September 1776

17 September 1776, the Continental Congress officially adopted the name "United States of America" When the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution replacing the term "United Colonies" in all official records and commissions.

In September 1776, the American Revolution centered almost entirely on the high-stakes struggle for New York City. Following the Continental Army's severe defeat at the Battle of Long Island in late August, General George Washington's forces were retreating, and the survival of the revolution hung in the balance.

Gen Washington positioned General Israel Putnam with 4,000 men in lower Manhattan, left a small militia force at Kip's Bay (roughly present-day 32nd to 38th Streets), and moved the bulk of his army north to Harlem Heights to secure an escape route.  On 15 September, At Kip’s Bay, five British warships anchored just 200 yards offshore and unleashed a devastating one-hour naval bombardment. They used solid shot, mortars, and grape shot to completely shatter the American earthworks.  Following the bombardment, 84 flatboats carrying roughly 4,000 British and Hessian troops crossed the East River from Newtown Creek.

The defenders at Kip's Bay consisted of only about 450 to 800 inexperienced Connecticut militiamen under Colonel William Douglas. Many were poorly armed, some carrying only homemade scythe-blade pikes. Terrified by the heavy naval bombardment and the sight of oncoming Hessian forces, the militia panicked, broke ranks, and fled inland without firing a shot, abandoning their weapons and gear.

General Howe halted his troops to wait for reinforcements rather than pressing aggressively across Manhattan. This tactical pause allowed General Putnam's 4,000 Continentals to escape lower Manhattan and march up the west side to safety.

The British walked into New York City unopposed. They retained control of this vital deep-water port as their primary North American military headquarters for seven years until the war ended in 1783.

The very next day there is a very hard to follow account of "battle".  However, for nearly two hours, the Continental soldiers stood their ground in open combat against British regulars and Scottish Highlanders, eventually forcing the British to break off and retreat south toward their own lines. Washington, wary of a larger British counter-offensive, called off the pursuit and ordered his men back to Harlem Heights.

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  Psychological Restoration: The battle was not a decisive strategic victory, but its psychological impact was massive. It proved to the Continental soldiers that they could successfully stand toe-to-toe with elite British regular infantry in an open-field firefight.
• Exorcising the Kip's Bay Ghost: Just 24 hours after fleeing in panic, the American troops fought with discipline and bravery. Washington noted with satisfaction that the troops had "behaved with great courage and intrepidity."
• Stalemate in Manhattan: The victory secured Washington's position on Harlem Heights for the next month, forcing Howe to abandon plans for a direct frontal assault 
• One more thing that happened in New York in September was a huge fire in lower Manhattan that caused extensive damage.