NJ History Nerd Tour #7 ... Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, Fort Montgomery, NY, 6Jul-23

NJ Nerd Tour #7...Fort Montgomery State Historic Site Tour 

Thursday, July 6, 2023, Gary Link, John Dyksen, Bill Bogertman, Susan Serico (North Haledon Public Library Director) and Mark Yost.

Located on 690 route 9W, Fort Montgomery, NY, almost literally next door (1.3 miles away) to the Bear Mountain Bridge (built in 1923 and celebrating the 100th anniversary), spanning the Hudson River.  Our weather was very, very warm with hot, hazy sunshine and high temperatures.

CONTEXT:

Major General Richard Montgomery was an American General killed during the battle of Quebec on December 31, 1775, fighting with General Benedict Arnold. This Fort, and that of Fort Montgomery on the Canada/USA border on Lake Champlain, NY/VT was named after Major General Richard Montgomery 1738-1775. 

A day after the battle and British capture of Forts Clinton and Montgomery, the British received word of their humiliating loss to the Americans at Saratoga on October 7, 1775.  Add this to the context of battles during and after this one:

• Battle of Peekskill, NY on March 23, 1777 (also where the Fort Montgomery chain connected to the Hudson's eastern shore)
• American victory at the Battle of Germantown, PA on October 4, 1777
• American defeat and burning of Kingston, NY on October 16, 1777 (Kingston, NY was the capital of New York State at the time)
• American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine Creek, PA on September 11, 1777
• American victory at the battle at Stony Point, NY on July 16, 1779

The battle at Fort Montgomery between the British Army under Sir Henry Clinton and American Militia and Continentals under brother General George Clinton (Governor of New York State) and Colonel James Clinton, happened on October 7, 1777. (aka "the battle of the Clintons"). The British landed over 2,000 troops on the Hudson River, south of the Forts at Stoney Point, NY. They marched north by northwest and split at Doodletown, NY with 1,100 troops following the Hudson River to attack Fort Clinton and a second group of 900 troops travelling north, northwest, to attack Fort Montgomery from the west. General Putnam was in Peekskill, NY with 50 soldiers meant to slow any approach from the east.

(British casualties were 41 killed and 142 wounded. The Americans had 26 officers and 237 enlisted men captured and about 75 killed and wounded apart from wounded prisoners; most of them from the garrison of Fort Clinton. The Americans were also forced to destroy several boats in the area, as unfavorable winds prevented them from escaping upriver.) 

Fort Montgomery

Fort Clinton

I arrived at 9:50, then Gary, John and Yost;  Susan came shortly thereafter. After 10:00am, Docent Peter took us around the indoor Museum until 11:05 am, and took us from maps to each site display.  He gave us the background of the British Strategy, then to the maps of Forts Clinton and Montgomery and then to each of the artifact displays. 

Map of British Attack

At around 11:00am, we then went outside to walk the Fort grounds until we returned around 12:30.  The Fort and battleground is effectively cut in half by NY Rt 9W. 

We had lunch outdoors in the shade (outdoor temperatures were hot and humid, with highs of 90-94 degrees F), lunch until around 1:00pm, then Peter demonstrated and shot the British Brown Bess, a .69 caliber musket around 1:10 or so, then off to 15 minute movie about the battle until 1:30.  Left for home at 1:45 or so.

Bill's NOTES of Indoor Museum:

Forts Clinton and Montgomery were planned in defense of the Hudson River to prevent the British from controlling the entire River, from New York City up into Lake Champlain. Nothing except a small redoubt remains of Fort Clinton. And similar to the defense of West Point, located 5 miles up river, a chain would be placed across the river to prevent ships from advancing.

Fort Montgomery was 130 feet on high cliffs on the narrowest point of the Hudson River between Albany and New York City, a natural chokepoint. During the early stages of the Revolutionary War, especially during 1776 and 1777, there was a great need to secure the Hudson River since it was a north-south means of communications, travel, military transport and supplies.  The east-west routes were more necessary for provisions and north-south routes for protection and transport.  See the map... British plans included a north to south attack, a south to north attack. Since the mountain directly south of Fort Montgomery was higher, there was a need to control that mountain as well, hence Fort Clinton was built, with the Popolopen Creek in between the ridges.

British Strategy 1777; pincers along Hudson River, Clinton north, 
Burgoyne south down Lake Champlain, St. Leger south from
St. Lawrence River.

This Fort Montgomery site consists of 14.5 acres, saved from destruction in 1972 by Governor George Pataki.  

During the battle, 300-350 American soldiers were holding it. The British attacked with 900 soldiers coming from the west.  

Don't forget, the British split their forces with some attacking Fort Clinton and some Fort Montgomery.  The Americans also constructed a large iron cable across the Hudson River which hung on floating, wooden log rafts and hung under the water 5-6 feet, all to prevent any shipping form sailing north.  After the British loss at Saratoga, NY, General Clinton left with 5k troops to help General Burgoyne's situation, but too late to affect the battle.  

And in January 1778, West Point was fortified and another large chain was stretched across the Hudson River, similar to what what was done at Fort Montgomery.

The Americans neglected the western approaches to their redoubts and Fort and that's where the British attacked.  They disembarked at Stony Point, then split forces to attack Fort Clinton from the Hudson River approaches east of Bear Mountain, through Doodletown, NY and Fort Montgomery from the northern approaches of Bear Mountain.  Up to 500 Loyalists fought against their neighbors during the battle, which ended with about half of all Americans KIA, MIA or WIA.

We saw two legitimate, iron chain links that were actually used.  The chain was installed in the spring of 1777, probably iron ore smelted and made in Ringwood, NJ mines.  The West Point chain across the Hudson River was made from ore from Sterling Forest, NY mines.

Bill's NOTES of outdoor Walking Tour of Battlefield grounds:

At 11:05 Docent Peter took us outside to tour the southern side of the Fort along NY Rt 9W, over the Popolopen Bridge.  We walked the Old Fort Road to the ruins.

    D. Enlisted Men's Barracks Ruin - the first stop was at the 2 story, stone and wood barracks remains where 160 solders were billeted.  The two glassy Liberty cufflinks were found nearby.  The Officer's barracks were discovered next to the soldier barracks.  There were RevWar era, reddish brown bricks strewn all around, buried by the destroyed fireplace.

    F. North Redoubt ruins - Docent Peter stopped here to explain about the battle's 

    G. Main Barracks Ruin - told the story of Hugh Morison, 8 year old boy with his Regiment Surgeon and MD Doctor Dad Robert Morison, tending the wounded here, who both escaped after the British Redoubt bayonet charge.  They escaped from the barracks down a small ravine, into the Hudson River and then across the Hudson River to safety. From the historical marker...

 

Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 6, 2022

1. The Escape Marker

Inscription. 
THE ESCAPE - As darkness fell and the Battle of Fort Montgomery reached its horrific climax in October of 1777, terrified American defenders were driven from their fort at the points of the enemy bayonets, fleeing for their lives. They clambered down the 120 feet of steep, rock-strewn terrain to the river, hoping that friendly boats awaited to convey them to safety on the far shore. Finding none available, they had to swim.

One of those who fled was Hugh Morrison, assistant to his father Robert, who was a surgeon's mate in the 5th New York Regiment. Many years after the war Hugh reported he "was employed by his Father... preparing bandages in order to dress the wounds of those wounded & brought into the Hospital, while in the act of his duty aforesaid, a ball from the Enemy penetrated through the side of the Hospital & wounded [him] on his head, the ball made a deep incision, he fell, his Father took him up and dressed his wound, it was a flesh wound & he returned to his duties as aforesaid, until the time the fort was surrendered to the enemy, when those who could, made their escape. His Father directed him to escape and follow him but was separated from his Father at the River. He swam the river above the chain...& arrived safe on the East side of the river."    — Hugh Morrison was 8 years old at the time.  Painting by John R. Wright, 2019

    H. Native American Rock Shelter - Two very large rocks with a small shelter underneath. Archeological digs have unearthed arrowheads, Indian artifacts as well as where the Lemnhi Indians ate shad, sturgeon and striped bass. (Moan-aht-see tribe)

    I. Soldier's Necessary Ruin - stone lined pit latrine.

    J. Guard House Ruin - a two-room wood and stone building where soldiers who were being disciplined were kept "under guard" until released.  It also served as a place for military courts-marshal.

    K. Powder Magazine Ruin - where the main gun and musket power was kept for safekeeping. Docent Pete said that in the ruins archeologists discovered small pipes, "so some knucklehead soldiers were actually smoking inside or nearby the magazine."

    L. Grand Battery Reconstruction - Replicas of a 12 and 32 pound cannon here to protect the Fort from River ships. There were as many as six or eight of these large cannon here to prevent enemy ships from travelling up river.

    M. Putnam's Battery 1779 - built after the battle as part of the early warning system and to guard against enemy shipping ascending upriver.

The entire area surrounding the Forts was very scarce of population and was mostly Dutch Scots-Irish farmlands with larger towns of New Windsor, Haverstraw and Highland Falls in the vicinity.

During the naval battle, the outcropping directly across from the Forts was known as "Anthony's nose" from Dutch folklore and local history.

The Lady Washington was a small, oared frigate/galley that fought courageously for the Americans, but was outnumbered by England's larger warships. She defended the chain and after the loss of the Forts, rowed/sailed away up to Kingston, NY.

Peter likes to say that the battles here at Forts Clinton and Montgomery were 2 "speed bumps" that helped the American victory at Saratoga, NY. This was due to the number of British troops used and the fact that British General Clinton could uses his forces to reinforce General Burgoyne's attack in Saratoga. 

Lunch and Brown Bess musket demonstration afterwards:

Docent Pete demonstrated the handling and use of the British Brown Bess musket, shooting a .69 caliber ball.  He loaded and shot the musket outside the museum, with no ball, but just black powder.

Movie

A good 15 minute review of what we learned about the battle and battlefield as well as the main British and American Generals and the soldiers.

SUMMARY

All in all a great RevWar site visit and learning about a very critical battle.  A very small but learning-packed museum and short background movie.  And learning with History Nerds is always a plus! 

From the Internet... New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation...

Fort Montgomery was the scene of a fierce Revolutionary War battle for control of the Hudson River. Visitors today can tour the remains of the 14-acre fortification, perched on a cliff overlooking the magnificent Hudson. On October 6, 1777, British, Loyalist and Hessian forces attacked Fort Montgomery and nearby Fort Clinton. The defending American Patriots, outnumbered 3 to 1, fought desperately until driven out of their forts at the points of the enemy bayonets. More than half of the Patriot forces were killed, wounded or captured.

Visitors can learn about this important military post at the site's museum, which showcases original artifacts and weapons, large scale models of the fort and the attack, highly detailed mannequins frozen in poses of battle, and an action packed fifteen minute movie of the 1777 assault. Archeologists have revealed many of Fort Montgomery's remains, including stone foundations of barracks, the gunpowder magazine and eroded redoubt walls. There is a spectacular view of the Hudson River from the Grand Battery, where reproduction cannon stand guard and are occasionally fired by the fort's staff. The past comes alive at Fort Montgomery with living history demonstrations of artillery, musketry, music and camp life activities.

From the Website: In the Hour of Their Country's Trial: The Battle of Fort Montgomery, October 6, 1777

Fort Montgomery's museum exhibits include original items excavated here in 1967-71, associated artifacts from museum collections, large scale models of the fort and highly detailed mannequins frozen in poses of battle. Together they tell us about the people who lived and fought here. The artifacts have been divided into three categories: those representing the weapons used here, those revealing the material culture of the soldiers, and those related to the building and destruction of the fort.

The Combatants
Sergeant, British 52nd Regiment of Foot
This infantryman is in the act of loading his fusil, a short, light-weight musket carried by sergeants and officers. His uniform consists of a red regimental coat with buff facings and white buttonhole lace, buff waistcoat and breeches, and black half-gaiters over his shoes to keep out stones and dirt. In addition to the silver lace on his black cocked hat, his rank is indicated by the sash around his waist and hanger, or short sword at his side.
Private, Loyal American Regiment, attached to Emmerich's Chasseurs

The chasseurs (sharpshooters) consisted of 100 troops drawn from five Loyalist regiments. In 1777, all Loyalist units were clothed in green regimental uniform coats with white facings, white wool breeches and waistcoat, and a black cocked hat trimmed with white tape and a black military cockade. This particular chasseur is dressed in a non-regulation coat that has been shortened for ease of movement through rough terrain. His hat has likewise been cut down in size. He is taking aim with a rifle, a much more accurate weapon than the usual military musket of the era.

Privates, Ulster County Militia and 5th New York Regiment
The militia was not a component of the regular Continental Army. Instead, it consisted of local citizens who were called into service in an emergency by their state governments, and usually for a short term. Thus, the militiaman on the left wears a civilian coat, vest, and breeches. He is carrying a British Long Land Pattern 1742 musket, probably obtained from a pre-war British arsenal. He assists a wounded private from the 5th New York Regiment. Authorized by the Continental Congress in November 1776, the 5th recruited men from Ulster and Orange Counties. This soldier's brown regimental coat with blue facings is adorned with buttons bearing a joined "NY" emblem. His vest has buttons marked "USA." Suffering from a wounded leg, he leans on his French Model 1728 musket, one of the thousands of weapons secretly supplied to the Patriots by France in 1777.

Weapons of War
Objects dropped or discarded at Fort Montgomery provide archeologists and historians with a wealth of knowledge about military equipment, uniforms, and activities. Gun parts and musket balls reveal the types of weapons employed by both British and American forces. Buttons indicate military units and the clothing of some of the participants. They even show that some British uniforms had been captured and were being worn by American troops. Wherever possible, archeological artifacts from Fort Montgomery are shown close to corresponding locations on complete original weapons of the period. British, French and American muskets are displayed as well as swords, bayonets and artillery projectiles.

A City in the Wilderness: Food Vessels
The types of food vessels found in the officers' and enlisted men's quarters reveal differences in social status between the two groups of men. Lead-glazed, slip-decorated buff earthen-wares were old-fashioned, utilitarian vessels used for food storage and preparation and for liquid-based foods, such as soups and stews. These wares were found in greatest numbers in the enlisted men's barracks. Creamware and white-glazed stoneware were a more refined type of ware, consisting of flat plates in matched sets used for serving individual portions of meat, such as slices from a roast, that required the use of a knife and fork while sitting at a table. These white-toned ceramics were found in higher proportions in the officers' quarters. Here visitors may view porcelain and salt-glazed stoneware items, case bottles, buff earthenware platters and bowls and a number of posset pots.

A City in the Wilderness: Personal Items
Fort Montgomery was a bustling community of hundreds of people. Soldiers, laborers, merchants, families, servants, and slaves lived at or visited the fort. Ships and boats arriving and departing added to the atmosphere of a small city. The inhabitants of the fort worked, cooked, baked bread, butchered meat, mended clothing, fished, ate, got sick, took medicine, smoked, drank tea, drank wine, drank punch, wrote letters, entertained themselves and each other with music and games of chance, and slept—all activities that went on in the villages and farms from which they came. Items on display in this case include clay pipe fragments, bone handled forks, pins, jaw harps, coins, buckles, spoons, cuff links, buttons, and animal bones.

Built and Destroyed
The construction of Fort Montgomery began early in 1776, and it fell to the British in battle on October 6, 1777. The British occupied the fort for a few days and then razed it before moving on. They destroyed the iron chain, burned the buildings, knocked down the chimneys, carried off or sank the guns, blew up the powder magazine, and took anything else of value with them. What remained were burned-out foundations and tumbled-down earthworks. The variety of burnt items on display serve as a testament to the thoroughness of the fort's destruction. Also on display here is a link of Fort Montgomery's chain, raised from the river bottom by fishermen in 1861.

In Pursuit of Fragile Liberty
Two of the smallest yet most important objects found during the archeological excavations at Fort Montgomery were these delicate jewels from a cuff link, impressed with the word "LIBERTY." Similar examples were found at a Continental Army barracks site in northern Manhattan and may ironically have their origins in the "Wilkes and Liberty" movement of pre-war Britain. Transplanted to America and worn by an American soldier during the battle, they would have symbolized the resolute hope of Fort Montgomery's defenders.

MISCELLANEOUS:

1. Ed Lenock, speaker and author talking at North Haledon Library next week.

2. BillB read Tories-Fighting For the King In America's First Civil War, by Thomas B. Allen. 

3. Learned about Beverly Robinson, a Loyalist and Tory who fought for the British here.

3. Thomas Machen, American engineer?

4. I left at 8:55am and got home at 2:30pm.

 

DEDICATION:

This post/issue is dedicated to James Aupperlee, a Charter member and participant to the NJ History NERD Tours #1 at Morristown, NJ on December 5, 2018, Tour #2 at Paterson/Garfield/Passaic on February 14, 2019 and Tour #3 at Bergen County-Wyckoff Reformed Church+ Baylor Massacre on May 22, 2019. 

Jim went to be with his Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2023 and is now face-to-face with his HIS-torian!  He was a great friend, husband, father and grandfather, a great reader and lover of history and a very humble learner.  (Refer to pictures of Jim at the Paterson Museum Mineral and Gem display case from Prospect Park, NJ as well as Jim next to the "Post Ford" monument in Passaic, NJ. John Post was Jim's mother's great grandfather).