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Collection Reference Number GLC04898
From Archive Folder Documents Relating to 1780 
Title Minutes of field council held during attack on Bull's Ferry blockhouse
Date 21 July 1780
Author Wayne, Anthony (1745-1796)  
Document Type Military document
Content Description Co-signed by six field officers, including Brigadier General William Irvine of the 2nd Brigade of the Pennsylvania Line. The minutes of a council of war held during an attack on Bull's Ferry blockhouse. It appears that Knox wrote this on the verso of a letter he received from Captain Zebulon Pike while in the field. Says ammunition was nearly expended and even though artillery had made it within 60 or 70 yards of the blockhouse, it could not be captured and a withdraw was ordered. The attack at Bull's Ferry was a lopsided defeat, as Wayne's force of 2000 troops could not dislodge the 70 Loyalists under Thomas Ward. The letter written by Captain Zebulon Pike (1751-1834) to Anthony Wayne was also created on 21 July 1780. Pike says that he followed through on Wayne's orders to have Wayne's letter to Captain Lawrence delivered by a dragoon, but that Lawrence could not be found. Militia informed the dragoon that Lawrence took his company to Fort Lee. Reports on British troops who landed by boat near Valentine's Hill. Reports that about 2000 troops with wagons and baggage have landed. Says he has not built a fire because "it might ocasion an anxiety." Left edge has been repaired.
Subjects Revolutionary War  Revolutionary War General  Military History  Continental Army  Battle  Fortification  Artillery  Ammunition  Loyalist  Military Camp  Militia  
People Wayne, Anthony (1745-1796)  
Place written New Jersey
Theme The American Revolution
Sub-collection The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information Co-signed by six field officers, including Brigadier General William Irvine of the 2nd Brigade of the Pennsylvania Line. Written on the verso of a 21 July 1780 autograph letter signed by Zebulon Pike (father of the explorer), alerting Wayne to an impending British counterattack from Manhattan.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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