Fort Montgomery (Hudson River) (Highlands, New York)
Highlands · New York · American Revolution
History & Significance
The strategic importance of controlling navigation along the Hudson River was obvious to both Americans and the British from the outbreak of open hostilities, as the river was the major means for transportation of supplies and troops throughout a large portion of the northeast. In July 1776, the New York convention appointed a committee, including John Jay, Robert Livingston, George Clinton and Robert Yates, to devise and execute measures for obstructing the channel of the Hudson River.
Construction began in March 1776 at the confluence of Popolopen Creek with the Hudson River near Bear Mountain in Orange County, New York. The fortifications included a river battery of six 32-pound cannons, a cable chain supported by a boom across the Hudson River, and landward redoubts connected by ramparts, all situated on a cliff promontory rising 100 feet above the river.
General George Clinton, the newly appointed Patriot governor of the State, commanded the fort, which held a combined garrison of roughly 700 Colonial soldiers with its companion fortification, Fort Clinton. Although the British captured both forts on October 6, 1777, the campaign caused delays in reinforcing General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, enabling Americans to gain the upper hand at the Battle of Bemis Heights and force Burgoyne's surrender ten days later. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1972.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Continental Army fortification with restored river batteries
- Chain and boom barrier that once spanned the Hudson
- Visitor center with Revolutionary War exhibits
- Interpretive trails overlooking the Hudson River valley
- Historic site where General George Clinton commanded defenses
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Montgomery_(Hudson_River)
- https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/28/details.aspx
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/forts-clinton-and-montgomery
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Forts_Clinton_and_Montgomery