Hudson River ~ West Point, New York
Hudson River - West Point, New York
Englishman Henry Hudson was looking for a quick passage to China as he sailed along America's north Atlantic coast in 1609. Hudson thought he found what he was looking for when he entered New York bay and what is now the river named for him. He and his crew of 18-20 men, sailing on a ship called the Half Moon, traveled about 150 miles up the river near what is now Albany before realizing it would not lead them to their destination of choice.
Early maps and sailing journals tell us that the area was viewed as inhospitable, with wild animals, poisonous snakes, mountains and thick forests too dense to traverse. The river itself was seen as treacherous, especially in the stretch known as the Hudson Highlands. This area begins about 50 miles north of New York City and extends for about 15 miles, between what is now Peekskill and Newburgh. Here the hills rise up more than 1,000 feet along either shore and fierce currents and strong winds made sailing extremely difficult and dangerous. Areas of the river here were dubbed World's End and Devil's Horse Race by the Dutch sailors.
The 1600s saw the influx of colonists and the area, first known as New Amsterdam, became part of New York, controlled by Britain. As the quest for independence from the crown began to unfold, the Hudson River played a major role.
Although the events that occurred in the Hudson Highlands during the Revolutionary War were not the war's most decisive, it remained an area to which the British and the Americans gave much of their attention.
In 1775, the Americans decided they must fortify the area, protecting the river used to transport troops and supplies. Critical ferry crossings between Fishkill and Plum Point as well as Verplanck and Haverstraw connected New England to the Middle Atlantic colonies. Had the British been successful in gaining control of the river, it would have literally broken apart the American forces.
Hudson River ~ West Point, New York
Hudson River - West Point, New York
Englishman Henry Hudson was looking for a quick passage to China as he sailed along America's north Atlantic coast in 1609. Hudson thought he found what he was looking for when he entered New York bay and what is now the river named for him. He and his crew of 18-20 men, sailing on a ship called the Half Moon, traveled about 150 miles up the river near what is now Albany before realizing it would not lead them to their destination of choice.
Early maps and sailing journals tell us that the area was viewed as inhospitable, with wild animals, poisonous snakes, mountains and thick forests too dense to traverse. The river itself was seen as treacherous, especially in the stretch known as the Hudson Highlands. This area begins about 50 miles north of New York City and extends for about 15 miles, between what is now Peekskill and Newburgh. Here the hills rise up more than 1,000 feet along either shore and fierce currents and strong winds made sailing extremely difficult and dangerous. Areas of the river here were dubbed World's End and Devil's Horse Race by the Dutch sailors.
The 1600s saw the influx of colonists and the area, first known as New Amsterdam, became part of New York, controlled by Britain. As the quest for independence from the crown began to unfold, the Hudson River played a major role.
Although the events that occurred in the Hudson Highlands during the Revolutionary War were not the war's most decisive, it remained an area to which the British and the Americans gave much of their attention.
In 1775, the Americans decided they must fortify the area, protecting the river used to transport troops and supplies. Critical ferry crossings between Fishkill and Plum Point as well as Verplanck and Haverstraw connected New England to the Middle Atlantic colonies. Had the British been successful in gaining control of the river, it would have literally broken apart the American forces.