Battles & Campaigns · 1776
Landing at Kip's Bay
Kip's Bay, Manhattan, New York, USA
What happened
British warships bombarded the shore of Manhattan, and the Connecticut militia guarding Kip's Bay broke and fled. The British landed almost unopposed. Washington tried to rally his troops but could not stop the retreat.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The landing gave the British control of New York City. American troops further south only just escaped north along the Hudson.
What came next
The next day the armies clashed at Harlem Heights, where the Americans held their ground. The two armies then stayed in place on Manhattan for about two months.
Did you know?
A week earlier, an American sergeant had used the submarine Turtle to try to attack a British warship, the first documented submarine attack.
Timeline
- 7 September 1776The submarine Turtle attempts an attack.
- 15 September 1776Landing at Kip's Bay.
- 16 September 1776Battle of Harlem Heights.