Battle of Newtown

The Battle of Newtown (29 August 1779), was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by General John Sullivan that was ordered by the Continental Congress to end the threat of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War. John Butler and Joseph Brant did not want to make a stand at Newtown, but proposed instead to harass the enemy on the march, but they were overruled by Sayenqueraghta and other Indian chiefs.

Battle

This battle, which was the most significant military engagement of the Sullivan Campaign of 1779 and played a crucial role in America’s Revolutionary War, took place at the foot of a hill along the Chemung River just outside of what is now Elmira, New York.

General Sullivan led the brigade of General Edward Hand, with that of General William Maxwell in reserve, into a charge against the Iroquois and Loyalists (led by Major John Butler and his son Walter Butler.

Having already ordered the brigade led by Colonel Matthias Ogden to flank the enemy along the Chemung River to the west and having directing those led by James Clinton and Enoch Poor to secure the hillside on the eastern flank, the ultimate result was a resounding defeat for both the Loyalists and the Iroquois, at their side.

ullivan's casualites

Died of wounds:Capt. Elijah Clayes. See [http://books.google.com/books?id=30REVKaslfEC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=captain+elijah+clayes+died+1779&source=web&ots=7vYOk2N9Y-&sig=HKySw7tGr39rWZ2_NFSwCvjenOs#PPA159,M1] Lt. Nathaniel McCauley of 1st New Hampshire; See [http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/1pa/1picts/sullivan/sullbio2.html]
Wounded:Major Benjamin Titcomb; {See [http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/1pa/1picts/sullivan/sullbio2.html] ; and [http://genforum.genealogy.com/americanrev/messages/15448.html] }; Various numbers of wounded Privates are given from 20 to 39-with at least 27 in General Poor's Brigade and 4 others in the rest of the Army. See [http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/1pa/1picts/sullivan/sitetoc.html] of whom 1 Corporal and 2 Privates were killed in the battle while in additional to those listed above at least 1 NCO and 3 Privates died of wounds.

Legacy

The Newtown Battlefield National Historic Landmark encompasses nearly 2,100 acres in the towns of Ashland, Chemung and Elmira. In 1973 the Newtown Battlefield National Historic Landmark was established by the federal government, recognizing its significant history.

In a drive to incorporate the Newtown Battlefield site into the National Parks System, Congressional resolution H.R. 6866, which directs Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield and the suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the National Parks System, has been put forth for consideration.

The site of the battle is today the Wellsburg exit of Interstate 86 and New York State Route 17. Several roadside signs in the vicinity of the interchange mark various troop locations. A tall monument now stands in a state park on a hillside near the position taken by Clinton and Poor's brigades. This hillside area, which overlooks the interchange, is now known as Newtown Battlefield State Park.

References

Graymont, Barbara, "The Iroquois in the American Revolution", 1972, ISBN 0-8156-0083-6

External links

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/1pa/1picts/sullivan/sullivanmisc.html#grant Journals of Sullivan Expedition online]
* [http://members.aol.com/liv18thc/newtown.html Map of the battle and some first-hand accounts]
* [http://www.kings8th.com Description of the 8th Regiment of foot]
* [http://www.chemunghistory.com Chemung County History]
* [http://chemungvalley.org/ Newtown Battlefield Reservation State Park]