The Week That Won the War: The True Story of the Firing on The Vulture

On September 22, 1780 a cannonade was fired from Croton Point, then known as Tellers Point, on the British ship The Vulture. This action stranded British spymaster Major John André, which led to his capture and prevented Benedict Arnold’s plan to hand West Point over to the British. The story of The Vulture’s arrival in Haverstraw Bay on September 17 until her retreat downstream on September 22 involved privileged white flag communications, missed meetings, and a false flag offense by Americans that violated the customs of war.

The dramatic week ended with success due to the persistence of an American colonel who set in motion one of the most significant events of the Revolutionary War. This presentation by Char Weigel, Vice President of Special Projects for Revolutionary Westchester 250, and Marc Cheshire, Croton Village Historian, is based on new primary source research.