Fort Washington (NY)-- Part 2: Washington Escapes and the Fort Falls

General Washington realized he would have to defend New York from the British, but didn't think he could hold it.  An escape route was very necessary.  When it became necessary to abandon the city, this is exactly what he did, crossing the Hudson between Fort Washington and Fort Lee (which was commanded by General Charles Lee, hence the name).

Fort Washington was commanded by Colonel Robert Magaw, who refused to surrender and notified the British that he would fight to the last extremity.  British General Howe ordered Hessians and other British troops, numbering 8,000 against the badly outnumbered Americans.

The fort fell on November 16, 1777, and the British captured 2,818 prisoners and large amounts of supplies.  They renamed the fortification Fort Knyphausen (after the commander of the Hessian troops).

--Cooter