8/9/2019 American Revolution in the Hudson Valley
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Photographs by Ted Spiegel, unless otherwise noted
River Valley, the British tangled withthe Americans in October
1776 at PellsPoint and White Plains. Then, in 1777,the British
devised a three-prongedinvasion of the valley. The main force,under
Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne, wouldhead south from Canada via
LakesChamplain and George. Lt. Col. BarrySt. Leger would push east
along the
Mohawk Valley to Albany. Sir WilliamHowe would head north
from
New York Cityto assistBourgoynes operation.
The British Invasionrom the beginning of the war,oth the British
high commandnd General George Washingtonealized the strategic
importance ofontrolling the Hudson River Valley.
n December 1775 and January 1776Colonel Henry Knox first
highlightedhe great resources of New York
when he dragged 59 cannons fromCrown Point and Fort Ticonderoga
toDorchester Heights overlookingBoston Harbor. That effort
helpedorce the British evacuation of Boston.
After driving the Continental Armyut of New York Cityinto the
Hudson
British ships make their way up the Hudson inthis painting by
William Joy.
Collection of The New-York Historical Society
George Washington made a seriesof key military assignments
andstrategic decisions to maintaincontrol of the Hudson River.
Like many other Loyalists, the Philipse family ofTarrytown lost
their lands and Philipsburg Manor.
George Clinton served
as the first governorof New York and wasreelected five
times.
Portrait by John Trumbull,
Courtesy of the Art Commission
of the City of New York.
Reenactments are staged periodically at Rondout Creek and
Kingston (above) and othersites along the Hudson.
ten-stop auto tour interprets the battles between the Americans
andritish at Saratoga.
taken over Maj. Gen. Philip Schuylerscommanddefeated Burgoyne in
thesecond battle of Saratoga near BemisHeights. The British
capitulationconvinced the French to join theAmerican cause and
proved to be theturning point in the war.
In 1779 theBritish tried to lure GeneralWashington into a
decisive battle in
Washingtons troops built nearly 600 woodenhuts at their
encampment in New Windsor.
Clinton Adams
New York, but Brig. Gen. AnthonyWayne, in a daring midnight
bayonetattackon July 15 and 16, capturedtheir fortification at
StonyPoint. The
British returned briefly but never againthreatened the Hudson
Highlands.In August 1781, Washingtons and theFrench Comte de
Rochambeausarmies linked up at Philipsburgh, NewYork, before
proceeding to Virginiafor the decisive battle of Yorktown.After
their victory there, Washingtonreturned to the Hudson River
Valley,and General Rochambeau marchedhis army to Boston for service
inthe Caribbean. Washington broughtover 7,000 soldiers, some with
theirfamilies, to New Windsor for their finalwinter encampment and
set up his
Turning Point in the War
After winning at the battle of Oriskanyn August 6, the British
under St.
Leger lost valuable time besieging Fort
tanwix and retreated to Canada. Theupporting British contingent
from
New York City, commanded by Lt.Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, got a
late start
ut succeeded in capturing FortsMontgomery and Clinton in a
fierce
ay of fighting on October 6 nearWestPoint. They cut through a
massiveron chain the Americans had installedcross the Hudson, moved
upriver tohe capital at Kingston, and set fire tohe town. But they
were too late to help
Burgoyne. On October 7, AmericanMaj. Gen. Horatio Gateswho
had
Chief Joseph Brant and the MohawkIndians joined Loyalists in
several raidsand battles against the patriots.
Portrait by Ezra Ames, 1806. Fenimore Art Museum,
Cooperstown, N.Y.Photo by Richard Walker
Lake Champlain. Withthe help of the Green Mountain Boys,General
John Stark whipped Lt. Col.Frederich Baums raiders in the battleof
Bennington on the WalloomsacRiver in New York. Still,
Burgoynepressed on toward Albany but wasstopped at the battle of
Freemans Farmon September 19. After the battle hefortified and
awaited reinforcements.They never arrived.
Hudson River ValleyNational Heritage Area, New
Yorkwww.hudsonrivervalley.com
The American Revolution
n the Hudson River Valley
1774 New York Tea Party1775 Americans capture Fort
Ticonderoga
and Crown Point
1776 British invade New York City1777 Saratoga Campaignthe
turning point1778 Fortress West Point begun
1779 Battle of Stony Point1780 Arnold-Andr treason1781 Siege of
New York City
and Battle of Yorktown
1782 New Windsor Cantonment1783 British evacuate New York
City
The Hudson River Valley played a pivotal role in determining
theoutcome of the Revolutionary War. Here, Americans stymied
Britishattempts in 1776-1783 to control the riverway and sever New
England from
the rest of the colonies. Here, Patriots boycotted British teas
and other goods,
accepted the Declaration of Independence, created the State of
New York,and kept a sharp eyeor a heavy handon their Loyalist
neighbors.Here along the Hudson, Americans stood fast and, after
the turning point battlesat Saratoga, set the stage for their
ultimate victory at Yorktown and the Britishevacuation of North
America south of Canada.
The Americans effectively delayedthe three British advances.
EngineerColonel Tadeusz Kosciuszko broughtBurgoynes forces to a
crawl by drop-ping trees across his route south of
headquarters in theHasbrouck farmhousein Newburgh, from which
heissued his order on Apri l 19, 1783, for acessation of
hostilities. The troopsstayed until June. Washington oversawthe
British evacuation of New YorkCity on November 25, 1783. The
entireHudson River was now in U.S. hands,and New York was on its
wayto becoming the EmpireState in the new nation.
Washingtons pistols are on display at theWest Point Museum.
His troops exhausted and out-numbered, John Burgoyne
finallysurrendered at Saratoga.
Portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds
The Frick Collection, New York
At his mansion in Albany, Maj. Gen. Philip J. Schulyer
entertained thecaptured British general, Gentleman Johnny
Burgoyne.
Period furnishings and exhibits interpret life at the Jonathan
Hasbrouck House,Washingtons Headquarters in Newburgh.
Comte de Rochambeauand 5,500 Frenchtroops passedthrough the
stateon their way tohelp the Americans
at Yorktown.Portrait of General
Rochambeau, artist unknown.
Muse de Vendme, France.
Washingtons fortifications at Redoubt 7 on Constitution Isl
andhelped him hold the Hudson Highlands.
Portrait of General Washington at Yorktownby Charles Wilson
Peale, 1782. This paintingwas purchased by General Rochambeau,the
commander of the French forces, afterthe victory at Yorktown and
was ownedby his descendants until 2002.
Collection of Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York City.
udson River and Constitution Island,ooking east from West
Point
Continental soldiers attack British fieldworks during the 225th
anniversaryeenactment of the battles of Saratoga. HRV
Institute/Marist College
Revolutionary War equipment is displayed at Knoxs
Headquarters,Vails Gate. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation.
The British invaded the valley from
three directions.
Mapart
byDonF
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Fort Ticonderoga
Crown Point
Constitution Is.Fort Montgomery
Fort Clinton
Albany
Kingston
Lake George
LakeChamplain
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SaratogaBattlefield
BenningtonBattlefield
