“The Siege of Fort Mifflin” (1887), published in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, is a short documentary account of the British siege operations against Fort Mifflin during the American Revolutionary War, focusing on the autumn campaign of 1777 along the Delaware River.
The article describes the coordinated British and auxiliary operations aimed at clearing American defenses that blocked naval access to occupied Philadelphia. Fort Mifflin, located on Mud Island in the Delaware River, was a key defensive position held by Continental forces as part of the river’s fortification system. The account outlines how British land and naval forces gradually intensified pressure on the fort through artillery bombardment, encirclement, and sustained siege tactics.
A central element of the narrative is the interaction between British regular troops and German auxiliary forces drawn from states such as the Electorate of Hesse. These troops participated in surrounding operations on the Pennsylvania shoreline and supported siege works intended to isolate and neutralize the fort’s defenses. Their role is presented as part of the broader combined-arms effort involving artillery, infantry, and naval units.
The article highlights the prolonged resistance of the American garrison, which withstood heavy bombardment over several weeks before the position became untenable due to damage, casualties, and lack of supplies. The eventual evacuation of surviving defenders is described as a critical moment that enabled the British Navy to reopen the Delaware River and secure supply lines to Philadelphia.
Published in a historical journal format, the piece reflects late 19th-century American scholarly interest in compiling and preserving detailed accounts of Revolutionary War engagements. It relies on earlier records, military reports, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the siege in a concise operational narrative, emphasizing tactical developments and the sequence of military actions.
