under Brigadier General Anthony Wayne attack a party of Loyalist Americans led by Thomas Ward. The Loyalists successfully defended a blockhouse against an ineffective bombardment by four American artillery pieces and a failed attempt to storm the position by Wayne's infantry.

During the action, American light dragoons under Major Light Horse Harry Lee drove off a large number of cattle that were kept in the area for the use of the British army in New York City. The skirmish was fought at Bulls Ferry, New Jersey in the Northern theater of the Revolutionary War after Saratoga.

At this stage of the conflict, only raids and minor actions occurred in the north.

Facts about the Battle of Bull's Ferry

• Armies - American Forces was commanded by Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne and consisted of about 2,000 Soldiers. British Forces was commanded by Maj. Thomas Ward and consisted of about 70 Soldiers.
• Casualties - American casualties were estimated to be 15 killed and 49 wounded. British casualties was approximately 5 killed and 16 wounded.
• Outcome - The result of the battle was a British victory. The battle was part of the Northern Theater 1778-82.

Prelude

The Battle of Monmouth was the last significant engagement in the north. After the battle, General George Washington marched his army to New Brunswick, New Jersey. Leaving Brigadier General William Maxwell's brigade in New Jersey, the main body of the American army crossed the Hudson River.

By July 24, Washington's army arrived at White Plains, New York and placed the British garrison of New York City in a blockade that lasted the remainder of the war. In late July, the French admiral Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing arrived off Sandy Hook with one 90-gun ship of the line, one 80, six 74s, two 64s, and one 50, plus four frigates. Badly outgunned, Sir Richard Howe prepared to defend the entrance to New York harbor with six 64s, three 50s, six frigates, four galleys, and an armed merchantman.

Meanwhile, British commander General Henry Clinton at Sandy Hook needed Howe's ships to transport his army to New York, otherwise he might be trapped. D'Estaing, whose larger vessels drew 30 feet was informed by local pilots that there was only 23 feet of water over the bar. On the morning of July 22,the frustrated French admiral sailed away. That afternoon, a high tide pushed 30 feet of water over the bar and thus an opportunity to end the war in 1778 was missed.

On September 27, 1778, the British wiped out the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons in the Baylor Massacre. On the American side, Anthony Wayne carried out a brilliant coup in the Battle of Stony Point on July 16, 1779. This feat was followed on August 19, 1779 by another successful raid by Lee in the Battle of Paulus Hook.

With a total of 27,000 troops on the Atlantic coast of North America, Clinton decided to move against Charleston, South Carolina. Leaving Wilhelm von Knyphausen to hold New York with 10,000 soldiers, Clinton embarked for the south with 8,700 troops in the fleet of Mariot Arbuthnot on 26 December 1779. Clinton was later reinforced so that his army numbered 12,500.

The subsequent capitulation of Major General Benjamin Lincoln's army in the Siege of Charleston on  May 12, 1780 represented the largest American mass surrender of the war. As many as 5,500 men were captured, including 2,650 irreplaceable Continental Army soldiers. Leaving Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis in South Carolina with two-thirds of the army, Clinton headed back to New York.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen staged the Springfield Raid in June 1780. He started out with 5,000 men on June 7. That day, he was successfully blocked by Elias Dayton's Continentals and militia in the Battle of Connecticut Farms. Clinton returned to New York on June 17. Hearing that a French fleet and army was on the way to Newport, Rhode Island, the British commander sent some ships up the Hudson to make it difficult for the Americans to cross to the east side and join the French.

Washington moved his army to cover his key fort at West Point, New York on the Hudson, leaving Major General Nathanael Greene to shield his base at Morristown, New Jersey.

On June 23, Knyphausen lunged at Morristown. In the Battle of Springfield, Greene's division slowed the Hessian general's thrust. That evening, Knyphausen withdrew into Staten Island.

Battle Begins

On July 20, Washington ordered Wayne to take the 1st and 2nd Pennsylvania Brigades, four artillery pieces, and Stephen Moylan's 4th Continental Light Dragoons to destroy a British blockhouse at Bulls Ferry in Bergen Township, opposite New York City. The stockaded position was held by 70 Loyalists commanded by Thomas Ward, providing a base for British woodcutting operations and protection against raids by American militia.

At that time, the British kept cattle and horses on Bergen Neck to the south, within easy reach of foragers from the British garrison at Paulus Hook. A second motive for Wayne's operation was to seize the livestock for the use of Washington's army. Wayne sent his cavalry under the leadership of Lee to round up the cattle, while he took three regiments and the artillery to attack the blockhouse.

On July 21, Wayne bombarded the blockhouse with his four cannons, but an hour later there were no discernible results. After being peppered with accurate fire from the blockhouse, the American soldiers from the 1st and 2nd Pennsylvania Regiments became impatient. Despite their officers' attempts to stop them, the soldiers dashed forward through the abatis to the base of the stockade. Once there, they found it impossible to break into the defensive works, and were forced to retreat.