SECOND BATTLE of the TAPPAN ZEE OFF YONKERS , NEW YORK -16 August 1776

Hudson River, New York SECOND BATTLE OF THE TAPPAN ZEE OFF YONKERS , NEW YORK -16 August 1776-

Following the First Battle of the Tappan Zee the American forces collected at Sputen Duyvil Creek on the eastern shore of the Hudson River. Sputen Duyvil Creek separated Manhattan Island from the mainland. Here Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper set about repairing his galleys and the Americans continued sinking obstructions in the Hudson. They wanted to both block the British from penetrating upriver and hem in the two frigates that were in the Tappan Zee. On 9 August the galleys withdrew down towards the city, while preparations began for another attack. 1

Throughout August the Americans had been fortifying the passages of the Hudson with batteries and forts. Part of the plan was to obstruct the Hudson River channel with sunken hulka and chevaux-de-frise. As early as 4 August, HM Brig Halifax , anchored off Staten Island, observed the Americans towing old vessels up the Hudson River, which the British observers “supposed” were to be sunk in the channel. 2 The British had seen these hulks the day before and thought they were fire stages. In the morning they were towed up the North River and were now thought to be chevaux-de-frise. These were to prevent the ships above from coming down, or those below from going up. “It is of a peculiar Construction; and all the Industry of malevolence, which is the most active Sort of Industry, has been used to complete it. Our People don' t seem to regard it, and fancy they can easily run it down, or remove it out of their way.”3 On 8 August, Captain henry Duncan in his journal stated that “During the time we have been here, we have observed the rebels very busy in, erecting batteries, fitting out row galleys, and making large and high building of wood to sink in the river to destroy the navigation above the town: the row galley and floating batteries have been sent several times against the Phoenix and Rose, but we hear they

1 NDAR, “Diary of Ensign Caleb Clap,” 6:130

2 NDAR, “Master’s Log of H.M. Brig Halifax ,” 6:50

3 NDAR, “Journal of Ambrose Serle,” 6:50

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --1-- have always been beat off with loss.”4

Washington, reporting to John Hancock on 5 August, said that two hulks and three chevaux-de-frise had been taken up the river to the place intended and would be sunk. 5 Five days later Washington directed Brigadier General Thomas Mifflin to pick out a convenient spot to fortify with a battery to protect Kingsbridge lest the British penetrate up the creek in boats. He also urged Mifflin “to sink as soon as possible the Vessels &c. for Obstructing the Channel, and should you want more, that you will certify Genl Putnam of the same ” Again on 11 August Washington urged Colonel Rufus Putnam "to hasten the Sinking of Vessels and other obstructions in the River at Fort Washington as fast as it is possible. " 6

On 10 August a man deserted from the Rose . He revealed that the ship had lost no men during the dash upstream and only two or three wounded. In the galley attack they lost a man and two wounded. That “they are now much Concernd, for fear of our Row-galley.” Five Tories had come aboard one ship and eight the other. Three Tories had left the ship on a Thursday and returned a week later: “those Tories went into the City, and Round our works any where that they was Amind ...” 7

The shores of the Tappan Zee were now being guarded as well. On 6 August, from Tarrytown, Colonel Thomas Thomas wrote to Washington. He had found a place

“for placing some Cannon to play upon the shipping whilst Attacked by our Gallies; the Cannon may be placed upon an Eminence within near half a Mile of the shipping, and if your Excellency should think the above plan Expedient, an Engineer might be Necessary to form a breast work for three or four peices of Cannon which I beg your Excellency in that case will Order up with the Necessary Apparatus and Intrenching Tools — I Conceive shall be able to collect a sufficient Number of men with those allready under my Command here to throw up a breast work in a very short time in an Evening after planned by an Engineer.”

If so, Thomas suggested delaying an attack by the galleys until the work was completed. 8

On 13 August, in the evening, nine galleys went up the river. The observers thought they

4 NDAR, “Journal of Captain Henry Duncan, R.N.,” 6:123

5 NDAR, “George Washington to John Hancock,” 6:61-62

6 NDAR, “Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to Brigadier General Thomas Mifflin,” 6:140 and 140n2

7 NDAR, “Diary of Ensign Caleb Clap,” 6:182-183

8 NDAR, “Colonel Thomas Thomas to George Washington,” 6:84

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --2-- were going to Fort Washington. On the morning of 14 August two fire ships went up the river. 9 While the Americans were continuing their preparations, the British command began to be concerned about the two ships upriver. As early as 6 August the Solebay , a 28-gun frigate, had been ordered too go up river to support the ships above, but falling wind prevented the attempt. 10

On 13 August the two ships moved at 1230 and anchored off Phillip’s Farm at 1400. When the Rose came to and dropped her anchor she fouled the Phoenix ’s anchor, which forced the big ship to adjust her position. Phoenix was four miles above the upper fort. 11 Rose moved at 1130 and steered down river. She anchored at 1430, eight miles above the fort. Rose saw several vessels sunk in the channel, with four more brigs waiting to be sunk. 12

Meanwhile, the preparation of the firecraft had been ongoing. One was the new sloop Polly of about 95 tons, and the second a schooner of some 60 tons, the name of whlch is not known. They had been prepared under the supervision of Lieutenant Ephraim Anderson of the Second New Jersey Battalion, under the advice of Captain John Hazelwood of the Pennsylvania Navy. [ McManemin, Captains of the State Navies , 405 ]

Both had been prepared in late July and early August. The holds had been filled with empty barrels to prevent the craft from sinking too quickly under cannon fire.

“Two gutters, each about six inches wide and ten deep , had been constructed along the entire length of the port and starboard bulwarks and into the aft cabins through openings cut in the bulkheads. In the bottom of each trough lay a train of fine gunpowder to a depth of about half an inch. This was then covered in straw soaked in brimstone, and on top of this small fagots of black birch twigs dipped in rosin.”

“Some ten or twelve barrels filled with pitch pine fagots and melted rosin stood on the decks, and between them bundles of birch twigs dipped in rosin were stowed to the gunwales. Strips of turpentine soaked canvas dangled from the riggings and spars. Grappling irons were fastened to the ends of the square sail and spritsail yards, to the flying jibboom, and to the gaft and main booms, with long chains leading down to the decks where they were firmly bolted in place. Everything was prepared so that it would be the work of but an instant to set both vessels

9 NDAR, “Diary of Ensign Caleb Clap,” 6:182-183

10 NDAR, “Journal of Ambrose Serle,” 6:84-85

11 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Phoemix , Captain Hyde Parker,” 6:166-167

12 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Rose , Captain James Wallace ,” 6:167

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --3-- aflame.”13

The first attempt to attack the British ships was planned for the night of 14 August. The two firecraft went up the river on the morning of that day. 14 They were headed to Sputen Duyvil Creek to meet the galleys. The wind was light and variable and the firecraft made slow progtess. Meanwhile Major General William Heath had gone to the eastern shore, with Brigadier General George Clinton to observe the attack. By midnight the generals departed as there was no attack. 15

While the attack never materialized the British had been busy. Parker put a petty officer and six men in a whaleboat and dispatched it downriver. The boat managed to pass the obstructions and batteries without a shot being fired. Although it is not known what message it carried, it could have been notification that Parker intended to return to the fleet. 16

The firecraft arrived at Sputen Duyvil Creek on 15 August. Washington had orrdered the galleys to tow the firecraft up the river as far as possible. The crews of the firecraft were all volunteers from the seaport men of New England. The command of the schooner went to Ensign John Thomas of the 11 th Cobtinental Infantry and sloop Polly went to Ensign Thomas Updike Fosdick of New London, Connecticut, from Captain Nathan Hale’s company of the 19 th Continental Infantry. Both vessels had crews of nine men. 17

Meanwhile the galleys had been reinforced by the arrival of the Continental Army Galley Independence (Lieutenant Jeremiah Putnam), which had gone upriver on 8 August. 18 She was present there for the future operations.

AMERICAN SQUADRON Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper

Name Service Tons Men Guns Captain

Lady Washington CA-NY []50 []50 1 Captain Robert Cook

Independence CA-NY []50 []50 — Lieutenant Jeremiah Putnam

Spitfire RIN []50 []50 3 Captain John Grimes

13 Koke, “Struggle,” 155

14 NDAR, “Diary of Ensign Caleb Clap,” 6:182-183

15 Koke, “Struggle,” 156

16 Koke, “Struggle,” 156

17 Koke, “Struggle,” 156-157

18 NDAR, “Memoirs of Major General William Heath,” 6:121

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --4-- Washington RIN []50 []50 3 Captain Ebenezer Hill

Shark CTN 57 50 4 Captain Theophilus Stanton

Crane CTN 57 50 4 Captain Jehiel Tinker

Whiting CTN 57 50 4 Captain John McCleave

Polly CANY= 95 10 — Ensign Thomas Updike Fosdick

[]ynknown CA-NY 60 10 — Ensign Johjn Thomas

Total American []524 []370 19

The British squadron had the same makeup as in the precious battle.

BRITISH SQUADRON Captain Hyde Parker, in Phoenix

Name Service Tons Men Guns Captain

Phoenix RN 850 280 44 Captain Hyde Parker

Rose RN 449 160 20 Captain James Wallace

Tryal RN — — — Lieutenant Brown

Shuldham RN — — — —

Charlotta RN — — — —

Total British 1299 []300 64

On 16 August 1776 HM Frigate Phoenix (Captain Hyde Parker) was anchored four miles above Fort Washington. In the afternoon Phoenix ’s men sighted several galleys down the river. 19 Although the afternoon weather was cloudy with little wind, 20 the night was dark with rain. The wind was south and the tide favorable. 21

As the sun set the galleys moved to take the firecraft in tow and set out up the river. On the eastern shore, Major General William Heath was again observing. He had been requested to observe the action from the river bank. He had the “most positive assurances that he should not be again disappointed: he accordingly went, attended as on the preceding time, and took a proper

19 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Phoenix , Captain Hyde Parker, 6:206

20 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Phoenix , Captain Hyde Parker, 6:206

21 Koke, “Struggle,” 157

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --5-- position on the bank.”22

The objective of the American attack was the Phoenix and the planning was particular. Tupper’s orders were for the schooner to precede the Polly by about 300 feet and to grapple the bow of the frigate while Polly followed, to grapple the stern. Each vessel had an opening in the stern, cut out by axe, to allow the crew to escape into a whaleboat towed behind. One man was stationed with a lighted match to start the train. A pilot guided the craft and three men handled

22 NDAR, “Memoirs of Major General William Heath,” 6:206-208

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --6-- “The Phoenix and Rose Engaged by the Enemy’s Fireships and Galleys on the 16 Augst 1776. Engrav’d from the Original Picture by D. Serres from a sketch of Sir James Wallace’s.” This is the first version of Dominic Serres’s painting. Note the American galleys in the distant background.

--7-- This is the second version of Serres’s painting, and is much more dramatic. He has added the cliffs of the Palisades. There are several paintings of this dramatic scene.

--8-- Another version of the engagement. A modern rendering by the noted British artist Geoff Hunt.

--9-- the sails. 23

The Americans moved north through intermittent rain and occasional fog. Visibility was bad: the sailors could only see about fifty yards ahead. Off the Manor of Philipsborough the crew heard the striking of a ship’s bell, right to port, and the cry of the British watch, “All’s well.” The Americans put the helm over, steering by the sound of the bell, and approached from the northeast. 24

The British were anchored in a line, almost due north and south. The Phoenix was the most southern, then the Rose , then the Tryal .25 The two tenders appear to have been anchored about 100 yards to the left of the other ships, with the Rose ’s tender heading that line. The schooner was ahead of the Polly when a black shape loomed up: it was the Charlotta . Too late to change course the schooner grappled the Charlotta 26 just as the British watch called out all was well. Thomas fired his train at once. On the eastern shore Heath had seen the galleys moving up and heard the British sentinels call. 27

Two of the schooner’s crew were badly burned by the burning schooner but managed to get into the waiting lifeboat. Thomas and three of the crew were cut off and jumped into the swift current and disappeared. The British on the Charlotta panicked and abandoned ship. Boats from the British vessels rescued these men. 28

The British lookouts had seen a vessel moving up the river at 2300. The vessel was near the Rose ’s tender, so Phoenix hailed the tender and ordered her to fire into the stranger. “In Five Seconds the Rebel Vessel Boarded the Tender and was set fire to.” In the sudden light another vessel was seen steering towards the Phoenix at a mere 200 yards distance. Phoenix immediately cut her cable and began firing on the second vessel. In ten minutes she boarded the Phoenix on the starboard bow running her jib boom over Phoenix ’s gunwale. 29

Polly had nearly missed the Phoenix , but the light of the burning schooner revealed her presence and he turned about and came down on her. The thoroughly aroused British crew began

23 Koke, “Struggle,” 157-158

24 Koke, “Struggle,” 158

25 Koke, “Struggle,” 158

26 Koke, “Struggle,” 159

27 NDAR, “Memoirs of Major General William Heath,” 6:206-208

28 Koke, “Struggle,” 159

29 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Phoenix , Captain Hyde Parker, 6:206

Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted March 2021 --10-- firing into her with guns and small arms. Other sailors began cutting her cables with axes. Polly was hit in the mainmast, hull and rigging, but kept coming. As he neared the big frigate he fired the train. The crew jumped into the life boat and pulled as hard as possible away from the burning sloop. The Polly had struck the Phoenix ten minutes after the schooner had ignited the Charlotta .30

Desperate to get away, Parker raised his fore topsail and head sails, which turned the Phoenix away from the brightly burning fireship. After twenty harrowing minutes the fireship was cast away from the frigate. Parker noted that the Rose ’s tender was completely consumed and “the same fate must have Attended the Phoenix had not the Steadiness of

Detail of map in Koke, “Struggle,” 154. The fireship attack.

30 Koke, “Struggle,” 161

The observers on the eastern shore reported that one fireship was close alongside the Phoenix , the other grappling one of the tenders. It appeared that one was right beside the Phoenix and “there was much confusion on board.” Several cannons were fired into the fireship to sink her. Sailors were seen climbing up and out onto the yardarms. The fireship was alongside it was thought, for nearly ten minutes, when Phoenix cut her cable, lowered her fore topmast sail and wore around and stood up the river, disappearing into the darkness. 32

Rose was anchored behind Phoenix . She reported that at 2330 some vessels were sighted close aboard. Wallace thought they were “Rebel galleys, two of which were fire vessels.” Her tender was anchored 100 yards off her port quarter. A vessel fell on her, “which set the Tender Instantly in a Blaze, & hindred her from faling on board the Ship,” Rose veered away but finding she could not clear the fire she cut her cables. At about 2345 “she was driving clear of us, struck Pjoenix ’s bow which had near set her on fire.” They got clear by cutting their cables and towing her off. All soon anchored again. “Our people got on board safe.”33

The tender burnt to the water’s edge and then was towed ashore by the Americans, who plundered a 6-pounder, two 3-pounders, a 2-pounder, ten swivels and other items from the hulk. The Rose and the other two tenders remained at the moorings, but one tender was temporarily deserted. Heath reported that several of our galleys remained inactive. The Americans lost one man, who was burned in the face and hands. This was Segeant Smith of Connecticut. After igniting the train he jumped overboard to a boat, but later died of his burns. 34

The galleys returned to their anchorages. The British lost their tender Charlotta but had no casualties. The Americans lost five men, and two wounded, all from the firecraft.

Summary Table

Vessel Tons Guns Broadside Men Killed % Wounded % Total %

Lady Washington []50 1 32 []50 — — — — — —

Independence []50 1 — []50 — — — — — —

Washington []50 3 9 []50 — — — — — —

Spitfire []50 3 9 []50 — — — — — —

31 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Phoenix , Captain Hyde Parker, 6:206

32 NDAR, “Memoirs of Major General William Heath,” 6:206-208

33 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Rose , Captain James Wallace,” 6:206

34 NDAR, “Memoirs of Major General William Heath,” 6:206-208

Shark 57 4 27 50 —— — ———

Whiting 57 4 27 50 —— — ———

Polly 95— — 10—— — ———

[]unknown schooner 60 — — 10 4 40% 2 20% 6 60 %

American Total: []524 20 131 370 4 1% 2 — 6 2%

Phoenix 850 44 280 280 — — — — — —

Rose 449 20 90 160 — — — — — —

Tryal ——————————

Shuldham ——————————

Charlotta ——————————

British Total: 1299 64 370 440 — — — — — —

Time: thirty minutes