Editing Fort Montgomery (Hudson River)

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name                 = Fort Montgomery State Historic Site
| nrhp_type            = nhl
| image                = Cannons at Fort Montgomery site, NY.jpg
| caption              = Cannons at the site of the fort, 2007
| location             = [[Fort Montgomery, New York|Fort Montgomery]], [[Highlands, New York|Highlands]], [[New York (state)|New York, USA]]
| nearest_city         = [[Peekskill, New York|Peekskill]]
| coordinates          = {{coord|41|19|26|N|73|59|13|W|display=inline,title}}
| area                 =
| built                = 1776
| architect            =
| architecture         =
| designated_nrhp_type = November 28, 1972<ref name="nhlsum" />
| added                = November 28, 1972<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| visitation_num       =
| visitation_year      =
| refnum               = 72000897
| mpsub                = 
}}
[[File:Fort Montgomery magazine.jpg|thumb|Foundation of magazine]]

'''Fort Montgomery''' was a fortification built on the west bank of the [[Hudson River]] in [[Highlands, New York]] by the Continental Army during the [[American Revolution]].  Erected in 1776, Fort Montgomery was one of the first major investments by the Americans in strategic construction projects.

Declared a [[National Historic Landmark]], it is part of the [[Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area]], owned and operated by the state of [[New York (state)|New York]] as the '''Fort Montgomery State Historic Site'''.

==Background==
The strategic importance of the ability to control navigation along the Hudson River was obvious to both the Americans and the [[United Kingdom|British]] from the outbreak of open hostilities. The Hudson was the major means for transportation of supplies and troops throughout a large portion of the northeast. The fort was constructed at a site noted as early as the seventeenth century for its strategic advantage in controlling navigation along the river.

A month after the first open armed conflict in [[Battle of Lexington and Concord|Lexington]], the [[Continental Congress]] resolved on May 25, 1775 to build fortifications in the Hudson highlands for the purpose of preventing the British from gaining control of the river and dividing the colonies. It noted that "…a post be also taken in the Highlands on each side of Hudson’s River and batteries erected in such a manner as will most effectually prevent any vessels passing that may be sent to harass the inhabitants on the borders of said river…"<ref>[http://www.hudsonrivervalley.net/historicaldocs.php "Congressional Resolution to build forts on the Hudson"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041127222958/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.net/historicaldocs.php |date=2004-11-27 }}, Hudson River Valley</ref>

==Fort Constitution==
[[James Clinton]] and Christopher Tappan, both lifetime residents of the area, were sent to scout appropriate locations. The initial site chosen was further to the north, on Martlaer's Island, across from [[West Point, New York|West Point]]. Plans  for the fort called for four [[bastions]]. Construction of the fortifications began in the summer of 1775. By November it had 70 cannons. However, difficulties in construction and management of the original plan of fortifications, together with escalating costs, led to abandonment of that project. The site on the north side of Popolopen Creek across from [[Anthony's Nose (Westchester)|Anthony's Nose]] was proposed, and in January 1776, the materials and resources from Fort Constitution were redirected to the construction at the new site.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://dmna.ny.gov/forts/fortsA_D/constituitionFort.htm| title = "Fort Constitution", New York State Military Museum}}</ref> Construction began on the new Fort Montgomery in March 1776.

==Fort Montgomery==
[[File:Fort Montgomery barracks.jpg|thumb|Foundation of barracks]]

Fort Montgomery was located at the [[confluence]] of [[Popolopen|Popolopen Creek]] with the [[Hudson River]] near [[Bear_Mountain_(Hudson_Highlands)|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 (see [[Hudson River Chain]]), and landward [[redoubt]]s connected by [[defensive wall|ramparts]], all situated on a cliff promontory rising 100 feet (30 m) above the river. The fort was commanded by General [[George Clinton (vice president)|George Clinton]], also the newly appointed Patriot governor of the State. Fort Montgomery and its companion fortification, the smaller [[Fort Clinton]], on the southern bank of the Popolopen, held a combined garrison of roughly 700 Colonial soldiers. These men were from the 5th NY Regiment, Lamb's Artillery, Orange County Militia, and Ulster County Militia.

The strategic importance of the opposite bank of Popolopen Creek was quickly realized, as it was an elevated cliff terrace with a full view of the Fort Montgomery site and could not be left undefended. These two forts and their associated cannon batteries effectively controlled this stretch of the Hudson River. The Army also conceived a major engineering project to effectively blockade any naval traffic headed north on the river. In 1776 a [[Hudson River Chain|chain and boom]] were built across the river to provide a physical barrier to ships, in addition to the combined firepower of the fortifications, which could be massed against ships.

In July 1776, the New York convention{{Clarify|date=June 2014}} appointed a committee, including [[John Jay]], [[Robert R. Livingston (chancellor)|Robert Livingston]], George Clinton and [[Robert Yates (politician)|Robert Yates]], to "devise and carry into execution" measures for "obstructing the channel of Hudson's river, or annoying the navigation of the said River." Worried about lack of arms, the committee worked to buy more cannons.

==Battle of Fort Montgomery==
{{Main|Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery}}
On October 6, 1777, a combined force of roughly 2,100 [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]], [[Hessian (soldiers)|Hessians]], and British regulars led by Lieutenant General [[Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)|Sir Henry Clinton]] attacked forts Montgomery and Clinton from the landward side (where the defenses were only partially completed). They had support from cannon fire from British ships on the Hudson River that had passed through the [[chevaux de frise]] on the lower river. The land columns attacking from west of the fort consisted of the New York Volunteers, the [[Loyal American Regiment]], Emmerich's Chasseurs, the 57th and the [[52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot|52nd Regiments of Foot]]. By the end of the day, both forts had fallen to the British, who burned the forts and tore down the stonework buildings.

The battle was strategically barren for the British, however. Their campaign against the forts caused delays in reinforcing [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[John Burgoyne]] at [[Saratoga, New York|Saratoga]]. Americans gained the upper hand at the [[Battle of Bemis Heights]] and forced the surrender of Burgoyne ten days later at the [[Battle of Saratoga]], when the reinforcements were still far to the south.

==Historic Site==
[[Image:FTMontgomeryVisitorCenter.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Visitor center, 2008]]
The site was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1972. A system of trails and interpretive signs guides visitors through the ruins of the fort.<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1250&ResourceType=Site|title=Fort Montgomery|date=2007-09-12|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605233742/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1250&ResourceType=Site|archive-date=2011-06-05}}</ref>
Designed by the architect Salvatore Cuciti, the {{convert|5700|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Visitor Center opened in October 2006. The timber frame building is oriented to provide visitors with a "gun sight" view down the Hudson. Operated as a state museum, it contains artifacts from the site, mannequins representing military units and a detailed model of the fort.

==See also==
{{Portal|Hudson Valley}}
* [[Bear Mountain State Park]]
* [[List of National Historic Landmarks in New York]]
* [[List of New York State Historic Sites]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Further reading===
*Fisher, C. (2004). ''The Most Advantageous Situation in the Highlands: An Archaeological Study of Fort Montgomery State Historic Site'', Cultural Resources Survey Program Series No. 2, New York State Museum.  {{ISBN|1-55557-174-3}}
*Roberts, R. (1980). ''New York's Forts in the Revolution'', Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. {{ISBN|0-8386-2063-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/28/details.aspx Fort Montgomery State Historic Site], NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081011191544/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/books/popolopen.pdf Twin Forts of the Popolopen], Hudson River Valley website
*[https://palisadesparksconservancy.org/historic_detail.php?historic_id=3 "Fort Montgomery"], Palisades Park Conservancy

{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}}
{{Protected areas of New York}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1776]]
[[Category:Infrastructure completed in 1776]]
[[Category:Forts in New York (state)|Montgomery (Hudson River)]]
[[Category:New York (state) historic sites]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Orange County, New York]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 9W]]
[[Category:Hudson River]]
[[Category:American Revolutionary War forts|Montgomery (Hudson River)]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Museums in Orange County, New York]]
[[Category:Ruins on the National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:American Revolutionary War museums in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Highlands, New York]]
[[Category:Parks in Orange County, New York]]
[[Category:Forts on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)|Montgomery (Hudson River)]]
[[Category:American Revolution on the National Register of Historic Places]]