Van Alstyne's Regiment of Militia
Encyclopedia
The Van Alstyne's Regiment of Militia, also known as the 7th Albany County Militia Regiment, was called up in July, 1777 at Kinderhook, New York to reinforce Gen. Horatio Gates
's Continental Army
during the Saratoga Campaign
. The regiment served in Brigadier General
Abraham Ten Broeck
's Brigade. With the defeat of General John Burgoyne
's British Army
on October 17, 1777, the regiment stood down. It is uncertain whether the regiment participated in the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights, and if it did, whether the entire regiment was there.
began an attempt to divide the rebellious United States
in the American Revolutionary War
by moving south from the British province of Quebec
to gain control of the Hudson River
valley, separating the New England
states from those to the south. After his early success at Ticonderoga
, his campaign had become bogged down in difficulties. Elements of the army had reached the Hudson as early as the end of July, but logistical and supply difficulties delayed the main army at Fort Edward
. He then moved south, crossing the Hudson near Saratoga
and approaching the fortified position that General Horatio Gates
had established south of the village.
, General Philip Schuyler
wrote to New York
's Governor, George Clinton
, indicating that he would ask the militia's Brigadier General, Abraham Ten Broeck
, to send some of his militia companies to assist in the defenses further north. On July 7, when Burgoyne occupied Fort Ticonderoga
, Ten Broeck indicated that, on receipt of that news, he had sent some of his forces forward.
These forces probably did not include the 7th Albany County Regiment of Abraham van Alstyne, based in Kinderhook, New York. On September 18, one day before the Battle of Freeman's Farm, Governor Clinton wrote to the state's militia commander, General Abraham Ten Broeck
, indicating he had ordered the remaining Albany County north to support Gates, issuing orders to Van Alstyne and other regimental leaders directly to speed their movement.
It is unclear whether Van Alstyne's regiment reached Saratoga before October 7. Historian Borden Mills notes that Ten Broeck's brigade was clearly not at full strength on the day of battle when his return for October 16, 1777 is compared to a later return listing his entire strength. (The October 16 return does not contain a detailed regimental breakdown.) Brendan Morrissey, in his order of battle, lists the regiment as a probable participant.
On October 9, in response to Clinton's request to Gates for militia to deal with the threat of British forces on the Hudson in the aftermath of the Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
, Gates' adjutant, James Wilkinson
, wrote to Clinton that "The militia you demand were yesterday ordered down, and the Albany county [militia] will this day, the weather permitting, follow." This suggests that Van Alstyne's and other Albany County regiments were not present at Burgoyne's surrender, and were probably released after the British threat from New York City had subsided.
Horatio Gates
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a retired British soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Benedict Arnold, who led the attack, was finally forced from the field when he was shot in the leg – and...
's Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the Saratoga Campaign
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
. The regiment served in Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Abraham Ten Broeck
Abraham Ten Broeck
Abraham Ten Broeck was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.-Early life:Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck...
's Brigade. With the defeat of General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
's British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
on October 17, 1777, the regiment stood down. It is uncertain whether the regiment participated in the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights, and if it did, whether the entire regiment was there.
Background
In June 1777 British General John BurgoyneJohn Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
began an attempt to divide the rebellious United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
by moving south from the British province of Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
to gain control of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
valley, separating the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states from those to the south. After his early success at Ticonderoga
Battle of Ticonderoga (1777)
The 1777 Siege of Fort Ticonderoga occurred between 2 and 6 July 1777 at Fort Ticonderoga, near the southern end of Lake Champlain in the state of New York. Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's 8,000-man army occupied high ground above the fort, and nearly surrounded the defences...
, his campaign had become bogged down in difficulties. Elements of the army had reached the Hudson as early as the end of July, but logistical and supply difficulties delayed the main army at Fort Edward
Fort Edward (village), New York
Fort Edward is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 3,141 at the 2000 census...
. He then moved south, crossing the Hudson near Saratoga
Saratoga, New York
Saratoga is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,141 at the 2000 census. It is also the commonly used, but not official, name for the neighboring and much more populous city, Saratoga Springs. The major village in the town of Saratoga is Schuylerville which is...
and approaching the fortified position that General Horatio Gates
Horatio Gates
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a retired British soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Benedict Arnold, who led the attack, was finally forced from the field when he was shot in the leg – and...
had established south of the village.
History
On June 25, when Burgoyne's army had arrived at Fort Crown PointFort Crown Point
Crown Point, was a British fort built by the combined efforts of both British and Provincial troops in North America in 1759 at narrows on Lake Champlain on the border between modern New York State and Vermont...
, General Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
wrote to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Governor, George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
, indicating that he would ask the militia's Brigadier General, Abraham Ten Broeck
Abraham Ten Broeck
Abraham Ten Broeck was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.-Early life:Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck...
, to send some of his militia companies to assist in the defenses further north. On July 7, when Burgoyne occupied Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century fort built by the Canadians and the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York in the United States...
, Ten Broeck indicated that, on receipt of that news, he had sent some of his forces forward.
These forces probably did not include the 7th Albany County Regiment of Abraham van Alstyne, based in Kinderhook, New York. On September 18, one day before the Battle of Freeman's Farm, Governor Clinton wrote to the state's militia commander, General Abraham Ten Broeck
Abraham Ten Broeck
Abraham Ten Broeck was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.-Early life:Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck...
, indicating he had ordered the remaining Albany County north to support Gates, issuing orders to Van Alstyne and other regimental leaders directly to speed their movement.
It is unclear whether Van Alstyne's regiment reached Saratoga before October 7. Historian Borden Mills notes that Ten Broeck's brigade was clearly not at full strength on the day of battle when his return for October 16, 1777 is compared to a later return listing his entire strength. (The October 16 return does not contain a detailed regimental breakdown.) Brendan Morrissey, in his order of battle, lists the regiment as a probable participant.
On October 9, in response to Clinton's request to Gates for militia to deal with the threat of British forces on the Hudson in the aftermath of the Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
The Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in the highlands of the Hudson River valley, not far from West Point, on October 6, 1777. British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton captured Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, and then...
, Gates' adjutant, James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...
, wrote to Clinton that "The militia you demand were yesterday ordered down, and the Albany county [militia] will this day, the weather permitting, follow." This suggests that Van Alstyne's and other Albany County regiments were not present at Burgoyne's surrender, and were probably released after the British threat from New York City had subsided.
External links
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in New York compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History