On this day 250 years ago in New York, the British sailed ships up the Hudson and East Rivers past the Continental Army’s defenses on Manhattan. The British warships HMS Phoenix and Roebuck, accompanied by the frigates Orpheus and Carysfort, sailed about three miles up the East River to the mouth of Bushwick Creek under heavy bombardment from the American batteries on Horn’s Hook and other locations. British batteries on Governors Island and at Brooklyn bombarded the American batteries that were firing on the British ships. The British ships on the East River were badly damaged. One man on the Phoenix was killed and presumably other British sailors were wounded.

The British sailed ships up the Hudson and East Rivers to test the strength of the American defenses and to confuse General Washington and the Continental Army about the location where they intended to land on Manhattan. Nothing remains of the fortifications on Horn’s Hook and I could not find any markers for the site of the batteries there. However, there is a sports bar near the site that carries the name Horn’s Hook and proudly proclaims its Revolutionary War heritage.

Sources: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2213%20September%201776%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=3&sr= at note 3; https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2026/09/naval-power-1776-new-york-city/;bhttps://www.hornshooktavern.com/