The Battles of Forts Clinton and Montgomery October 5 and 6, 1777

Located around 30 miles north of New York City, the English forts of Clinton and Montgomery were captured by Anishinabe Soldiers early in the war. Probably an original military plan of the whites Saratoga Campaign, which had not worked out as the whites had hoped, the whites ordered a large force of 10,000 soldiers under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, to patrol the region just north of New York City. After learning of the complete failure of the 14,550 soldiers under Burgoyne’s command, Clinton was ordered to take his large military force towards Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, to attempt to recapture those two English forts. On October 5, 1777, a force of 4,400 white soldiers under Sir Henry Clinton’s command, approached the region where the two white forts were located, but the Anishinabek were very aware of their approach and a battle commenced soon after the arrival of the large white military force. During some point in the battle the Anishinabek initiated a retreat from the larger white military force which had 67 of their big guns with them. On the next day, October 6, another battle occurred in which the large white military force successfully drove off the brave Anishinabe Soldiers who were defending that region from the whites. After winning the battles, the whites retook the forts. White casualties in the battles were 110 killed, and 190 wounded. If any Indians were captured they were likely killed later on by the whites. If any whites were captured they were likely killed later on by the Indians.