Fort Lee New Jersey, and General Charles Lee’s Rev War Connection & Big America 250 Event

. How a New Jersey fort, a controversial Continental Army general, and a dramatic tavern capture became part of the road to American independence.

First, mark your calendars, America – this is a big 250 Event:

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A Fort Named for a General Who Wasn’t There

First, an FYI that we learned on our visit:
Fort Lee Historic Park, opened in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial, is a publicly owned historic site within the Palisades Interstate Park system, operated by the bi-state Palisades Interstate Park Commission with support from its nonprofit partner, the Palisades Parks Conservancy. So, it is part of a public interstate park system, not a National Park Service site, State Park, or a privately operated nonprofit park.

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High above the Hudson River, overlooking Manhattan, stands one of New Jersey’s most important Revolutionary War landmarks: Fort Lee. Many people may not realize that Fort Lee was named for Major General Charles Lee, one of the Continental Army’s highest-ranking officers and a man whose military career would become forever connected to another New Jersey community, Basking Ridge.

Originally called Fort Constitution, the fort was renamed for Lee, a British-born officer who joined the American cause. By 1776, Lee was one of the most recognizable commanders in the Continental Army, second only to George Washington in seniority. But the general whose name appeared on the fort would not be there when the British arrived.

Before Fort Lee: Defending the Hudson River

Long before Fort Lee existed, the wooded cliffs overlooking the Hudson River were part of the Lenape people’s ancestral homeland. By the mid 1700s, the surrounding land belonged to the Bourdette family, who operated a trading post and ferry crossing known as Burdett’s Landing along the river below. In July 1776, General George Washington ordered the construction of a military fortification on the Palisades and directed General Hugh Mercer to assemble troops for the work.

Continental soldiers and militia built the fort, originally named Fort Constitution. Its strategic purpose was to work alongside Fort Washington, directly across the Hudson River in Manhattan, using artillery and river obstructions to prevent British warships from sailing North and dividing the American colonies. By late September 1776, the fort had been renamed Fort Lee in honor of Major General Charles Lee, whose military reputation had soared following the American victory at Charleston, South Carolina, that June.

Who Was General Charles Lee?

Born in England in 1732, Charles Lee was an experienced professional soldier who served in the British Army during the French and Indian War and later in European military campaigns. He returned to America in 1773, supported the colonial cause, and was appointed a major general in the Continental Army in June 1775, becoming one of Washington’s highest-ranking officers.

Lee gained national recognition following the successful American defense of Charleston, South Carolina, in June 1776. Although Colonel William Moultrie commanded the troops who repelled the British naval assault, Lee received considerable credit for the victory. His military reputation was so strong that Fort Constitution, overlooking the Hudson River in New Jersey, was renamed Fort Lee in his honor. Within months, however, Lee’s celebrated military career would take a dramatic turn.

November 1776: The Retreat from Fort Lee

On November 20, 1776, British forces under Lord Cornwallis crossed the Hudson River and threatened Fort Lee, forcing American troops to abandon the fortification and retreat westward across New Jersey.

The evacuation followed the devastating loss of Fort Washington in Manhattan just four days earlier. American soldiers left behind supplies, equipment, and artillery as they hurried to escape the advancing British. It was the beginning of one of the darkest chapters of the American Revolution.

General Charles Lee was not commanding Fort Lee during its evacuation. Instead, he commanded a separate Continental Army force in New York. As Washington’s exhausted army retreated across New Jersey toward Pennsylvania, he urgently needed Lee and his soldiers to reinforce his dwindling ranks.

Two Armies, One Desperate Mission

Washington repeatedly ordered General Lee to bring his troops south and join the main army. Lee, however, moved slowly. Washington and Lee’s relationship had already grown strained. Lee was an experienced and outspoken officer who questioned Washington’s leadership and believed himself better qualified to command the Army. Nevertheless, his soldiers were desperately needed.

In early December, Lee’s force crossed the Hudson River into northern New Jersey and began moving south and west through communities including Ringwood, Pompton, and the Morristown region. The journey was difficult. Winter conditions, poor roads, inadequate clothing, and a shortage of shoes made the march particularly punishing. For these Continental soldiers, the mission was simple: reach Washington before the British could destroy what remained of the American rebellion.

Friday the 13th:
Disaster in Basking Ridge
But Was It a Disaster or a Blessing?

By December 12, 1776, Lee’s army had reached the vicinity of Morris County and was continuing toward the Delaware River. Rather than remain with his troops, Lee established his headquarters several miles away at Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge. Mary White, a local widow, operated the tavern, which would become the setting for one of the most extraordinary incidents of the Revolutionary War.

On the morning of Friday, December 13, British cavalry commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Harcourt surprised Lee at the tavern. With only a small guard for protection, the American general was overwhelmed and taken prisoner.

One of Washington’s highest-ranking officers had been captured, not on a battlefield, but at a roadside tavern in rural New Jersey. The news was stunning. For the British, Lee was a valuable prisoner. For the Americans, his capture created another crisis at an already desperate moment. Yet Lee’s capture did not end the march.

The Army Continued Without Lee

Following Lee’s capture, General John Sullivan assumed command of his troops and continued the movement toward Washington. On December 20, approximately 2,000 soldiers arrived to reinforce the American army in Pennsylvania. Five days later, Washington launched his daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River, followed by the American victory at Trenton on December 26.

The subsequent victories at Trenton and Princeton helped reverse the Continental Army’s fortunes and restore confidence in the struggle for independence. Although Charles Lee never completed the journey himself, the soldiers who had marched under his command became part of the army that helped change the course of the Revolution.

General Lee’s Final Chapter: From Captivity to Disgrace

General Charles Lee remained a British prisoner for nearly sixteen months following his capture in Basking Ridge. On May 9, 1778, he was exchanged for British Major General Richard Prescott and returned to the Continental Army, where Washington restored him to command. But his return would be short-lived. At the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778, Lee ordered a controversial retreat that brought a furious confrontation with Washington. Lee’s actions remain debated by historians, but the incident severely damaged his reputation.

Lee demanded a court-martial to defend his conduct. In an extraordinary New Jersey connection, Major General William Alexander, better known as Lord Stirling, presided over the proceedings; his estate was in Basking Ridge, the very community where Lee had been captured.

On July 4, 1778, General Charles Lee faced three charges at his court-martial: disobeying orders to attack the British at the Battle of Monmouth, conducting an unnecessary and disorderly retreat, and showing disrespect toward General George Washington in two letters. Lee pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

The court found Lee guilty of all three charges and suspended him from command for one year, rather than immediately expelling him from the Army. His continuing attacks on Washington eventually led to his dismissal in 1780.

General Charles Lee’s troubles were far from over. By December 1778, his bitter attacks against George Washington had pushed Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, one of Washington’s trusted aides, to the breaking point. Laurens challenged Lee to settle their differences with pistols. On December 23, the two men met in a wooded area outside Philadelphia, near the four-mile marker on the old Point No Point Road. Alexander Hamilton stood beside Laurens as his second, while Major Evan Edwards represented Lee.

With pistols drawn, the two adversaries advanced to within five or six paces of one another. In an instant, both fired almost simultaneously. Laurens’ bullet struck Lee in the right side, while Lee’s shot missed its mark. The disgraced general survived, but the damage to his reputation was beyond repair. Once one of the Continental Army’s most celebrated commanders, Charles Lee had become a wounded, embittered figure whose military career and standing among Washington’s officers would never recover.

One Final Irony: A General’s Last Wish Ignored

Charles Lee died in Philadelphia on October 2, 1782, at age 50, of what was noted as a fever. Even in death, the controversial general had one final request. In his will, Lee specifically instructed that he not be buried in a church or churchyard, declaring,

“I have kept so much bad company when living, that I do not choose to continue it when dead.”

His wishes were ignored. In a final twist of irony, the outspoken general was buried in the churchyard of Philadelphia’s historic Christ Church, just outside the church building, where his grave remains today. The man once honored with a New Jersey fort bearing his name had ended his career in disgrace, leaving behind a legacy that still connects Fort Lee, Basking Ridge, and the Battle of Monmouth.

Recognizing the Forgotten Road to Liberty

Today, much of the public’s understanding of December 1776 focuses on Washington’s retreat across New Jersey and his famous crossing of the Delaware. But there was another march. The Mr. Local History Project is researching and advocating for recognition of the route traveled by General Charles Lee’s Continental Army troops and, following his capture, the soldiers who continued under General John Sullivan.

The initiative, which we’re calling it the 1776 Road to Liberty: March to the Delaware (at least for now), seeks to recognize historic locations associated with this important military movement through New Jersey. The project includes the story of Fort Lee, the fort named for the general whose troops Washington urgently needed, and Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge, where Lee’s capture changed the leadership of the marching army. Through research, community partnerships, and proposed historical trail markers, the project hopes to bring greater attention to the soldiers and communities whose contributions have too often been overshadowed by the better-known events at Trenton and Princeton.

A New Jersey Story Worth Remembering

Fort Lee and Basking Ridge are separated by less than 50 miles of New Jersey roads, but their connections to General Charles Lee reveal a remarkable chapter in American history. One location carried his name. The other witnessed his capture. Between them lies a larger story of military setbacks, divided leadership, perseverance, and ordinary soldiers’ determination to keep marching toward an uncertain future. General Lee never reached Washington’s army that December. His soldiers did. And their journey deserves to be remembered.

Walk in the Footsteps of History at Fort Lee – Honor America 250

During the America 250 celebrations, there’s no better time to visit Fort Lee Historic Park and walk in the footsteps of the Continental Army at one of New Jersey’s most important Revolutionary War sites. Stand high above the Hudson River, look across toward Manhattan, and imagine what those soldiers saw in the autumn of 1776.

Mr. Local History Research Analyst Brooks Betz took the assignment to document his visit to the grounds and museum at the Fort Lee parkland. And he brought our drone as well.

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Picture British warships on the river, American fortifications on both shores, and soldiers determined to defend this vital gateway to the Hudson Valley. Then imagine the desperation of November 20, when the advancing British forced the Americans to abandon their fort, leave valuable supplies behind, and begin a dangerous retreat across New Jersey.

As you explore the grounds, remember that Fort Lee was more than a military outpost. It was part of a remarkable story of American survival. Just weeks after its abandonment, Washington’s struggling army found renewed strength through reinforcements, including soldiers formerly commanded by General Charles Lee, whose capture at Basking Ridge had shocked the nation. Those troops would help turn the tide at Trenton and Princeton, bringing the Continental Army back into New Jersey as victors. From the cliffs of Fort Lee to the roads of Basking Ridge and the battlefields farther south, these are the places where America’s struggle for independence unfolded. Go see them, walk the grounds, and remember the soldiers who helped make that independence possible.

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