Commander of Fort Washington during the Revolution
Robert Magaw was a Continental Army officer best known for commanding Fort Washington during its defense in 1776. His connection to Carlisle places the town within a broader national military narrative. Magaw’s service illustrates the high stakes faced by Revolutionary officers and the personal costs of defeat and captivity. Carlisle, through citizens like Magaw, was deeply intertwined with the wider struggle for independence.
Address: 3 South Hanover Street, Carlisle PA 17013
Access Notes: The site of Colonel Robert Magaw’s House is now Denim Coffee. Stop in for a locally-roasted cup of coffee, tea, or a snack!
Visitor Tips:
This stop pairs well with several destinations on Patriots’ Path:
Carlisle’s Old Courthouse
St. John’s Episcopal Church
First Presbyterian Church
Old Public Graveyard
Liberty Bell Replica
Carlisle Downtown Historic Mural
Cumberland County Historical Society
Patriot’s Story: Colonel Robert Magaw
1738-1790
Robert Magaw’s Revolutionary War service is defined by one of the conflict’s earliest and most difficult tests of leadership. He was commissioned as the original Major in Colonel William Thompson’s PA Rifle Battalion on June 25, 1775 in Carlisle, PA. In November 1776, now promoted to Colonel, Magaw commanded Fort Washington on Manhattan Island. This critical defensive position overlooked the Hudson River. The British also saw strategic importance in Fort Washington. When British and Hessian forces launched a coordinated assault against the position, Magaw and his outnumbered troops held their ground for hours against overwhelming odds.
Despite their determination, the fort ultimately fell. Surrounded and cut off from support, Magaw made the painful decision to surrender in order to prevent further loss of life. More than 2,800 American soldiers were taken prisoner in one of the Continental Army’s worst defeats of the war. For Magaw, the surrender marked the beginning of captivity and the burden of public scrutiny in a young nation desperate for victories.
Magaw was later exchanged and continued to serve the American cause, but his experience highlights an often-overlooked reality of the Revolution: not every sacrifice ended in triumph. His story invites visitors to reflect on leadership under impossible circumstances and the personal cost of decisions made when courage alone could not change the outcome.
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Content in this section was curated by volunteers from the Army Heritage Center Foundation.