Thrilling Incidents In American History
• Preface
Revolutionary War
• Opening Of The Revolution
• The Boston Massacre
• Affair of the Sloop Liberty
• Affair of the Gaspee
• The Tea Riot
• The Boston Port Bill
• The First Continental Congress-Consequent Parliamentary proceedings
• Organization of the Minute-Men
• Patrick Henry-Second Provincial Congress-First Military Enterprise
• Battles of Lexington and Concord
• Battle of Bunker's Hill
• Capture of Ticonderoga
• Second Continental Congress-Washington's Appointment
• Siege of Boston
• Incidents at the Evacuation of Boston
• Burning of Falmouth
• Arnold's Expedition to Quebec
• Siege of Quebec, and Death of Montgomery
• Scenes at Quebec during the Siege
• Expedition against Charleston
• The Declaration of Independence
• The Battle of Long Island
• Washington's Retreat through New Jersey-Capture of General Lee
• Battle of Trenton
• Battle of Princeton
• Capture of General Prescott
• Battle of Brandywine
• Battle of Germantown
• Battle of Red-Bank
• Attack on Fort Mifflin-Retirement of the Army to Valley Forge
• Battle of Bennington
• Murder of Miss M'Crea
• Battle of Stillwater
• Battle of Bemis' Heights, and Retreat of Burgoyne
• Capture of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
• Surrender of Burgoyne
• The Treaty with France
• Attack on Savannah, and Death of Pulaski
• Storming of Stony Point
• General Sullivan's Campaign against the Mohawks
• Tarleton's Quarters
• Battle of Camden, and Death of De Kalb
• Arnold's Treason
• The Loss of the Randolph
• The British Prison-Ships
• Capture of the Serapis
• Putnam's Feat at Horseneck
• Battle of Eutaw Springs
• Wayne's Charge at Green Spring
• Capture of the General Monk
• The Mutinies
• Battle of the Cowpens
• Capture of New London
• Massacre of Wyoming
• Surrender of Cornwallis
War With France
• Capture of L'Insurgente
• The Constellation and Vengeance
War With Tripoli
• Burning of the Philadelphia
• Bombardment of Tripoli
• Loss of the Intrepid
• Expedition of General Eaton
Second War With England
• Battle of Tippecanoe
• Capture of the Guerriere
• Tragical Affair of an Indian Chief
• Battle and Massacre at the River Raisin
• Captain Holmes's Expedition
• Capture of the Caledonia and Detroit
• The Wasp and Frolic
• Gallant Conduct of Lieutenant Allen at the Capture of the Macedonian
• Capture and Destruction of the Java
• Siege of Fort Meigs
• Capture of York, and Death of General Pike
• Defence of Sackett's Harbour
• Defence of Fort Stephenson
• Battle of Lake Erie
• Battle of the Thames
• Gallant Action of Commodore Chauncey under the guns of Kingston Citadel
• The Sacking of Hampton
• Capture of the Peacock
• Massacre at Fort Mimms
• Surrender of Weatherford
• Battle of Niagara
• BattIe of New Orleans
War With Mexico
• Battle of Palo Alto
• Battle of Resaca de la Palma
• Capture of Monterey
• Battle in the Streets of Monterey
• Thrilling Scenes in the Battle of Buena Vista
• Bombardment of Vera Cruz
• Battle of Cerro Gordo
• Battles of Contreras and Churubusco
• Storming of Chapultepec
Battle of Red-Bank.
BATTLE OF RED-BANK.
THE British army had been
successful in repulsing the
Americans, yet their situation
was not comfortable;
nor could they easily maintain
themselves in Pennsylvania
unless the navigation of the Delaware were
opened, and a free communication established between
the fleet and army. The upper line of chevaux-de-frise
was protected by a work named Fort Mifflin,
erected on a marshy island in the Delaware, called
Mud Island, formed by an accumulation of sand and vegetable mould near the
Pennsylvania bank of the river, and by a redoubt called Red-Bank, on the Jersey
side. At a small distance below Mud Island, and nearly in a line with it, are
two others, named Province and Hog's Islands; between these and the Pennsylvania
bank of the river was a narrow channel, of sufficient depth to admit ships of
moderate draught of water. The reduction of Forts Mifflin and Red-Bank, and the
opening of the Delaware, were of essential importance to the British army in the
occupation of Philadelphia. In order, therefore, that he might be able
more conveniently to assist in those operations, General
Howe, on the 19th of October, withdrew his army from
Germantown and encamped in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
He despatched Colonel Count Donop, a German officer, with three battalions of Hessian grenadiers, the regiment of Mirbach, and some light infantry, to reduce Red-Bank. This detachment crossed the Delaware at Philadelphia on the evening of the 21st of October, and next afternoon reached the place of Its destination. Count Donop summoned the fort to surrender; but Colonel Christopher Greene,of Rhode Island, w lio commanded in the redoubt, answered that he would defend his post to the last extremity. Count Donop immediately led his troops to the assault, advancing under a close fire from the fort, and from the American vessels-of-war and floating batteries on the river; he forced an extensive and unfinished outwork, but could make no impression on the redoubt. The count was mortally wounded; the second in command also was disabled; and, after a desperate conflict and severe loss, the assailants were, compelled to retreat under a fire similar to that which had met them in their advance. Colonel Donop was made prisoner, and soon died of his wounds.
The disaster did not terminate here. That part of
the fleet which co-operated in the attack was equally
unfortunate. The Augusta, Roebuck, Liverpool, Pearl,
and Merlin, vessels-of-war, had passed through an
opening in the lower line of chevaux-de-frise; and on
the commencement of Count Donop's attack, moved
up the river with the flowing tide. But the artificial
obstructions had altered the course of the channel,
and raised sand-banks where none existed before.
Hence the Augusta and Merlin grounded a little below
the second row of chevaux-de-frise. At the return
of the tide every exertion was made to get them off,
but in vain. In the morning the Americans, perceiving
their condition, began to fire upon them, and sent
fireships against them. The Augusta caught fire;
and, the flames spreading rapidly, it was with the utmost
difficulty that the crew were got out of her.
The second lieutenant, chaplain, gunner, and some
seamen perished in the flames; but the greater part
of the crew was saved. The Merlin was abandoned
and destroyed.