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THIS mountain, “known to fame,” serves as a landmark to the
industrious craft plying upon the Hudson, and thus fulfils a more useful
destiny than is commonly awarded to spots bright in story. It stands
amid a host of interesting localities marked by the events of the
Revolution, and has witnessed, with less damage than other noses, many a
conflict by land and water.
On the opposite side of the river from the base of the mountain lie the
two forts—Montgomery and Clinton—taken by the British in October,
1777. The commander-in-chief at New York was prompted to this expedition
by two objects,—to destroy a quantity of military stores which the
Americans had collected in this neighborhood, and to make a diversion in
favor of General Burgoyne. For these purposes Sir Henry Clinton embarked
between three and four thousand troops at New York, and sailed with them
up the Hudson. On the 5th of October they landed at Verplank’s Point, a
few miles below the entrance to the Highlands. The next morning, a part
of the force landed on Stony Point, which projects into the river on the
western side, just below the mountains; hence they marched to the rear
of the fortresses.
General Putnam commanded at that time in this quarter. He had one
thousand continental troops, a part of which only were effective, and a
small body of militia. He believed the principal design of the enemy to
be the destruction of the stores; and when he was informed of their main
purpose, it was too late for him to resist with success. He supposed
that they were aiming at Fort Independence, and directed his attention
to its defence: the heavy firing on the other side of the river gave him
the first decisive information of their real intentions. George Clinton,
at that time governor of the State, placed himself at this post on the
first notice that he received of the enemy’s advancing. Having made the
best disposition for the defence of the forts, he dispatched an express
to General Putnam to acquaint him with his situation; but when it
reached Putnam’s headquarters, that officer and General Parsons were
reconnoitring the position of the enemy on the east side of the river.
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, in the mean time, proceeded with nine
hundred men by a circuitous march to the rear of Fort Montgomery; while
Sir Henry Clinton, with Generals Vaughan and Tryon, moved onwards
towards Fort Clinton. Both fortresses were attacked at once, between
four and five in the afternoon: they were defended with great
resolution. This will be readily admitted, when it is remembered that
the whole garrison consisted of but six hundred men. The conflict was
carried on till dark, when the British had obtained absolute possession,
and such of the Americans as were not killed or wounded had made their
escape. The loss of the two garrisons amounted to about two hundred and
fifty. Among the killed on the enemy’s side was Lieutenant-Colonel
Campbell.
It has been thought that an addition of five or six hundred men to these
garrisons would have saved the works; the correctness of this opinion
may be doubted. Fifteen hundred soldiers would have been barely
sufficient completely to man Fort Montgomery alone. The works themselves
were imperfect, and the ground was probably chosen rather for the
defence of the river than because it was itself defensible.
Governor Clinton and his brother, General James Clinton, escaped after
the enemy had possession of the forts,—the former by crossing the
river; the latter had been wounded in the thigh by a bayonet.
On the 8th, the English forces proceeded to the eastern side, where they
found Fort Independence evacuated. A party then burned the continental
village as it was called,—a temporary settlement raised up by the war
for the accommodation of the army. Here had been gathered a considerable
number of those artisans whose labors are particularly necessary for
military purposes, and a considerable quantity of military stores. They
then removed a chain which was stretched across the river at Fort
Montgomery, and advancing up the river removed another, which was
extended from Fort Constitution to the opposite shore at West Point.
General Vaughan then advanced still farther up the Hudson, and on the
13th reached the town of Kingston, which he burned. On the 17th took
place the surrender of Burgoyne, and General Vaughan returned down the
Hudson with his fleet to New York.
Count Grabouski, a Polish nobleman, was killed in the assault on Fort
Clinton, while acting as an aid-de-camp to the British commander. He was
buried on the spot, but his grave is now undiscoverable.
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