14. The Battle of Stony Point demonstrated to the British that the Continental soldier was their match
Following the Battle of Monmouth Court House, where the Continental Army attacked the British rear guard as they withdrew from Philadelphia to New York, the British mainly remained inside their fortifications in and around New York City. As British attention shifted to the southern states, Washington and his army established bases of their own near New York and along the Hudson River. His troops continued to train within their bases, and training camps for new recruits were established in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia. Enlistments were for three years or the duration of the war, whichever came first.
In July, Washington decided to test the mettle of his troops in a daring attack on the British fortifications at Stony Point, on the Hudson River thirty miles north of New York City. The attack was led by General Anthony Wayne, with about 1300 men armed only with the bayonet. A secondary attack was conducted by normally armed troops as a diversion. On the night of July 15 the Continentals moved into position and early the following morning, under the cover of pre-dawn darkness, the British fortifications were carried and over 500 British troops were taken prisoner. By that afternoon British commanders in New York were faced with the realization that Washington now commanded an army of troops which were professionals, equal to the best of the British regiments.