The Battle of Hubbardton was an engagement in the
Saratoga campaign of the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
fought in the village of
Hubbardton, Vermont
Hubbardton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Thomas Hubbard, a landholder. The population was 735 at the 2020 census.
The town was the site of the Battle of Hubbardton, where British forces attacked Ameri ...
. Vermont was then a disputed territory sometimes called the
New Hampshire Grants
The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grants made between 1749 and 1764 by the colonial governor of the Province of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The land grants, totaling about 135 (including 131 towns), were made o ...
, claimed by New York, New Hampshire, and the newly organized, not yet recognized, but
de facto independent government of Vermont. On the morning of July 7, 1777,
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
forces, under General
Simon Fraser, caught up with the
American rear guard of the forces retreating after the
withdrawal from Fort Ticonderoga. It was the
only battle in Vermont during the revolution. (The
Battle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, part of the Saratoga campaign, that took place on August 16, 1777, on a farm owned by John Green in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake, Bennington, Vermont. A r ...
was fought in what is now
Walloomsac, New York.)
The American retreat from
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga (), formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, in northern New York, in the United States. It was constructed by Canadian-born French milit ...
began late on July 5 after British cannons were seen on top of high ground, Mount Defiance ( Rattlesnake Mountain and Sugar Loaf Hill) that commanded the fort. The bulk of General
Arthur St. Clair's army retreated through Hubbardton to
Castleton, while the
rear guard
A rearguard is a part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines, such as communication lines, behind an army. Even more ...
, commanded by
Seth Warner
Seth Warner (May 17, 1743 – December 26, 1784) was an American soldier. He was a Revolutionary War officer from Vermont who rose to rank of Continental colonel and was often given the duties of a brigade commander. He is best known for his l ...
, stopped at Hubbardton to rest and pick up stragglers.
General Fraser, alerted to the American withdrawal early on July 6, immediately set out in pursuit, leaving a message for General
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne (24 February 1722 – 4 August 1792) was a British general, dramatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1792. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several bat ...
to send reinforcements as quickly as possible. That night Fraser camped a few miles short of Hubbardton, and the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
General
Friedrich Adolf Riedesel
Freiherr Friedrich Adolf Riedesel Freiherr zu Eisenbach (3 June 1738 in Lauterbach/Hesse – 6 January 1800 in Braunschweig) was a German officer who served in the Seven Years' War and American War of Independence. He was the commander of th ...
, leading reinforcements, camped a few miles further back. Rising early in the morning, Fraser reached Hubbardton, where he surprised some elements of the American rear, while other elements managed to form defensive lines. In spirited battle, the Americans were driven back, but had almost succeeded in turning Fraser's left flank when Riedesel and his German reinforcements arrived, eventually scattering the American forces.
The battle took a large enough toll on the British forces that they did not further pursue the main American army. The many American prisoners were sent to Ticonderoga while most of the British troops made their way to
Skenesboro to rejoin Burgoyne's army. Most of the scattered American remnants made their way to rejoin St. Clair's army on its way toward the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
.
Background
General
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne (24 February 1722 – 4 August 1792) was a British general, dramatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1792. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several bat ...
began his
1777 campaign for control of the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
valley by moving an army of 8,000 down
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain ( ; french: Lac Champlain) is a natural freshwater lake in North America. It mostly lies between the US states of New York and Vermont, but also extends north into the Canada, Canadian province of Quebec.
The New York portion of t ...
in late June, arriving near
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga (), formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, in northern New York, in the United States. It was constructed by Canadian-born French milit ...
on July 1.
[ Nickerson (1967), pp. 108,140] On July 5, General
Arthur St. Clair's American forces defending
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga (), formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, in northern New York, in the United States. It was constructed by Canadian-born French milit ...
and its supporting defenses discovered that Burgoyne's men had placed
cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
s on a position overlooking the fort. They
evacuated the fort that night, with the majority of the army marching down a rough road (now referred to locally as the 1776 Hubbardton Military Road) toward
Hubbardton in the disputed
New Hampshire Grants
The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grants made between 1749 and 1764 by the colonial governor of the Province of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The land grants, totaling about 135 (including 131 towns), were made o ...
territory.
[ Nickerson (1967), pp. 145–146][At the time of this battle, the territory was claimed by both the state of New York and the ]Republic of Vermont
The Vermont Republic (French: ''République du Vermont''), officially known at the time as the State of Vermont (French: ''État du Vermont''), was an independent state in New England that existed from January 15, 1777, to March 4, 1791. The s ...
, which declared its independence in January 1777, but did not actually adopt that name until July 8, the day after this action. Before that it was known as the Republic of New Connecticut. The day was hot and sunny, and the pace was rapid and grueling; most of the army marched to
Castleton before making camp on the evening of July 6.
[ Nickerson (1967), pp. 147–148]
British troops give chase
The British general, a Scotsman named
Simon Fraser discovered early on July 6 that the Americans had abandoned Ticonderoga. Leaving a message for General Burgoyne, he set out in pursuit with companies of
grenadiers (
9th,
29th,
34th, and
62nd Foot
The 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which was raised in 1756 and saw service through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 99th (Lanarkshire) ...
) and
light infantry
Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
(24th, 29th, 34th,
53rd, and 62nd), as well as two companies of the
24th Regiment and about 100
Loyalists and Indian scouts.
[ Morrissey (2000), p. 22] Burgoyne ordered Riedesel to follow; he set out with a few companies of Brunswick
jägers and grenadiers, leaving orders for the rest of his troops to come as rapidly as possible.
[ Nickerson (1967), p. 147] Fraser's advance corps was only a few miles behind Colonel Ebenezer Francis'
11th Massachusetts Regiment
The 11th Massachusetts Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776, under Colonel Ebenezer Francis at Boston, Massachusetts. The 11th Mass. would see action at the Battle of Hubbardton, Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth. The regime ...
, which acted as St. Clair's rear guard.
American general St. Clair paused at Hubbardton to give the main army's tired and hungry troops time to rest while he hoped the rear guard would arrive. When it did not arrive in time, he left Colonel
Seth Warner
Seth Warner (May 17, 1743 – December 26, 1784) was an American soldier. He was a Revolutionary War officer from Vermont who rose to rank of Continental colonel and was often given the duties of a brigade commander. He is best known for his l ...
and the
Green Mountain Boys
The Green Mountain Boys were a militia organization first established in 1770 in the territory between the British provinces of New York and New Hampshire, known as the New Hampshire Grants and later in 1777 as the Vermont Republic (which late ...
behind, along with the
2nd New Hampshire Regiment
The 2nd New Hampshire Regiment was formed in early May 1775, as the second of three Continental Army regiments raised by the state of New Hampshire during the American Revolutionary War. Its first commander was Colonel Enoch Poor, with Joseph C ...
under Colonel
Nathan Hale, to wait for the rear guard while the main army marched on to Castleton.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 188] When Francis' and Hale's men arrived, Warner decided, against St. Clair's orders, that they would spend the night there, rather than marching on to Castleton. Warner, who had experience in rear-guard actions while serving in the
invasion of Quebec, arranged the camps in a defensive position on Monument Hill, and set patrols to guard the road to Ticonderoga.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 190]
Baron Riedesel caught up with Fraser around 4 pm, and insisted that his men could not go further before making camp.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 193] Fraser, who acquiesced to this as Riedesel was senior to him in the chain of command, pointed out that he was authorized to engage the enemy, and would be leaving his camp at 3 am the next morning. He then advanced until he found a site about three miles (4.8 km) from Hubbardton, where his troops camped for the night. Riedesel waited for the bulk of his men, about 1,500 strong, and also made camp.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 194]
Attack
Fraser's men were up at 3 am, but did not make good time due to the darkness. Riedesel left his camp at 3 am with a picked group of men, and was still behind Fraser when the latter arrived at Hubbardton near dawn and very nearly surprised elements of Hale's regiment, which were scattered in the early fighting.
[ Ketchum (1997), pp. 194, 201] A messenger had arrived from General St. Clair delivering news that the British had reached
Skenesboro, where the elements of the retreating army had planned to regroup, and that a more circuitous route to the Hudson River was now required. St. Clair's instructions were to follow him immediately to
Rutland. Francis' men had formed a column to march out around 7:15 when the British vanguard began cresting the hill behind them.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 198] Rapidly reforming into a line behind some cover, the Massachusetts men unleashed a withering volley of fire at the winded British.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 199] General Fraser took stock of the situation, and decided to send a detachment around to flank the American left, at the risk of exposing his own left, which he hoped would hold until Riedesel arrived.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 200] Riedesel reached the top of another hill, where he observed that the American line, now including parts of Hale's regiment, was in fact pressing on Fraser's left. He therefore sent his grenadiers to support Fraser's flank and directed the jägers against the American center.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 201]
At some point early in the conflict, St. Clair was made aware of the gunfire off in the distance. He immediately dispatched
Henry Brockholst Livingston
Henry Brockholst Livingston (November 25, 1757 – March 18, 1823) was an American Revolutionary War officer, a justice of the New York Court of Appeals and eventually an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Early life
...
and
Isaac Dunn to send the militia camped closest to Hubbardton down the road in support of the action.
When they reached the area of those camps they found those militia companies in full retreat away from the gunfire in the distance, and no amount of persuasion could convince the men to turn around. Livingston and Dunn continued riding toward Hubbardton.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 203]
Falling back to a secure position on Monument Hill, the Americans repulsed several vigorous British assaults, although Colonel Francis was hit in the arm by a shot.
He soldiered on, directing troops to a perceived weakness on Fraser's left. The tide of the battle turned when, after more than an hour of battle, Riedesel's grenadiers arrived. These disciplined forces entered the fray singing
hymns
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
to the accompaniment of a military band to make them appear more numerous than they actually were.
[ Nickerson (1967), pp. 151–153] The American flanks were turned, and they were forced to make a desperate race across an open field to avoid being enveloped. Colonel Francis fell in a volley of musket fire as the troops raced away from the advancing British and scattered into the countryside.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 205]
Aftermath
The remnants of the American rear guard made their way toward Rutland to rejoin the main army. Harassed by Fraser's scouts and Indians, and without food or shelter, it took some of them five days to reach the army. Livingston and Dunn were met by retreating Americans on the Castleton road. They returned to Castleton with the news about the Hubbardton battle, and St. Clair then marched the army towards the American camp at
Fort Edward, which it reached on July 12.
[ Nickerson (1967), p. 180][ Ketchum (1997), p. 216][ Ketchum (1997), pp. 209–210] Others Americans from the rear guard, including Colonel Hale and a 230-man detachment, were captured.
[ Anburey (1789) p. 336] As a sign of respect, the British buried Colonel Francis with their Brunswick dead.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 213]
Baron Riedesel and the Brunswickers departed for Skenesboro the next day. Their departure left Fraser in "the most disaffected part of America, every person a Spy", with 600 tired men, a sizable contingent of prisoners and wounded, and no significant supplies.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 214] On July 9 he sent the 300 prisoners, under light guard but with threats of retaliation should they try to escape, toward Ticonderoga while he marched his exhausted forces toward Castleton and then Skenesboro.
[ Ketchum (1997), p. 215]
Though many Americans were taken prisoner and marched back to Fort Ticonderoga, the main body of Saint Clair's troops escaped, which led to American successes at the
Battle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, part of the Saratoga campaign, that took place on August 16, 1777, on a farm owned by John Green in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake, Bennington, Vermont. A r ...
and
Battles of Saratoga.
The Battle of Hubbardton was a British tactical victory, because the British defeated the American rear guard.
It was a strategic American victory, because the main body of troops that evacuated Ticonderoga was able to continue the fight against Burgoyne's invasion force.
Losses
The official casualty return for the British troops gives 39 British soldiers and 1 French-Canadian killed and 127 British and 2 French-Canadians wounded.
[Stanley, p. 114] A separate return for the German troops has 10 killed and 14 wounded,
[Stanley, p. 115] for a grand total of 50 killed and 143 wounded. Historian
Richard M. Ketchum gives different British casualties of 60 killed and 168 wounded.
Ketchum gives American casualties as 41 killed, 96 wounded and 230 captured.
However, Lt. Anburey, present at the battle, states that the total dead and wounded of both sides found on the field in the aftermath amounted to 200 and 600 respectively. Subtracting the British-Canadian-German casualty returns from that gives American losses of 150 killed, 457 wounded and 230 captured.
Hubbardton Battlefield Historic Site
A local body commissioned the erection of a monument on the battlefield site in 1859, and the state began acquiring battlefield lands in the 1930s for operation as a state historic site. Hubbardton Battlefield has been owned and operated by the State of Vermont's Division for Historic Preservation since 1937.
The battlefield was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1971, and is the site of annual Revolutionary War reenactments.
[ Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site][ National Register Information System] The site's visitor center features a permanent exhibit which tells the story of the Battle of Hubbardton and places it in its context of the Revolutionary War. The Hubbardton Battlefield Trail features interpretive signs highlighting important points and locations of the battle.
In popular culture
The battle is used as the backdrop for the climax of the film ''
Time Chasers''. The battlefield is approximately 20 miles northwest of
Rutland, Vermont, where most of the film's production was centered.
Notes
References
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External links
*
Middlebury College account of the battle
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Hubbardton
Hubbardton
Hubbardton
Hubbardton
Hubbardton, Vermont
1777 in the United States
Conflicts in 1777
Hubbardton
Conflict sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Vermont
National Register of Historic Places in Rutland County, Vermont
Vermont State Historic Sites
Protected areas of Rutland County, Vermont
Battlefields in the United States
American Revolutionary War sites
Museums in Rutland County, Vermont
Military and war museums in Vermont
American Revolution on the National Register of Historic Places