Redoubt 10

The Marquis de Lafayette selected the light infantry companies from his Continental Army division to carry out the American attack on Redoubt 10, and Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Hamilton led the assaulting force of 400 Americans against 70 British defenders. To avoid giving away their advance through an accidental musket shot, the light infantry approached with unloaded weapons. The British discovered the attacking column as it neared the redoubt and vigorously defended the position, but the Americans forced their way through the abatis surrounding the redoubt, passed through holes in the palisaded log walls within the trench, breached the top of the fortification, and within 10 minutes of mostly hand-to-hand combat secured their objective. In his report to Lafayette, Hamilton wrote that the British were entitled to acknowledgement for an honorable defense.

Virginia · United States