BGuthrie Photos: NY -- West Point Military Academy -- Fort Putnam

NY -- West Point Military Academy -- Fort Putnam:

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. PUTNAM_160917_013.JPG: Fort Putnam Fort Putnam was the key defensive work in West Point's fortified zone during the American Revolution. It was constructed in 1778 by soldiers of the 5th Massachusetts Regiment and named for the Regimental Commander, Colonel Rufus Putnam. Fort Putman was built to protect Fort Clinton (originally Fort Arnold) from inland attack. In 1780, Benedict Arnold described it as follows: "Fort Putman, stone, wanting great repairs. Wall on the east side broke down, and rebuilding from the foundation. At the west and south side have been a chevaux-de-frise; on the west side broke in many places. The east side open; two bomb proofs and provision magazine in the fort, and a slight wooden barrack." The fort, as it stands today, is a composite of many eras. In 1794, it was enlarged and the casemates were added. In 1909, it was restored to its present general condition as a war monument. The 1909 restoration approximated the 1794 fort. In 1975 – 1976, during the Bicentennial of the American Revolution, Fort Putman was partially restored and refurbished to serve as a center for the interpretation of the military history of the Hudson Highlands and West Point during the Revolution. The work was done in great part through the generosity of Mrs. Albert J. Bowley, wife of Lieutenant General Albert J. Bowley, Class of 1897; Colonel Henry C. McLean, Class of 1912; the Class of 1952; the West Point Fund; and with the help and support of the West Point community, faculty and students associated with Temple University, and several civilian contractors. The historical displays inside Fort Putnam have been designed to explain the military history of the region and to emphasize the importance of the West Point fortifications and the local terrain in the American Revolution. Reproduced artillery and mortars have been emplaced to show the approximate complement in 1780. In addition, at several points on the parapets (protective walls on the ramparts) plaques have been placed to identify the many other forts, redoubts (small enclosed works used to fortify hilltops, passes, etc.), and batteries (works in which guns and mortars are placed) which formed "Fortress West Point" from 1775 to 1783.
2. PUTNAM_160917_019.JPG: Fort Putnam Built in 1778 by Colonel Rufus Putnam's Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry Rebuilt and enlarged 1794 Restored 1909
3. PUTNAM_160917_028.JPG: Artillery and Mortars The artillery and mortars in Fort Putnam are reproductions of pieces which were in the fort in September 1780. All fourteen pieces were manufactured through the generosity of the Class of 1952, United States Military Academy, 1974-1976.
4. PUTNAM_160917_037.JPG: Casemates Constructed in 1794 after the American Revolution, these casemates were probably intended as living quarters for soldiers, storage areas, and possibly as cells for prisoners. A casemate is defined as an armored compartment or bombproof built under the rampart. On top of the casemates, cannon would have been positioned, probably en barbette (without parapets) to fire in support of other forts or against enemy attackers. The restoration of these casemates in 1909 apparently followed the 1794 style because at least two were still in good condition. However, because of the height of the outside walls, the placement of the loop-holes, and the surrounding territory, it is unlikely that the casemates were designed and used as fighting or firing locations. In 1975-1976, during the Bicentennial of the American Revolution, the casemates were waterproofed and refurbished and some were modified to accept historical displays about West Point in the Revolution. Additionally, gun platforms were constructed and installed on top of the casemates along with safety railings. Earth removed from the top of the casemates was used to level part of the south central section of Fort Putnam. Finally, one historical display was placed in the first casemate. The casemates were partially restored through the generosity of Mrs. Albert J. Bowley, wife of Lieutenant General Albert J. Bowley, Class of 1897, United States Military Academy, 1975-1976.
5. PUTNAM_160917_045.JPG: Revolutionary War Fortiﬁcations Fortifications were constructed with the most readily available materials: earth, stone and wood. Forts, redoubts and batteries were normally built with a dry masonry stone foundation topped with some combination of earth, fascines (bundles of sticks) and logs. Forts and redoubts were enclosed works with artillery storage areas and often some shelter for soldiers; Batteries were fortifications open to the rear and used for artillery placement only.
6. PUTNAM_160917_068.JPG: Constitution Island The first location of fortifications in Fortress West Point was on the island across the river. Patriot Bernard Romans, Dutch engineer, began building a Grand Bastion on Martelaer's Rock (renamed Constitution Island) in 1775. Poorly sited, it was never completed; although four batteries and three redoubts were eventually built. The island was important for defense of the river and the Great Chain.
7. PUTNAM_160917_071.JPG: Constitution Island Redoubts Redoubts 5, 6 and 7 were built between 1776 and 1779 to protect Constitution Island batteries and overland approaches. Redoubt 5 (on high ground to right of Warner House) was built in 1779 to protect the island's eastern side and back of Gravel Hill (Greaton's) Battery; Redoubt 6 (at center of island, behind Warner House) was built in 1779 in line over Roman's Battery; and Redoubt 7 (west end of island), built in 1778 on the highest point of Constitution Island, protected the rear of Marine and Gravel Hill Batteries.
8. PUTNAM_160917_077.JPG: McLean Historical Museum Building Constructed in 1975 on top of a 1909 structure, the McLean Historical Museum Building was modeled after the Revolutionary War officer's hut and "The Temple" located at the New Windsor Cantonment (12 miles north of West Point) and designed as a type of barracks building which could have stood in Fort Putnam. Historical records indicate that in 1780 there was a "slight wooden barrack" in the fort. The museum building contains historical and archeological displays portraying the military history of the Hudson Highlands and West Point, 1775-1783, and a special terrain model which explains the history in sound and light. The building was constructed through the generosity of Colonel Henry Charles McLean, Class of 1912 United States Military Academy, 1975.
9. PUTNAM_160917_083.JPG: The Mystery of Ft. Putnam What did Fort Putnam look like in 1778? In 1783? In 1794? Where was the cistern? Where were the small barracks buildings? How high were the walls? Where were the cannon placed? Where were the casemates or bombproofs? To help solve these mysteries, archaeologists from Temple University investigated key areas inside the fort in 1973 and 1974. In 1780, Fort Putnam was probably smaller than it was in 1794. Historical records -- particular Major David Niven's report -- reveal that the casemates on the east were constructed in 1794. In 1974, archaeologists located an apparent older interior wall several feet inside the fort. This discovery supports a hypothesis that the original eastern wall was inside the present wall. 1837: In 1837, Seth Eastman drew this plan of Fort Putnam. It is the finest old plan in existence and shows several features which are part of the 1909 restoration: the configuration of the walls. The entrance, the casemates, the epaulment, a central structure, and the raised gun position on the north wall. The Eastman drawing reflects the 1794 restoration and probably was used its guide the 1909 restoration.
10. PUTNAM_160917_086.JPG: A View from Fort Putnam: This 1798 picture of Fort Putnam shows a tower, an embrasure, and a cannon in the northern sector of the fort, but it mainly shows the majestic panorama upriver. Such views are typical -- they emphasize the Hudson Highlands and present few details of Fort Putnam. Therefore, they add to the technical mystery of the fort. Barracks Building: This artist's conception of Fort Putnam in 1783 -- at the close of the American Revolution -- shows a barracks inside the fort. Such a structure seems too large for the fortification and does not corroborate the written descriptions of the day. The out-of-scale drawing -- also typical -- adds to the mystery of Fort Putnam. Western Wall??? John Hinncks, an historical unknown, sketched the western wall of Fort Putnam in 1783. His work confuses more than it enlightens because Hinncks shows casemates or bombproofs on the west side of the fort and indicates that the western wall was 47.5 feet high. Although American officers desired to construct a high wall on the west side to protect the garrison from possible fire from Redoubt 4, Hinncks' dimensions seem incredible! This drawing also adds to the mystery of the fort.
11. PUTNAM_160917_088.JPG: Gun Embrasure: In 1973, archaeologists discovered an 18th century wall on the north side of the fort. They also found an original gun embrasure just below the surface of the ground. This embrasure shows that the fort's stone walls are probably about three feet too high today. It also shows that the 1909 embrasure was placed according to other structural evidences.
12. PUTNAM_160917_090.JPG: Gun Embrasure: This embrasure was the most important discovery of the 1973 archaeological survey. The cross-section shows the relationship between the original embrasure and the 1909 wall. An historical plaque marks the site now; a platform with a cannon rests on the approximate level of the original embrasure.
13. PUTNAM_160917_094.JPG: 1973-1974: The general locations of the 1973 and 1974 archaeological investigations are superimposed on this 1972 photograph of Fort Putnam. Designed to find any evidence of the western wall and interior construction, the investigations uncovered several structures. These discoveries led to the conclusions that: Seth Eastman's 1837 drawing reflected the fort in 1794; an interior building or buildings did exist in the central part of the fort; the present walls are probably about three feet too high; and that Fort Putnam was smaller in 1778 than it was in 1794 and it is today.
14. PUTNAM_160917_095.JPG: Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger 1737-1789 Commander, British Diversion
15. PUTNAM_160917_097.JPG: General Sir William Howe 1729-1814 British Commander-in-Chief, 1775-1778
16. PUTNAM_160917_100.JPG: General Sir Henry Clinton 1738-1794 British Commander-in-Chief, 1778-1782
17. PUTNAM_160917_103.JPG: Lieutenant General John Burgoyne 1722-1792 Commander, Northern Offensive
18. PUTNAM_160917_108.JPG: Colonel Beverly Robinson 1721-1792 American Loyalist
19. PUTNAM_160917_109.JPG: Major General Benedict Arnold 1741-1801 American Traitor
20. PUTNAM_160917_115.JPG: Historic Fort Putnam A Relic of the American Revolution [Red -- Trace of Fort Putnam] [Blue -- Renovation]
21. PUTNAM_160917_122.JPG: Fort Putnam's Flag
22. PUTNAM_160917_128.JPG: Where did the Soldiers Sleep?
23. PUTNAM_160917_162.JPG: Beverly Robinson House
24. PUTNAM_160917_178.JPG: Western Redoubts 1, 2, 3 and 4 General Washington ordered the fortification of hills to the south and west of Fort Putnam because they dominated Fort Putnam and made it vulnerable to attack. Redoubt 1 with two batteries (hill south of Michie Stadium) guarded the main approach to West Point along the river; Redoubt 2 with one battery (hill southwest of Michie Stadium) protected inland approaches; Redoubt 3 with one battery (west of Redoubt 4) was built to protect western approaches to West Point; and Redoubt 4 with one battery (highest hill, center west) was the most critical to Fort Putnam's defense. Partially restored in 1974, Redoubt 4 can be seen on the hilltop to the west and can be reached from Fort Putnam by a small trail. The western redoubts added considerable strength and depth to the American position.
25. PUTNAM_160917_185.JPG: Redoubt 4
26. PUTNAM_160917_201.JPG: Bronze Field Guns Replicas of two English 6 pounder guns and one French 4 pounder gun are mounted on field carriages and in place along the north and west wall. Field guns could be moved to cover a larger field of fire. These and other cannon and mortars were placed according to drawings by Revolutionary War Engineer Lieutenant Louis-Alexandre Berthier and according to a 1974 evaluation of the avenues of approach into the West Point area.
27. PUTNAM_160917_209.JPG: Original Embrasure In this location in 1974, archeologists uncovered what appeared to be an original embrasure (an opening in the parapet to permit the firing of cannon). Excavations also revealed evidence of earlier walls or stone supports for gun platforms. This embrasure supports the supposition that guns were placed here to cover the best infantry approach to Fort Putnam from the north.
28. PUTNAM_160917_217.JPG: Archeology, 1974 In 1974, archeologists from Temple University excavated this general area. They found evidence of a partially completed building, building supplies and traces of earlier walls, as well as smaller artifacts, including three cannon balls. The archeologists searched for a Revolutionary War cistern reported to be in this area, but found nothing.
29. PUTNAM_160917_243.JPG: West Point Chain, 1778-1782
30. PUTNAM_160917_249.JPG: Colonel Rufus Putnam 1738-1824 Builder of Fort Putnam
31. PUTNAM_160917_251.JPG: Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko 1746-1817 Chief Engineer at West Point, 1779-1780
32. PUTNAM_160917_254.JPG: Major General Israel Putnam 1718-1790 Commander in the Hudson Highlands
33. PUTNAM_160917_257.JPG: Brigadier General James Clinton 1733-1821 Builder of Fort Clinton
34. PUTNAM_160917_260.JPG: Brigadier General George Clinton 1739-1812 War Governor of New York
35. PUTNAM_160917_262.JPG: Major General Louis Duportail 1743-1802 Chief Engineer, Continental Army
36. PUTNAM_160917_268.JPG: Redoubt 5
37. PUTNAM_160917_270.JPG: Redoubt 6
38. PUTNAM_160917_276.JPG: View of West Point: Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French officer who served in the Continental Army as an Engineer, drew this panorama of West Point from the hills east of modern Garrison in late 1782. All of the key forts and redoubts can be identified on this remarkable work. L'Enfant is best known for his plan of Washington DC. The West Point Chain: The great iron chain was stretched across the Hudson from a small cove north of Fort Clinton to a small cove near Marine Battery on Constitution Island. "Washignton's watch chain," as it was dubbed by the continental soldiers, was last removed from the river in the fall of 1781 and was not emplaced again. This landscape drawing was probably rendered in 1782; therefore, the chain is not present.
39. PUTNAM_160917_281.JPG: Fort Clinton: Fort Clinton, originally named Fort Arnold, was constructed in 1778 as the principal defensive work to protect the chain from any inland attack. Located on the east edge of the West Point plain, its cannon also covered the river, the batteries below, the chain, and dominated Constitution Island.
40. PUTNAM_160917_286.JPG: Fort Putnam: Fort Putnam, on Crown Hill, built in 1778 and restored in 1909 and again in 1975, was considered the key defensive position in the network of West Points fortifications. Its cannon covered the landward approaches to Fort Clinton, Sherbourne's Redoubt, Fort Webb, Fort Wyllys, and Battery Meigs. If the British had captured Fort Putnam, they would have commanded virtually all of West Point.
41. PUTNAM_160917_297.JPG: Redoubt 4: Redoubt 4, designed by Tadeusz Kosciuszko and built in 1779, was one of the many smaller fortifications, which protected Fort Putnam and Fort Clinton. It stood on Rocky Hill where it overlooked both of the larger forts. If the British had seized Redoubt 4, they would have been able to fire into Fort Putnam, and perhaps render that key position defenseless.
42. PUTNAM_160917_303.JPG: HMS Vulture: The HMS Vulture, commanded by Captain Andrew Sutherland, was a 300 ton British sloop-of-war, and operated on the Hudson River during the American Revolution. On 21 September 1780, it brought Major John Andre upriver for a rendezvous with Benedict Arnold, and just a few days later, following Andre's capture, it took Arnold south to the British lines and safety.
43. PUTNAM_160917_307.JPG: Fort Wyllys
44. PUTNAM_160917_311.JPG: Battery Meigs
45. PUTNAM_160917_314.JPG: Redoubt 2
46. PUTNAM_160917_316.JPG: Redoubt 1
47. PUTNAM_160917_318.JPG: West Point: The plain and surrounding hills of West Point were an undeveloped wilderness at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Contemporary descriptions portray a desperate place. General Parson described his difficult days in February, 1778: You ask me where I can be found? This is a puzzling question; the Camp is at a Place on Hudson's River called West Point, opposite where Fort Constitution once stood. The situation is past Description, surrounded with almost inaccessible Mountains, and craggy Rocks which overtop the highest Hills, at present covered with Piles of Snow... 'tis as beautiful as Sharon, but affords to a Man who loves the Society of the World a prospect nearly allied to the Shades of Death; here I am to be found at present in what Situation of Mind you will easily imagine... News arrived here by Accident... From 1778 until the end of the war, West Point and its dependencies would be continuously garrisoned by several thousand soldiers who were constantly engaged in building the fortifications and structures now known as Fortress West Point.
48. PUTNAM_160917_377.JPG: Sherburne's Redoubt In 1778, Colonel Sherburne's regiment built this redoubt near present trophy point to cover the back approach to Fort Arnold, western approaches to the Plain and northern approaches to Fort Putnam. No trace of the redoubt exists today.
49. PUTNAM_160917_380.JPG: Fort Arnold Fort Arnold was renamed Fort Clinton following Benedict Arnold's treason. It was the main fortification at West Point. Situated at the tip of the Plain overlooking the Hudson River, Fort Arnold, containing 12 cannon, 11 mortars and supported by four riverline batteries, dominated the sharp bend in the Hudson River and protected the Great Chain. Over 620 soldiers, excluding artillerymen, were needed to man the fort.
50. PUTNAM_160917_383.JPG: Fort Putnam Fort Putnam was designed to protect other fortifications at West Point from overland attack . . . not to fire on enemy ships sailing up the Hudson River; thus, it was a key fortification in West Point's defensive zone. Situated on Crown Hill, 500 feet above sea-level, Fort Putnam had a commanding view of the West Point Plain where Fort Arnold and its batteries (center) and Sherburne's Redoubt (left) were located. Forts Webb, Wyllys and Meigs (below right on the hill beyond Lusk Reservoir) were also under Fort Putnam's protection. No trees obstructed views to these other fortifications during the Revolutionary War. Over 420 soldiers, excluding artillerymen, were needed to man Fort Putnam.
51. PUTNAM_160917_386.JPG: Cannon Cannon displayed along the southeast parapet are replicas of original garrison 12 and 18 pounder muzzleloading cannon reported in the fort in 1780. Although capable of firing up to 2,000 yards (the river shoreline is between 900 and 1,400 yards from Fort Putnam), these cannon were to be used for short-range firing to protect fortifications below from overland attack.
52. PUTNAM_160917_392.JPG: North and South Redoubts In 1779, Major General Heath supervised construction of South (Middle) and North Redoubts (located across the river and east of the Town of Garrison). Both were designed to prevent British control of eastern approaches to West Point and Constitution Island. Washington was probably inspecting South Redoubt when Benedict Arnold, learning of Major Andre's capture, fled from his headquarters at the Beverly Robinson House.
53. PUTNAM_160917_397.JPG: Artillery Blind This stone structure was probably an artillery blind or epaulment (a breastwork to cover troops in front and sometimes in flank) constructed in 1794 to protect gunners from fire from redoubt 4 on Rocky Hill just west and above Fort Putnam. This area of the fort is clearly visible from the Redoubt.
54. PUTNAM_160917_399.JPG: The Beverly Robinson House General Benedict Arnold established his headquarters in the Beverly Robinson House (southeast across the river near water tower) while in command at West Point. Arnold was in the house when he learned that his treason was exposed. Fleeing quickly to the river, Arnold escaped while General Washington was enroute to meet Arnold at the house for breakfast. A plaque on highway 9D marks the original location.
55. PUTNAM_160917_405.JPG: Forts Webb, Wyllys and Meigs In 1778, three forts were built by Connecticut regiments on the ridgeline east of Fort Putnam. They covered the low ground approach to Fort Arnold along the river, the ridgeline itself, and the low ground between Fort Putnam and the ridge. Fort Putnam protected all three forts.
AAA "Gem": AAA considers this location to be a "must see" point of interest. To see pictures of other areas that AAA considers to be Gems, click here.
Wikipedia Description: Fort Putnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fort Putnam was a military garrison during the Revolutionary War at West Point, New York, United States. Built by a regiment of Colonel Rufus Putnam's 5th Massachusetts Regiment, it was completed in 1778 with the purpose of supporting Fort Clinton, which sat on the edge of the Hudson River about a 3/4 of a mile away. The fort was rebuilt and enlarged in 1794 before falling into disuse and disrepair as the military garrison at West Point became obsolete in the early mid-19th century. It underwent a major preservation as a historical site in 1909, and has been continually in the process of preservation since. Sitting at an altitude of 500 feet above sea level, it was West Point's largest garrison during the Revolutionary War. The Fort is under the supervision of the West Point Museum Director, David M. Reel and is operated by the United States Army Garrison, West Point. Access to the Fort is seasonal and as summer staff are available.

Construction

In 1778, Gen. Alexander McDougall wrote, "Genl. Parson, Clinton and Col. Delaradiere went with me to View the Rock & Crown Hills in the rear of our works..."(Fort Clinton). Tadeusz Kościuszko convinced them of the necessity of defending Crown Hill, and drafted blueprints accordingly. Gen. Putnam's younger cousin, Col. Rufus Putnam, and three hundred men arrived on four sloops with lumber to build Fort Putnam. McDougall wrote, "The hill which Col. Putnam is fortifying is the most commanding and important of any that we can now attend to...the eastern-most face of this work must be so constructed as to command the plain.":57
Bigger photos? To save server space, the full-sized versions of these images have either not been loaded to the server or have been removed from the server. (Only some pages are loaded with full-sized images and those usually get removed after three months.) I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
Connection Not Secure messages? Those warnings you get from your browser about this site not having secure connections worry some people. This means this site does not have SSL installed (the link is http:, not https:). That's bad if you're entering credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information. But this site doesn't collect any personal information so SSL is not necessary. Life's good!
Photo Contact: [Email Bruce Guthrie].