Happy 250th Birthday, America!

In honor of America’s Semiquincentennial, I’ve rounded up seven previous blog posts that focus on various aspects of the American Revolution. Some are from the very early stages of Traveling through Reading, while others are much more recent.

You’ll travel throughout the colonies, meeting the individuals who loom large in our nation’s founding and discovering places often overlooked. No matter the level of fame today, each person, place, and occurrence all had a part to play in creating the United States of America out of thirteen loosely tied colonies.

The Signers

In Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence, authors Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese provide a brief biography of all fifty-six signers.

Today, visitors can walk the same cobblestone streets that the signers walked in Philadelphia. Inside Independence Hall, you can step into the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed and imagine the arguments for and against a split from Great Britain. Just across the street is the Liberty Bell. Originally it hung in Independence Hall, but has been moved to a spot where all visitors can see it up close.

Military Drill for Independence

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge by Paul Lockhart is an insightful look into Baron von Steuben, the man credited with training the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1778. For many Americans, this is where Steuben’s story ends. Lockart’s biography details the rest of Steuben’s major contributions that had a lasting impact on the American military.

Valley Forge is located about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Visitor Center provides an overview of Valley Forge and numerous artifacts from the winter encampment. Throughout the park, you can visit replica cabins that soldiers would have stayed in, the home Washington used as his headquarters, and the plain where Steuben trained and drilled the army.

            
“The ‘Cockpit’ of the American Revolution”

The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Home Front, edited by James J. Gigantion II, explores the impact of the Revolutionary War on New Jersey. Readers gain insight into the personal, economic, and military impact on the residents—for both patriots and loyalists.

Red Bank Battlefield Park is one of the many locations in New Jersey that commemorates where the America forces fought for Independence from Great Britain. Located on the Delaware River, the patriot forces fought Hessian soldiers. The original owners' home is open seasonally and provides a glimpse into Colonial life.

The Glorious Cause of America

In 1776, author David McCullough unpacks all that happened during one pivotal year. He splits the book into three parts that move the reader from London to Colonial America. For me, the most impactful part of 1776 was McCullough's description of the Continental Army: a collection of rag-tag volunteers who morphed into a disciplined fighting force. 

Nestled amongst numerous other Philadelphia sites important to the story of 1776, the Museum of the American Revolution is a fully immersive museum that takes full advantage of technological advancements. It covers the entirety of the American Revolution, transporting visitors across geography and leaving them with a greater appreciation for the everyday patriots committed to independence. 

Chain Defense

Chaining the Hudson by Lincoln Diamant highlights an important part of Revolutionary War history: defending the Hudson River, north of New York City. Failure to defend it would split the northern colonies in two and cut off supplies.

Fort Montgomery is on the northern edge of Bear Mountain State Park, in New York. The area includes a small indoor museum, detailing the significance of the Fort to the defense of the Hudson, original stone foundations and earthworks, and recreated structures.

And, just as a reminder, the last two published blog posts were the first in this mini-series:

• Evolution of the Revolution
• The Flag Seamstress

Chain Defense

“The importance of the Hudson River in the present Contest, and the necessity of defending it, are Subjects which have been so frequently and fully discussed, and are so well understood, that it is unnecessary to enlarge upon them” (George Washington, xiii).

The Book 

Chaining the Hudson by Lincoln Diamant highlights an important part of Revolutionary War history, one that can sometimes take second place to the well-known stories of Philadelphia and New York City. From the start, the leaders of the Revolution recognized the importance of defending the Hudson River, north of New York City. Without it, the northern colonies would be split in two and access to supplies would become extremely difficult. 

In 1775, the northern delegates to the Continental Congress emphasized the importance of protecting the Hudson River. The Hudson Highlands were originally identified as the best place for fortifications. The first attempt, Fort Constitution, was fraught with delays, poor design, and high cost. Fort Washington and two forts named Fort Lee were hastily constructed (George Washington had misgivings about their effectiveness) in 1776. They were joined by a chevaux-de-frise, “shallow-water obstructions […] to fill gaps in a line of hulks to be sunk across the Hudson River from Fort Washington to Fort Lee” (39). In July, two British warships defied these defenses and sailed up the Hudson with little difficulty. 

As the British took control of New York City, the leaders of the Revolution grew more concerned over the lack of defense for the Hudson River. In the spring and summer of 1776, Forts Montgomery and Clinton were completed to act as complementary defenses. An iron chain was placed across the Hudson in March 1777; it weighed 35 tons and was 1,650 feet long. The British attacked the two forts, by land, and filed through a link in the chain. However, by November 1777, the upper Hudson Valley was back in colonist hands. Military leaders decided that West Point (across from Fort Constitution) would be a better area of defense and a new chain was put in place in 1778. In August 1780, Benedict Arnold took command of West Point. He told the British of weak spots in the chain, but was caught before the British could attack. The West Point chain was never tested by an enemy vessel. 

When I first chose this book, I thought it might be more geared towards an academic audience. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it reads more like popular nonfiction. There are drawings, maps, and present-day photos interspersed throughout, helping the reader visualize. Diamant relies heavily on first-hand accounts, mostly from letters, to support the narrative. This is great, but sometimes the lengthy passages are difficult to follow. In Chaining the Hudson, the main characters are geography and strategy. Readers learn of troop movements, engagement, defense designs, and the significance of the area. The reader is periodically reminded of the simultaneous Revolutionary War events, to help ground them in the story. 

The Place 

Fort Montgomery is a lesser-known Revolutionary War locale, but still a worthwhile place to visit. On the northern edge of Bear Mountain State Park, it is surrounded by beautiful mountain and river views. The state park includes a small indoor museum, detailing the significance of the Fort to the defense of the Hudson. Outside are numerous cannons, original stone foundations and earthworks, and recreated structures. A brief walk downhill will bring visitors to Popolopen Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River. A pedestrian suspension bridge provides access to Fort Clinton and the rest of Bear Mountain State Park. 

It is a place that you might miss if you aren’t looking for it. A traffic circle can make it difficult to access if you aren’t familiar with them. My family got a bit turned around, but we eventually made it to the park. We spent a couple of hours there, which was plenty of time. A trip here could easily be combined with other sites in Bear Mountain State Park. Fort Montgomery is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free and donations are welcomed.