Hessian Lake Formerly Known as Bloody Lake Bear Mountain State Park New York
Hessian Lake is glacial lake situated on a plateau about an elevation of 1000 feet that was created when retreating glaciers craved out the Hudson Valley at the end of the last Ice age , Originally called Sinnipink by the Native Waoraneck tribe and the lake was the site of the principal village of that tribe. Unfortunately during the time the Dutch were settling the area the Waoranecks they were driven out by the Warranawonkongs into eastern Pennsylvania effectively destroying the tribe culturally, The land was then secured by Stephanus Van Cortlandt. In 1775 Forts Montgomery and Fort Clinton nearby to guard and secure the Hudson River. The area became the site of pitched battle during the Revolutionary War On October 6, 1777, before dawn 2,000 English, Hessian and Tory troops quietly left Stony Point. Colonel Beverly Robinson, an American Tory, whose house stood until two years prior on the east side of the Hudson and was known as Arnold's headquarters, acted as guide. They marched along the foot of Dunderberg until Bear Mountain was reached. There the force was divided into two parties.
One division of 500 British regulars and 400 Hessians, under command of Colonel Campbell, took a route back of Bear Mountain and came out on Popolopen Creek about four miles west of Sinnipink. They advanced rapidly down the creek until Slaughter Hole was reached. This whirlpool was then known as Hell Hole, and the superstitious believed that it was bottomless. Here the Americans had three field pieces mounted on a bank overlooking the narrow ravine. When Campbell's detachment entered the defile a shower of grape and cannister shot swept the ranks. In a moment the column was thrown into confusion, and the mountaineers followed up their advantage by hurling rocks into the ranks of the panic-stricken soldiers.
Colonel Campbell now saw that unless he quickly dislodged the patriots his division would be annihilated. He ordered 300 men to scale the bank and capture the cannon. The Americans numbered hardly fifty, but they fought like heroes, and when compelled to retreat they hurled their field pieces into the bottomless hole and made their escape to the fort. Nearly 200 redcoats found a grave at Slaughter Hole.
While this fighting was going on at the north end of Sinnipink, General Vaughn and Sir Henry Clinton, with 1,200 troops, took the old road through Doodletown and up to the east shore. Here the pass is very narrow. The lake washes it on one side and the steep bank of the Hudson lies on the other. At this narrow and dangerous spot there was a strong outpost. The Hessians were in the lead and boldly attempted to carry it. They were repulsed again and again with great slaughter. General Vaughn, seeing this, ordered them to the rear, and the redcoats charged the works, which were quickly carried. Two hundred and fifty Hessians fell in trying to take the outpost. Their bodies were thrown into the lake, which according to witnesses, was red with Hessian blood for several days after. Since that time Sinnipink was known as Bloody, or Hessian Lake. In 1908 the state of New York purchased 740 acres of land and was going to build Sing Sing Prison on the site when heavy opposition from local conservationists and as part of the deal not to have the prison located there 10,000 acres of additional land were donated by Mary Harriman wealthy widow of Union Pacific president E H Harriman. The park became known as Bear Mountian-Harriman State Park and in the decades afterwards the state used eminent domain to expand the park to it's current size.
Hessian Lake Formerly Known as Bloody Lake Bear Mountain State Park New York
Hessian Lake is glacial lake situated on a plateau about an elevation of 1000 feet that was created when retreating glaciers craved out the Hudson Valley at the end of the last Ice age , Originally called Sinnipink by the Native Waoraneck tribe and the lake was the site of the principal village of that tribe. Unfortunately during the time the Dutch were settling the area the Waoranecks they were driven out by the Warranawonkongs into eastern Pennsylvania effectively destroying the tribe culturally, The land was then secured by Stephanus Van Cortlandt. In 1775 Forts Montgomery and Fort Clinton nearby to guard and secure the Hudson River. The area became the site of pitched battle during the Revolutionary War On October 6, 1777, before dawn 2,000 English, Hessian and Tory troops quietly left Stony Point. Colonel Beverly Robinson, an American Tory, whose house stood until two years prior on the east side of the Hudson and was known as Arnold's headquarters, acted as guide. They marched along the foot of Dunderberg until Bear Mountain was reached. There the force was divided into two parties.
One division of 500 British regulars and 400 Hessians, under command of Colonel Campbell, took a route back of Bear Mountain and came out on Popolopen Creek about four miles west of Sinnipink. They advanced rapidly down the creek until Slaughter Hole was reached. This whirlpool was then known as Hell Hole, and the superstitious believed that it was bottomless. Here the Americans had three field pieces mounted on a bank overlooking the narrow ravine. When Campbell's detachment entered the defile a shower of grape and cannister shot swept the ranks. In a moment the column was thrown into confusion, and the mountaineers followed up their advantage by hurling rocks into the ranks of the panic-stricken soldiers.
Colonel Campbell now saw that unless he quickly dislodged the patriots his division would be annihilated. He ordered 300 men to scale the bank and capture the cannon. The Americans numbered hardly fifty, but they fought like heroes, and when compelled to retreat they hurled their field pieces into the bottomless hole and made their escape to the fort. Nearly 200 redcoats found a grave at Slaughter Hole.
While this fighting was going on at the north end of Sinnipink, General Vaughn and Sir Henry Clinton, with 1,200 troops, took the old road through Doodletown and up to the east shore. Here the pass is very narrow. The lake washes it on one side and the steep bank of the Hudson lies on the other. At this narrow and dangerous spot there was a strong outpost. The Hessians were in the lead and boldly attempted to carry it. They were repulsed again and again with great slaughter. General Vaughn, seeing this, ordered them to the rear, and the redcoats charged the works, which were quickly carried. Two hundred and fifty Hessians fell in trying to take the outpost. Their bodies were thrown into the lake, which according to witnesses, was red with Hessian blood for several days after. Since that time Sinnipink was known as Bloody, or Hessian Lake. In 1908 the state of New York purchased 740 acres of land and was going to build Sing Sing Prison on the site when heavy opposition from local conservationists and as part of the deal not to have the prison located there 10,000 acres of additional land were donated by Mary Harriman wealthy widow of Union Pacific president E H Harriman. The park became known as Bear Mountian-Harriman State Park and in the decades afterwards the state used eminent domain to expand the park to it's current size.