Sandy Hook

During the American Revolution, Sandy Hook was mistakenly not fortified by Continentals in the early days of the war. As a result, the British Navy was able to sail into the harbor of New York completely unopposed, leading to the city's capitulation in August of 1776. Despite not being fortified, Sandy Hook's landscape was marked by that of its lighthouse, which was built by New York merchants in 1764 to safely guide ships into the harbor.

The lighthouse at Sandy Hook quickly became a strategic military target. With the arrival of the British fleet imminent, a patriot raiding party seized eight copper lamps and four casks of whale oil in March 1776. Three months later, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper led an attack to destroy the tower, but after an hour of artillery fire, the thick walls proved impervious. Facing stiff resistance from a British armed guard and a supporting frigate in Sandy Hook Bay, Tupper was forced to withdraw. Recognizing its significance as a navigational aid, the British high command fortified the lighthouse with loyalist troops, establishing what became known as the "Lighthouse Fort" or "Refugees Tower." With the protection of the British Army and Navy, the lighthouse remained under British control for most of the war, ensuring its continued use despite the ongoing conflict.