The Northern Campaign
The 71st Regiment of Foot joined General William Howe at Staten Island in July 1776. Even though the 71st had never drilled, it was placed on line almost immediately. Major Menzies was supposed to lead the drill but he was killed in Boston Harbour and the rapid pace of events in the summer of 1776 virtually eliminated any training time.
On 1 August 1776, General Clinton arrived with reinforcements and the army of 25,000 was divided into seven brigades and a reserve for operations against Brooklyn. The 71st was placed in the 7th Brigade with some Loyalist and Hessian units. The 71st's Grenadiers were placed in the reserve along with the 33rd and 42nd Regiments.
The Americans under Major General Israel Putnam placed 10,000 men in defensive positions along Brooklyn Heights, and another 5,000 defended New York and the Hudson River. General Howe intended to sweep Staten Island free of Americans and envelop the city from the east and north, beginning with Brooklyn.
The British moved into position by sea and on 22 August 1776. The British force landed at Gravesend Bay, Long Island. Light American resistance was quickly swept aside and the Americans retreated to Flatbush, burning everything they could in the retreat. Lord Cornwallis pursued the Americans near Utrecht and Flatlands.
Over the next few days, the American strengthened their positions along high ground while the British reconnoitred the defences. The American right was defended by Major General William Alexander aka "Lord Stirling" in a good position, but the left under Major General John Sullivan failed to cover the Jamaica Road. This left the extreme left American flank open.
On 26 August 1776, Hessian units approached Flatbush and engaged General Sullivan's forces with artillery to hold the Americans in place while the main British force flanked General Sullivan along the Jamaica Road. The main force moved to attack at 9:00 pm with the 71st, 17th Light Dragoons, Light Infantry, Grenadiers, the 1st Brigade, and 14 guns. Two hours before sunrise, the pass on the road was captured and the British force immediately moved on. The British main force then envelopment and General Sullivan's main force was nearly encircled and forced into retreat.
With General Sullivan’s force out of the way, the British left under Major General James Grant moved against General Stirling’s better position. The engagement lasted for four hours but was eventually flanked by Lord Cornwallis and organized resistance ended.
Reports of bravery among soldiers of the 71st Regiment were noted in the battle while the Regiment lost three men killed and 11 wounded (two sergeants and nine men).
After the battle, General George Washington reinforced the defences at Brooklyn, but on the night of 29 August 1776, he withdrew the entire force to New York.
On 15 September 1776, British warships sailed up the Hudson River to Bloomingdale and up the East River to Turtle Bay. Fire from these vessels scattered American defenders, and the British ground forces landed to complete the encirclement of New York. The two thousand Americans remaining at Harlem retired to Harlem Heights and won a small action there the next day.
The next operation for the 71st Regiment was at Fort Washington on 16 November 1776. Participating with the regiment were the 4th, 10th, 15th, 23d, 27th, 28th, and 52nd Regiments and a force of Hessians.
Read more about this topic: 71st Regiment Of Foot, Fraser's Highlanders
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