Great Fire of New York (1776)

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The Great Fire was a devastating fire that burned through the night of September 21 – 22, 1776 on the west side of what then constituted New York City at the southern end of the island of Manhattan. It coincided with the early military occupation of the city by British forces during the American Revolutionary War.

Artist's interpretation of the fire.

[edit] Background

American General George Washington had recognized the inevitability of the capture of New York City, which then only consisted of the southern end of Manhattan, and had withdrawn the bulk of his army. Washington and some of his counsel proposed to burn the city as a means to deny the city's lodging, provisions and supplies from the British. However, Congress rejected the idea and the Continental Army left the city intact and marched north to Harlem Heights at the opposite end of Manhattan Island, about 10 miles from the enemy. Afterwards, George Washington denied any knowledge of how the fire was started.

[edit] Fire

On September 21, 1776, British forces under General William Howe occupied New York City. In the early hours of September 21, fire broke out in the city, most likely in the Fighting Cocks Tavern at Whitehall Street. Strong winds quickly spread the flames among tightly packed homes and businesses. Residents poured into the streets, clutching what possessions they could, and found refuge only on the grassy town commons. The fire raged into the daylight hours and eventually consumed between 400 and 500 buildings — about one-quarter of the city. Among the buildings destroyed was Trinity Church. However St. Paul's Chapel was to survive. British naval personnel fought the fire with some success.^[1] Afterwards, the British interrogated more than 200 suspects, but none were convicted and all were released.^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

Nathan Hale was arrested in Queens for spying the same day. Unsubstantiated rumors have since attempted to link him to the fires, but there is nothing indicating he was arrested for anything other than espionage.

Major General James Robertson confiscated surviving uninhabited homes of known Patriots and assigned them to British officers.^[3] Non–Church of England churches were converted into prisons or sick infirmaries. ^[3] Some of the common soldiers were billeted with civilian families. ^[4] There was a great influx of Loyalists refugees into the city resulting in further overcrowding. The fire convinced the British to put the city under martial law rather than returning it to civilian authorities. With resources being diverted to the occupying military force and favored Loyalist collaborators, many residents were unable to adequately recover from the devastation, and forced to live in squalor.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Schecter, Barnet, The Battle for New York, 2002, ISBN 0802713742
• Ward, Harry M. The War for Independence and the Transformation of American Society 1999, ISBN 978-1857286571

v • d • e New York in the American Revolutionary War Pre-war Sons of Liberty 1770 Battle of Golden Hill 1775 Capture of Fort Ticonderoga – Invasion of Canada 1776 New York and New Jersey campaign – Battle of Long Island – New York Prison Ships Begin – Landing at Kip's Bay – Battle of Harlem Heights – Great Fire of New York – Execution of Nathan Hale – Battle of Valcour Island – Battle of Pell's Point – Battle of White Plains – Battle of Fort Washington 1777 Meigs Raid – Saratoga campaign – Battle of Ticonderoga – Battle of Fort Anne – Siege of Fort Stanwix – Battle of Oriskany – Battle of Freeman's Farm (1st Saratoga) – Battle of Bemis Heights (2nd Saratoga) 1778 Setauket Spy Ring Launched – Battle of Cobleskill – West Point established – Cherry Valley massacre 1779 Battle of Stony Point – Sullivan Expedition – Battle of Newtown 1780 First Purple Heart – André Capture Reveals Traitor Benedict Arnold 1781 HMS Culloden Runs Aground at Montauk – Washington Calls Off Invasion of New York to Support Yorktown 1782 Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh – Newburgh letter 1783 Newburgh conspiracy – British Evacuate New York – Washington's Farewell to His Officers