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Photographs by Ted Spiegel, unless otherwise noted
River Valley, the British tangled withthe Americans in October 1776 at Pell’sPoint 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 City to assistBourgoyne’s operation.
The British InvasionFrom the beginning of the war, both the British high command and General George Washington realized the strategic importance ofcontrolling the Hudson River Valley.
In December 1775 and January 1776Colonel Henry Knox first highlightedthe great resources of New York when he dragged 59 cannons fromCrown Point and Fort Ticonderoga toDorchester Heights overlookingBoston Harbor. That effort helpedforce the British evacuation of Boston.After driving the Continental Armyout of New York City into 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 of Tarrytown lost their lands and Philipsburg Manor.
George Clinton servedas the first governorof New York and wasreelected five times.
Portrait by John Trumbull,Courtesy of the Art Commissionof the City of New York.
Reenactments are staged periodically at Rondout Creek and Kingston (above) and othersites along the Hudson.
A ten-stop auto tour interprets the battles between the Americans andBritish at Saratoga.
taken over Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler’scommand—defeated Burgoyne in thesecond battle of Saratoga near BemisHeights. The British capitulation convinced the French to join theAmerican cause and proved to be theturning point in the war.
In 1779 the British tried to lure GeneralWashington into a decisive battle in
Washington’s troops built nearly 600 woodenhuts at their encampment in New Windsor.
Clinton Adams
New York, but Brig. Gen. AnthonyWayne, in a daring midnight bayonetattack on July 15 and 16, captured their fortification at Stony Point. TheBritish returned briefly but never againthreatened the Hudson Highlands. In August 1781, Washington’s and theFrench Comte de Rochambeau’sarmies linked up at Philipsburgh, NewYork, before proceeding to Virginia for the decisive battle of Yorktown. After their victory there, Washingtonreturned to the Hudson River Valley,and General Rochambeau marched his army to Boston for service in the Caribbean. Washington broughtover 7,000 soldiers, some with theirfamilies, to New Windsor for their finalwinter encampment and set up his
Turning Point in the WarAfter winning at the battle of Oriskanyon August 6, the British under St.Leger lost valuable time besieging FortStanwix and retreated to Canada. Thesupporting British contingent fromNew York City, commanded by Lt.Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, got a late startbut succeeded in capturing FortsMontgomery and Clinton in a fierceday of fighting on October 6 nearWest Point. They cut through a massiveiron chain the Americans had installedacross the Hudson, moved upriver tothe capital at Kingston, and set fire tothe town. But they were too late to helpBurgoyne. On October 7, AmericanMaj. Gen. Horatio Gates—who 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 Baum’s raiders in the battleof Bennington on the WalloomsacRiver in New York. Still, Burgoynepressed on toward Albany but wasstopped at the battle of Freeman’s Farmon September 19. After the battle he fortified and awaited reinforcements.They never arrived.
Hudson River ValleyNational Heritage Area, New Yorkwww.hudsonrivervalley.com
The American Revolutionin the Hudson River Valley
1774 New York “Tea Party”
1775 Americans capture Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point
1776 British invade New York City
1777 Saratoga Campaign—the turning point
1778 Fortress West Point begun
1779 Battle of Stony Point
1780 Arnold-André treason
1781 Siege of New York Cityand Battle of Yorktown
1782 New Windsor Cantonment
1783 British evacuate New York City
The Hudson River Valley played a pivotal role in determining the outcome 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 eye—or a heavy hand—on their Loyalist neighbors. Here along the Hudson, Americans stood fast and, after the turning point battles at Saratoga, set the stage for their ultimate victory at Yorktown and the Britishevacuation of North America south of Canada.
The Americans effectively delayed the three British advances. EngineerColonel Tadeusz Kosciuszko broughtBurgoyne’s forces to a crawl by drop-ping trees across his route south of
headquarters in the Hasbrouck farmhouse in Newburgh, from which he issued his order on April 19, 1783, for a“cessation 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.
Washington’s 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,Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh.
Comte de Rochambeauand 5,500 French troops passed through the state on their way to help the Americansat Yorktown.
Portrait of GeneralRochambeau, artist unknown.Musée de Vendôme, France.
Washington’s fortifications at Redoubt 7 on Constitution Islandhelped 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, after the victory at Yorktown and was owned by his descendants until 2002.
Collection of Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York City.
Hudson River and Constitution Island, looking east from West Point
Continental soldiers attack British fieldworks during the 225th anniversaryreenactment of the battles of Saratoga. HRV Institute/Marist College
Revolutionary War equipment is displayed at Knox’s Headquarters,Vails Gate. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The British invaded the valley from three directions.
Map art by Don Foley
Fort Ticonderogal
Crown Point
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Constitution Is.Fort Montgomery
Fort Clinton
Albany
Kingston
Lake George
Lake Champlain
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Saratoga Battlefield
VBennington Battlefield
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PhilipsburgPhilipsburgManorManor
YONKERSYONKERSMT. VERNONMT. VERNON
WHITEWHITEPLAINSPLAINS
TARRYTOWNTARRYTOWN
HartsdaleHartsdale
Old St. Peter's ChurchOld St. Peter's Church
3535
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17
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32
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CA
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LakeTappan
OradellReservoir
BasherKill
Catskill Creek
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N . J .
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Hut
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Saw
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Pal
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Inte
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Palisad
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New
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New York State Thruway
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Gar
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Gar
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Sta
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Taco
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Senate House &Historic Area
Rondout Battlefield/Rotary Park
Reformed ProtestantDutch Church
HuguenotStreet
Clermont
MontgomeryPlace
LuykasVan Alen
House
BronckMuseum
CrailoHistoric
Cherry Hill
SaratogaNational
HistoricalPark
Henry Knox Cannon Trail begins to the northat Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga.See inset map.
Peebles IslandState Park
Ten Broeck MansionSchuylerMansion
SchuylerFlatts
Washington'sHeadquarters
MountGulian
Trinity andFirst DutchReformed Churches
Van WyckHouse
GomezMill House
The Glebe HouseClinton House
Madam BrettHomestead
Redding(Meads)Corners
John KaneHouse
New WindsorCantonment
(Last Encampment)Knox's
HeadquartersEdmonston
HouseHill-HoldMuseum
BoscobelFortConstitutionFortress West Point
Continental VillageOld St. Peter's Church
Fort Hill
VerplancksPoint
KingsFerry
Van CortlandtManor
DeWintHouse
OdellHouse
Jacob Purdy HouseMiller HouseBattle/Whitney Park
Stony PointBattlefield
CampRamapough
FortDecker
John JayHomestead
PhilipsburgManor
St. Paul's Church
PhilipseManor
Hall
FortLee
Van Cortlandt Mansion MuseumValentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History
Fort MontgomeryFort Independence
Fort Clinton
BenningtonBattlefield
The SchuylerHouse
Ensign House
C a t s k i l l
P a r k
Adirondack Park
Bear Mountain StatePark
YONKERS
PATERSON
ALBANY
STAMFORD
SCHENECTADY
TROY
KINGSTON
POUGHKEEPSIE
NORWALK
MT. VERNONNEW ROCHELLE
WHITEPLAINS
GREENWICH
RYE
PITTSFIELD
SARATOGASPRINGS
NEWBURGH
DANBURY
(USMA)WEST POINT
PARAMUS
HACKENSACK
TARRYTOWN
NYACK
BEACON
NEW PALTZ
HYDE PARK
SAUGERTIES
RHINEBECK
HUDSON
COXSACKIE
Yorktown(Hunt's Tavern)
Crompond
Katonah
Pine'sBridge
Chappaqua
Pleasantville
Mount Kisco(North Castle)
PoundRidge
Salem
Bedford
Carmel
FarmersMills
Stormville
Mahopac
MahopacMines
MahopacFalls
Brewster
LakeCarmel
Pecksville
Fishkill
WappingersFalls
Marlboro
Middletown
Goshen
Warwick
Mountainville
StonyPoint
Haverstraw
Nanuet
PearlRiver
Piermont
Hastings-on-Hudson
DobbsFerry
Hartsdale
Greenburgh(Philipsburg)
NewCity
SpringValley
Suffern
Peekskill
Ossining
Croton-on-Hudson
New Windsor
OrangeLake
Montgomery
Washingtonville
Monroe
Chester
Red OaksMill
Pawling
Millbrook
PleasantValley
Amenia
PinePlains Millerton
Copake Falls
Hillsdale
Austerlitz
EastNassau
Schodack
EastGreenbush
Rensselaer
DoverPlains
Catskill
Germantown
Tivoli
Annandale-on-Hudson
RedHook
Hunter
Windham
Dormansville
Rensselaerville
Durham
Tannersville
Palenville
Woodstock
Kinderhook
Chatham
Ghent
Claverack
OldChatham
Rotterdam
Waterford
Cohoes
LathamColonie
Mechanicville
Stillwater
Bemis Heights
RoundLake
Kent
Kerhonkson
Monticello
Wurtsboro
Phoenicia
MargaretvilleFleischmans
Prattsville
Sharon Springs
Schoharie
Middleburgh
Grand Gorge
Cobleskill
Stockbridge
PortJervis
Ridgewood
Englewood
Morrisania
Passaic
Ridgefield
Cairo
Canaan
GreatBarrington
Lenox
BallstonSpa
Schuylerville
Cambridge
Cold Spring
Garrison
CornwallBridge
BethelRidgebury
Brookfield
New Milford
HighFalls
Sybil Ludington's
Ride
Henry K
nox Cannon Trail
Henry Knox Cannon Tr
ail
Washington-RochambeauRevolutionary Route
North
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SaratogaSprings
Glens Falls
Schuylerville
Hudson Falls
Fort Edward
Fort Miller
Northumberland
Bolton Landing
Lake GeorgeLake George
Battlefield
SabbathDay Point
LakeLuzerne
SchroonLake
TiconderogaFort Ticonderoga
Crown Point
Port HenryMiddlebury
Cambridge
Henry Knox Cannon Trail—Northern Portion
Major Hudson River Valley sites associated with the American Revolution are shown on this map of the National Heritage Area. Brief descriptions of the sites are listed to the right from north to south.For more information about these American Revolutionary sites, itineraries tovisit them, other heritage sites, and facilities in the valley, use this web site:www.hudsonrivervalley.comThe heritage sites shown on this map are operated by federal, state,local, and private not-for-profit organizations. The federal site,Saratoga National Historical Park, is open daily except for Thanksgiving,December 25, and January 1. Many of the others are closed Mondays orTuesdays and are likely to be closed January through March.
Henry Knox Cannon Trail traces the route followed by Knox and his59 cannon from Lake Champlain to Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts.http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/themes/Amrev/KnoxTrail/kttour.php
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) commemorates French-American marches through Westchester and Rocklandcounties to Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781 and the return of theFrench army to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1782. The route markingssouth from Dobbs Ferry and Hartsdale show the initial failed attackagainst Delancy's Loyalists and Washington's and Rochambeau's GrandReconnaissance to inspect British fortifications July 21-23, 1781.http://www.hudsonrivervalley.net/images/largedetailed2.1.jpg
Sybil Ludington's Ride recreates the ride of a 16-year-oldgirl on April 26, 1777, to rally her father's militia regiment.http://www.hudsonvalley.org/amerRevLesson/sybillessonplan.php
Hudson River ValleyNational Heritage Area boundary
Washington-RochambeauRevolutionary RouteTroop Camp Sites
Sybil Ludington's Ride
Henry Knox Cannon TrailKnox Trail Monuments
Hudson River Valley Revolutionary War Sites
Lower Hudson
Mid-Hudson
Upper HudsonBennington Battlefield commemorates the battle on August 16, 1777, in whichGeneral John Stark and Colonel SethWarner and their troops defeated Lt. Col. Fredrich Baum’s Brunswickers and allies preventing them from gainingsupplies and horses. Hessian Hill offerspicturesque views and exhibits about the battle. Route 67, Hoosick Falls
The fighting that took place at SaratogaBattlefield in the fall of 1777 turned thetide of the war for independence andhelped to secure international support forthe American cause. Highlights include visitor center exhibits and an interpretivenine-mile battlefield auto tour.Route 32, Stillwater
Schuyler Mansion, home of Maj. Gen.Philip Schuyler, served as a base of opera-tions during the war. George Washington,Alexander Hamilton, Benedict Arnold, and Benjamin Franklin passed through its halls. British Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne
New Yorkers signed the CoxsackieDeclaration of Independence in 1775 inwhat is now called the Bronck Museum.During the early years of the war, theCoxsackie Committee of Correspondencemet here, one of the oldest standing houses in upstate New York. County Road 42, Coxsackie
Robert R. Livingston, Jr. of Belvedereserved on the committee to draft theDeclaration of Independence in 1776. The British burned his and his father'shouse, Clermont, next door in 1777, buthis mother, Margaret Beekman Livingston,rebuilt Clermont during the war. The 485-acre estate is preserved as it appearedin the early 20th century. 1 Clermont Avenue, Germantown
The Senate House, one of 21 colonialhouses in Kingston’s Stockade Area, servedas the meeting place for the first Senate ofNew York State in 1777. The stone build-ing is furnished as an early Revolutionaryperiod home and contains several portraitsof local residents. 296 Fair Street, Kingston
Gomez Mill House, MarlboroThe Senate House, Kingston
Wolvert Ackert, owner of the Gomez Mill House during the war, served as commissioner of Newburgh's Committeeof Safety and Observation, a group thatidentified suspected loyalists. The six-roomhouse, mill, icehouse, and other buildings sit on 28 acres. 11 Mill House Road, Marlboro
Rondout Battlefield (Rotary Park)encompasses the area on the Kingstonwaterfront where the British landed inOctober 1777 after the Provincial Convention moved from Fishkill toKingston. Confronted by an armed galleyand militiamen, the British proceeded toburn the town. Lower Delaware Avenue, Kingston
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, theContinental Army’s Prussian drillmasterand inspector general, used Mount Gulianas his headquarters in 1783. The Society ofCincinnati, the first U.S. veterans’ organi-zation, was founded here. Artifacts pertaining to the Verplanck family and theSociety of the Cincinnati are on display.145 Sterling Street, Beacon
Washington's Headquarters, in theJonathan Hasbrouck House, the first pub-licly operated historic site in the nation, is the house where George Washingtonstayed for 16 months at the end of theRevolutionary War and where he createdthe Badge of Military Merit, predecessorof the Purple Heart. 84 Liberty Street, Newburgh
Maj. Gen. Henry Knox occupied theEllisons’ fieldstone house at Vails Gate fourdifferent times during the war, and Maj.Gen. Horatio Gates stayed here when hewas commandant of the New WindsorCantonment. With its 18th-century furnish-ings, Knox’s Headquarters retains much ofits wartime appearance. Forge Hill Road, Vails Gate
George Washington’s army made its finalencampment at the New WindsorCantonment. Here, Washington made anemotional speech in the Temple of Virtueconvincing army officers not to rebel overpay. The meeting hall and a soldiers’ huthave been reconstructed. Artifacts, diora-mas, and artillery pieces are displayed. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located here.Temple Hill Road (N.Y. Route 300), Vails Gate
Fort Arnold/Clinton and Fort Putnamhelped secure the Hudson River and pre-vent the British from cutting New Englandoff from the rest of the states. The forts,major elements in three rings of fortifica-tions known as Fortress West Point, arelocated on the U.S. Military Academygrounds. Thirteen links of the Great Chainare displayed at Trophy Point. A statue ofTadeusz Kosciuszko, who directed the construction of the fortifications, standson the remains of Fort Arnold/Clinton. FortPutnam is currently not open to the public.Several Revolutionary War items are ondisplay in the visitor center and museum.West Point
British Lt. Gen. Henry Clinton gained con-trol of King’s Ferry on May 31, 1779, andbuilt fortifications at Stony Point to pre-pare for a possible battle in the HudsonHighlands. But the Americans, led by Brig.Gen. Anthony Wayne, retook the fort in asurprise attack.U.S. 9W, Stony Point
Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton(Trailside Museum) fell to overwhelmingBritish forces on October 6, 1777.Nonetheless, the battles disrupted SirHenry Clinton’s attempts to relieveBurgoyne’s army that was trapped atSaratoga. A self-guiding trail takes visitorsthrough the remains of Fort Montgomeryafter a stop at the visitor center.Bear Mountain State Park
John Jay retired to his Katonah Homesteadproperty in 1801 after a lifetime of publicservice to the state and the nation. Jaywas president of the Continental Congress,a principal negotiator of the Treaty ofParis ending the Revolution, first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and second governor of New York. Route 22, Katonah
During the Revolutionary War, both theloyalists and patriots pillaged VanCortlandt Manor, which was located in themiddle of the Neutral Ground. After thewar, the Van Cortlandt family returned tothe property after service to the patriotcause and reestablished it as a productiveestate. Today, the site includes an 18th-century manor house and tavern andreconstructed tenant farmhouse.Interpreters demonstrate blacksmithing,brickmaking, and hearth-cooking skills.South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson
A committed loyalist, Frederick Philipse IIIlost Philipsburg Manor after signing the Declaration of Dependence in 1776and being arrested on orders fromGeneral Washington. Today, PhilipsburgManor represents a mid-18th centurymilling, farming, and trading complex populated by diverse Europeans andenslaved Africans. Route 9, Sleepy Hollow
The Philipse family fled to New York Cityand then to England. New York State con-fiscated the 52,000-acre estate, includingtheir Yonkers residence, Philipse ManorHall. The mansion is now a museum of history, architecture, and art, includingselections from Alexander Smith CochranCollection of American Portraiture.29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers
Saint Paul’s Church served as a hospital forHessians after the 1776 battle of Pell’sPoint, which helped prevent the Britishfrom attacking George Washington’s armyas it moved north from New York City. A number of the Hessians who died thereare buried in a mass grave. The restoredchurch and nearby museum interpret thebattle and other local events. South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon
Fort Montgomery, Bear Mountain
Historic Chain, West Point
Bronck Museum, Coxsackie
stopped here after his defeat at Saratoga.32 Catherine Street, Albany
Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area
Hudson River ValleyNational Heritage Area, New York
The Hudson River Valley National HeritageArea is a federally funded program createdby Congress in 1996. The mission of theHeritage Area is to recognize, preserve,protect and interpret the nationally significant cultural and natural resourcesof the Hudson River Valley for the benefitof the nation.
The Heritage Area funded this map-brochure, and the Hudson River ValleyInstitute at Marist College in Poughkeepsieselected the sites. Send your comments by fax to 845-454-5437 or by e-mail to [email protected].
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