Battle of Bull's Ferry

Battle of Bull's Ferry
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Bulls Ferry Road descends from the top of the Hudson Palisades down to the river.
Date 20–21 July 1780 Location Bulls Ferry, New Jersey 40°47′20″N 74°00′00″W / 40.789°N 74.000°W / 40.789; -74.000 Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	United States
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Ward	Anthony Wayne
Strength
70	~2,000
Casualties and losses
5 killed, 16 wounded	15 killed, 49 wounded

The Battle of Bull's Ferry on 20 and 21 July 1780 saw two American brigades under Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne attack a party of Loyalists led by Thomas Ward. The Loyalists successfully defended a blockhouse against an ineffective bombardment by four American artillery pieces and a failed attempt to storm the position by Wayne's troops. During the action, American light dragoons under Major Henry Lee III drove off a large number of cattle that were kept in the area for the use of the British forces stationed in New York City. The clash inspired British Major John André to write a satirical ballad entitled The Cow Chace. The skirmish was fought at Bulls Ferry, New Jersey in the Northern theater of the American Revolutionary War after Saratoga. At this stage of the conflict only raids and minor actions occurred in the north.