John André (1750-1780) was the aide de camp of Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander-in-chief. André purchased a commission as second lieutenant in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1771. In 1774 he joined a regiment in Quebec, where he pursued his first love of poetry and painting. In September and October 1775, American troops laid siege to his fort at St. Johns. He was captured, brought back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and treated roughly. His days as a prisoner turned him against the American rebels. The Americans finally exchanged him in 1776, and he met up with British troops in New York City. Sir William Howe was especially interested in the information André had learned behind the American lines. André then purchased a position as captain and become General Charles Grey's aide. He became known for behaving ruthlessly and aggressively on the battlefield. In 1778 André joined the staff of Henry Clinton, General Howe's replacement. Clinton made him head of intelligence in April 1779. André successfully kept track of intelligence from American disserters and British prisoners who had escaped or were exchanged.
André's most famous success was the treachery of Benedict Arnold. As a result, Clinton promoted André rapidly, from deputy to adjutant general in October 1779. Yet Benedict Arnold was also André's downfall. Three American militiamen captured André, who was dressed in civilian clothes with a treasonous letter between Clinton and Arnold in his boot. André was tried with a court martial. Found guilty, he begged George Washington to shoot him as a gentlemen instead of hanging him as a spy. Nevertheless, he was hanged as a spy in Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780.
Battles of the American Revolution Battle of White Plains Date: October 28th, 1776 Between: British against the American Continental Army Location: White Plains, New York
Source: Our country. A household history for all readers, from the discovery of America to the one hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. By Benson J. Lossing 1813-1891 New York: Johnson, Wilson & co., 1875-78.
"After almost daily skirmishing, the two armies, each about thirteen thousand strong, met in battle array at the village of White Plains, on the 28th of October. The Americans were encamped behind hastily thrown up entrenchments just north of the village, with hills in the rear to retreat to, if necessary. . .
"Howe's army approached in two divisions, the right commanded by Sir Henry Clinton, and the left by Generals De Heister and Erskine. . . Howe dared not attack Washington's breastworks (composed chiefly of cornstalks covered lightly with earth), but waited for reinforcements. They came, just as a severe storm of wind and rain set in. When it ceased at twilight on the 31st, Washington, perceiving Howe's advantage, withdrew under the cover of darkness behind entrenchments on the hills of North Castle, toward the Croton River. Howe did not follow, but falling back, encamped on the heights of Fordham. . .
"On the day of the battle at White Plains, Knyphausen, with six German battalions, crossed the Harlem River at Dyckman's Bridge (present head of navigation), and encamped on the plain between Fort Washington and Kingsbridge. The Americans in the redoubts near by stood firm till the fort was closely invested by the foe. Washington had left it and Fort Lee in charge of Greene. When he heard of the peril that menaced it, he advised that officer to withdraw the garrison and stores, but left the matter to Greene's discretion. When, on the 15th, he reached Fort Lee, he was disappointed in not finding his wishes gratified. Greene desired to hold the fort as a protection to the river; Congress had ordered it to be held till the last extremity, and Magaw, its commander, said he could hold out against the whole British army until December. Washington was not satisfied of its safety, but yielded his judgment and returned to Hackensack. There, at sunset, he received a copy of a reply which Magaw had made to a summons of Howe to surrender, accompanied by a threat to put the garrison to the sword in case of a refusal. To this summons Colonel Magaw replied, protesting against the savage menace, and declaring that he would defend the post to the last extremity. Washington immediately rode to Fort Lee. Greene had crossed over to the island. The chief started in a row-boat in the same direction, and met Greene on the river in the star-light returning with Putnam. They told the chief that the garrison were in fine spirits, and confident that they could successfully defend themselves. It was then too late to withdraw them, and Washington returned to Fort Lee, but was not satisfied.
"Howe had planted heavy guns on the lofty banks of the Harlem River just above the present High Bridge, and from there he opened a severe cannonade early in the morning of the 16th, upon the northern outworks of Fort Washington, to cover the landing of attacking troops from a flotilla of flat-boats which had passed up the Hudson in the night, and been concealed in Spuyten Duyvel Creek. These outworks were defended on the north-east by Colonel Rawlings, with Maryland riflemen and militia from Mercer's Flying Camp under Colonel Baxter. The lines toward New York were defended by Pennsylvania commanded by Colonel Lambert Cadwallader. Magaw commanded in the fort. Rawlings and Baxter occupied redoubts on rugged and heavily-wooded hills.
"The attack was made by four columns. Knyphausen, with Hessians and Waldeckers, moved from the plain along the rough hills nearest the Hudson River on the north at the same time Lord Percy led a division of English and Hessian troops to attack the lines on the south. General Matthews, supported by Lord Cornwallis, crossed the stream near Kingsbridge, with guards, light-infantry, and grenadiers, under cover of the guns near the High Bridge, while Colonel Sterling, with the 42nd regiment of Highlanders, crossed at a point a little above the High Bridge. Knyphausen divided his forces. One division under Colonel Rall (killed at Trenton a few weeks afterward) drove the Americans from Cock Hill Fort, a small redoubt near Spuyten Duyvel Creek, while Knyphausen, with the remainder, penetrated the woods near Tubby Hook, and after clambering over rocks and felled trees, attacked Rawlings in a redoubt afterward called Fort Tryon. Meanwhile Percy had driven in the American pickets at Harlem Cove (Manhattanville), and attacked Cadwallader at the advanced line of entrenchments. A gallant fight ensued, when Percy yielded and took shelter behind some woods.
" . . . When near the upper border of Trinity Cemetery (One Hundred and Fifty-fifth street), he was attacked on the flank by Sterling, who was pursuing across the island to intercept him. He passed on and reached the fort with a loss of a few killed, and about thirty made prisoners. Meanwhile the German and British assailants on the north, who were as four to one of the Americans in number, pressed the latter back to the fort, when Rall sent a summons to Magaw to surrender. This was soon followed by a like summons from Howe. The fight outside had been desperate. The ground was strewn with the mingled bodies of Americans, Germans, and Britons. Resistance to pike, ball, and bayonet, wielded by five thousand veteran soldiers, was now vain, and at noon Magaw yielded.
"At half-past one o'clock the British flag waved over the fort in triumph, where the American flag had been unfurled in the morning with defiance. The Americans had lost in killed and wounded not more than one hundred men; the British had lost almost a thousand. The garrison that surrendered numbered, with militia, about twenty-five hundred, of whom over two thousand were disciplined regulars. Knyphausen received Magaw's sword, and to the Germans and Highlanders were justly awarded the honors of the victory. Washington, standing on the brow of the Palisades at Fort Lee, with the author of "Common Sense" by his side, witnessed the disaster with anguish, but could afford no relief. The fort was lost to the Americans forever, and was named Knyphausen. Its unfortunate garrison filled the prisons of New York and crowded the British prison-ships wherein they were dreadful suffers."
While the British had occupied Philadelphia, his beautiful and flirtatious wife Peggy enjoyed the attention of the British. Among her many admirers had been British major John André. It is believed that Peggy connected her husband Benedict Arnold with Major André. "Benedict Arnold wrote pages of U.S. military secrets and convinced John André to carry them back to British headquarters concealed in his boots." In response, André assured Arnold that if he helped the British, he would be richly rewarded.
André established a code by which he and Arnold could communicate, and they did so in the months to follow. However, André let Arnold know that he wanted something that would help the British to capture West Point, a military complex on the western shores of the Hudson River, and where approaching vessels could be sighted and where the Americans could command the Hudson River waterway.
Arnold sent André the reply he wanted. Arnold stated, in his own handwriting, that he would surrender West Point for a guaranteed payment of 10,000 pounds.
Decoded message from Benedict Arnold to André: "the following Preliminaries be settled previous to cooperating. - / First, that S[ir]. Henry secure to me my property, valued at ten thou- / sand pounds Sterling, to be paid to me or my Heirs in case of / Loss; and, as soon as that happens [strike out] shall happen, ---- hundred / pounds per annum to be secured to me for life, in lieu of the / pay and emoluments I give up, for my Services as they shall / deserve - If I point out a plan of cooperation by which S[ir}. H[enry]. / shall possess himself of West Point, the Garrison, etc. etc. etc. twenty / thousand pounds Sterling I think will be a cheap purchase for / an object of so much importance. At the same time I request / thousand pounds to be paid my Agent - I expect a full / and explicit answer - The 20th I set off for West Point . . ."
With this arrangement in mind, Arnold tried to get command of the West Point complex. He often visited West Point, while continuing to send André confidential information. During discussions with General George Washington, Arnold convinced Washington to give him, Benedict Arnold, command of West Point.
On September 22, 1780 André and Arnold met in a private and secluded area. During this meeting that lasted for hours into the night, André's getaway ship, the Vulture, moved position due to the Americans firing on the ship. Arnold provided André and his escorts with passes, an expensive horse, and six pages of information about West Point. André placed secret papers in his boots.
On the morning of September 25, 1780, while having breakfast in his home, a messenger delivered a letter to Arnold. The letter stated that Major André had been captured. After a court hearing, André was condemned to death by hanging. On Monday, October 5, 1780, at noon, André was hung. He was 30 years of age.
As news about General Benedict Arnold spread throughout the country, patriots felt a renewed strength and purpose. Their country was attacked from within. Benedict Arnold, a distinguished Revolutionary War general, became a traitor. In answer to Arnold’s treacherous acts, Americans united in patriotic fervor and spirits soared in a "unity of purpose".
In 1780, Arnold led a British raid on New London, Connecticut. Arnold and his family fled to England in December, 1781. In England, Arnold tried repeatedly to secure a high military position with the British army. After many failed attempts, he turned to trade. Benedict Arnold died on June 14, 1801. Benedict Arnold is buried in England.
Press "Blue Button" for more information about Benedict Arnold and Major André.
Sources: Dell, Pamela. 2005. Benedict Arnold, From Patriot to Traitor:l (Series - Signature Lives) 2005/01/01, Publisher - Compass Point Books Collections of the Clements Library, and the Goldstar Collection Spy Letters of the American Revolution
Spy Letters of the American Revolution From the Collections of the Clements Library
Press "Blue Button" for an exhibit on spy letters from the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Gallery of Letters provides a brief description of each letter and links to more information about the stories of the spies in the letter and the secret methods used to make the letter.
Letters of the American Revolutionary War include:
April/May 1775 -- Rachel Revere to Paul Revere From the Gold Star Collection
July 17, 1777 -- William Howe to John Burgoyne From the Gold Star Collection
May 10, 1779 -- John André to Joseph Stansbury From the Clinton Collection
Read the letter that John André sent to Benedict Arnold through his agent Joseph Stansbury. The letter instructed Benedict Arnold in the types of information to gather for the British and the ways to relay this information secretly. Read more about Benedict Arnold in the American Revolutionary War.
George Washington - Commander in Chief throughout the American Revolutionary War
George Washington: An exhibit by John C. Dann, Director William L. Clements Library, May 8 to June 4, 2004
Press "Blue Button" for a record of the exhibit, as it appeared in the display cases of the William L. Clements Library. Each page features an image of a single display case and its contents, with details of the artifacts and the accompanying text.
This exhibit guides you through a comprehensive study of George Washington
Few men have had as profound an influence on the course of recorded human history as George Washington. He precipitated a military skirmish that literally started a world war. It resulted in Britain's conquest of Canada and much of our own Midwest, including Michigan. He served as Commander in Chief throughout the American Revolutionary War, the very embodiment of the conflict. As our first President, he endowed our political system with many of the precedents that make the United States the unique nation that it remains today. He was America's "first citizen," the "father of our country," the only President elected unanimously to office.
Yet he is a man little known today as a human being. He possessed a kind of natural reserve and dignity while "on the job" that was almost impenetrable, and held positions of public service most of his life. There was a more relaxed, private side to Washington that family members and close personal friends often saw. He had an ironic sense of humor. Although his own lifestyle was refined and aristocratic, he liked people and had exceptional rapport with the common man. But existing documentation provides only hints and glimpses of it. Any sort of understanding of the man was made difficult during his lifetime by the idealization that society demanded of its first leader. Americans of the time needed a hero to rationalize the acts of inhumanity and deep personal sacrifice they had to make to bring the United States into existence.
American Revolution - Impact on Westchester County
American Revolution - Letters of the Revolutionary War
The following letters were written in Westchester County during the American Revolution. The letters are between General Samuel Parsons, a Patriot of the Revolution; and Governor Tryon, a Loyalist in this American War of Independence.
November 21, 1777 Letter from Gen. Samuel Parsons to Gov. Tryon.
Letter from Gen. Samuel Parsons, dated Mamaroneck, Nov. 21, 1777, to Gov. Tryon
"Sir, Adding to the natural horrors of war the most wanton destruction of property, is an act of cruelty unknown to civilized nations, and unaccustomed in war, until the servants of the king of Great Britain have convinced the impartial world, no act of inhumanity, no stretch of despotism, are too great to exercise towards those they term rebels.
"Had any apparent advantage been derived from burning the house on Philips' manor, last Monday, there would have been some reason to justify the measure; but when no benefit whatever can be proposed, by burning those buildings and stripping the women and children of necessary apparel, to cover them from the severity of a cold night, and captivating and leading in triumph to your lines, in the most ignominious manner, the heads of those families, I know not what justifiable cause to assign for those acts of cruelty; nor can I conceive a necessity for your further order to destroy Tarrytown.
"You cannot be insensible it is every day in my power to destroy the houses and buildings of Col. Philips, and those belonging to the family of Delancy, each as near your lines as those buildings were to my guards; and notwithstanding your utmost diligence, you cannot prevent the destruction of every house this side of King's bridge. It is not fear, it is not want of opportunity that has preserved those buildings; but a sense of the injustice and savageness of such a line of conduct has saved them: and nothing but necessity will induce me to copy examples of this sort so often set by your troops.
"It is not my inclination, sir, to war in this manner, against the inhabitants within your lines, who suppose themselves within your king's protection. But necessity will oblige me to retaliate in kind upon your friends, to procure the exercise of that justice which humanity used to dictate: unless your explicit disavowal of your two captains, Emmerick and Barns, shall convince me these houses were burned without your knowledge and against your order.
"I am, sir, your humble servant, Samuel H. Parsons"
November 23, 1777 Letter from Governor Tryon in response to Gen. Samuel Parsons letter.
" Sir, Could I possibly conceive myself accountable to any revolted subject of the king of Great Britain, I might answer your letter received by the flag of truce yesterday, respecting the conduct of the party under Capt. Emmerick's command upon the taking of Peter and Cornelius Van Tassell; I have, however, candor enough to assure you, as much as I abhor every principle of inhumanity, or ungenerous conduct, I should, were I in more authority, burn every committee man's house within my reach, as I deem those agents the wicked instruments of the continued calamities of this country: and in order sooner to purge this country of them, I am willing to give twenty-five dollars for every acting committee man, who shall be delivered up to the king's troops: I guess before the end of next campaign, they will be torn in pieces by their own countrymen, whom they have forcibly dragged in opposition to their principles and duty (after fining them to the extent of their property) to take up arms against their lawful sovereign, and compelling them to exchange their happy constitution, for paper, rags, anarchy, and distress.
"The ruins from the conflagration of New York, by the emissaries of your party last year, remain a memorial of their tender regard for their fellow beings exposed to the 'severity of a cold night.'
"This is the first correspondence I have held with the king's enemies, on my put in America, and as I am immediately under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, your future letters, dictated with decency, would be more properly directed to his excellency.
"I am, sir, your most obedient servant, William Tryon, Major Gen."
Sunday the 23d, 1777 . . . and by some means or other Gen. Delancy's house at Bloomingdale, on York Island, took fire on the 25th at night.
From the Connecticut Journal, Dec. 10, 1777
"James Delancy, late sheriff of Westchester, and colonel of the enemy's militia, was taken last week by one of our scouts; the colonel was found under a bed, and for a better defense, had surrounded himself with a bulwark of baskets. He was dragged from his humble redoubt, put under a proper guard, and sent to a place better secured."
Find out more about the Historic 1777 & 1779 American Revolution Trail in the American War for Independence.
American Revolution - Militiamen Capture British Spy
American Revolution - Militiamen Capture British Spy
The capture of British Major John André by three Westchester citizens is one of the most notable events in the history of Westchester County. André was a spy in league with Benedict Arnold in a scheme to sabotage American forces during the Revolutionary War. Events transpired as follows:
One evening in September of 1780, Major André and Gen. Arnold planned a clandestine meeting. The meeting lasted until dawn of the next morning. By then, it was determined to be too risky to take André back to his ship, the Vulture, which was setting sail for British headquarters in New York City.
The next day the Americans fired upon the Vulture from Croton Point, forcing it to leave without André. Benedict Arnold gave André a horse and recommended that André travel to Tarrytown, a neutral territory. André was riding south on the eastside of the Hudson River when he encountered John Paulding with David Williams and Isaac Van Wart. Paulding, who had recently escaped from a British prison in New York City, was wearing a Hessian coat.
It was September 23, 1780, when André approached the group thinking they were allies. The three militiamen questioned André and became suspicious. Upon further investigation they found plans to West Point hidden in André's boot. Major André was carrying papers describing the fortification of West Point, given to him by Benedict Arnold.
André attempted to bribe the militiamen with large sums of money and goods. Although the three militiamen were farmers of modest means, they refused the large monetary bribes offered by Major John André, and brought him to Army headquarters. André was tried and convicted as a spy and hanged in Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780. Benedict Arnold escaped to England.
The actions of these three patriots thwarted a plot between Major John André and General Benedict Arnold in which Arnold had planned to surrender West Point to the British.
When George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, was told of these events, he personally recommended that the militiamen are rewarded. On October 7, 1780, General George Washington, wrote to the President of Congress “to communicate the names of the three persons who captured Major André, and who refused to release him, notwithstanding the most earnest importunities and assurances of a liberal reward on his part.” Washington said that the service of John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart, “merits our warmest esteem; and I beg leave to add, that I think the public will do well to make them a handsome gratuity. They have prevented in all probability our suffering one of the severest strokes that could have been meditated against us."
The United States Congress passed a resolution on November 3, 1780, commending the three captors. In gratitude for having captured André, “whereby the dangerous and traitorous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold was brought to light, the insidious designs of the enemy baffled, and the United States rescued from impending danger,” they were awarded a silver medal and an annual £200 pension ("two hundred dollars in specie or an equivalent in the current money of these States") for the rest of their lives. In addition, the New York legislature voted to give each of them farmland valued at £500.
Their Patriotism is remembered Throughout their lifetimes, John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams, were highly commemorated. In addition to being awarded federal pensions and valuable farms; streets in Westchester County were named for each of the men, statues have been erected, and the state of Ohio has named 3 counties after each of the honored militiamen that captured Major André. In 1853, near Patriot's Park, a monument was erected to honor the three heroic militiamen. At a later dedication, the monument was increased and a bronze stature of John Paulding was added. There is a dedication in stone on the south side of the monument which reads:
"On this spot the 23rd day of September, 1780, the spy, Major John André, Adjutant General of the British Army, was captured by John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart, all natives of this county. History has told the rest.
The people of Westchester County have erected this Monument, as well to commemorate a great Event, as to testify their high estimation of that Integrity and Patriotism which, rejecting every temptation, rescued the United States from most imminent peril by baffling the arts of a Spy and the plots of a Traitor. Dedicated October 7, 1853."
On the north side of the block an inscription reads, "Their conduct merits our warmest esteem. They have prevented, in all probability, our suffering one of the severest strokes that could have been meditated against us" written by George Washington.
Sources: Benedict Arnold, From Patriot to Traitor by Dell, Pamela. 2005, Publisher-Compass Point Books Collections of the Clements Library, and the Goldstar Collection Spy Letters of the American Revolution History of Westchester County: New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, by John Thomas Scharf, Publisher L. E. Preston & co., 1886 Original from the New York Public Library.
Decoded Spy Letter: July 12, 1780 - Benedict Arnold to John André (Decoded)
July 15, 1780, Letter from Benedict Arnold to John André When Benedict Arnold wrote this letter to John André, he was still in Philadelphia. General George Washington had agreed to let Arnold have command of West Point on June 29, 1780. Arnold’s command included not only West Point but also the area from Fishskill to King’s Ferry, the infantry and cavalry on the east side of the river down to British lines, and the forts at Stony Point and Verplanck’s Point. Arnold probably did not leave Philadelphia for West Point until after July 21. Nevertheless, in this letter Arnold offered to surrender West Point for a sum of money. Because of delays in communication, Arnold did not know that his offer to surrender West Point had been accepted until August 24, 1780.
Inclosed in a cover addressed to M[r.] Anderson / Two days since I received a letter without date or Signature, / informing me that S[ir]. Henry ------ was obliged to me for intelligence / communicated, and that he placed a full confidence in the Sincerity / of my intentions, etc. etc. On the 13th Instant I addressed a letter / to you expressing my Sentiments and expectations, viz, that / the following Preliminaries be settled previous to cooperating. - / First, that S[ir]. Henry secure to me my property, valued at ten thou- / sand pounds Sterling, to be paid to me or my Heirs in case of / Loss; and, as soon as that happens [strike out] shall happen, ---- hundred / pounds per annum to be secured to me for life, in lieu of the / pay and emoluments I give up, for my Services as they shall / deserve - If I point out a plan of cooperation by which S[ir}. H[enry]. / shall possess himself of West Point, the Garrison, etc. etc. etc. twenty / thousand pounds Sterling I think will be a cheap purchase for / an object of so much importance. At the same time I request / thousand pounds to be paid my Agent - I expect a full / and explicit answer - The 20th I set off for West Point. A / personal interview with an officer that you can confide in / is absolutely necessary to plan matters. In the mean time / I shall communicate to our mutual Friend S[tansbur]y all the / intelligence in my power, until I have the pleasure of your answer. / Moore / July 15th [1780] / To the line of my letter of the 13th / I did not add seven.
Press "Blue Button" for Coded Letter. Source: Collections of the Clements Library, and the Goldstar Collection
Coded Spy Letter: July 12, 1780 - Benedict Arnold to John André (Code)
I 293.9.7 to C_t. B. 103.8.2. the 7th 152.9.17. that , a F__ 112.9.17. and 22.8.29 were 105.9.50 to / 4 9.71 in 62.8.20 with , 163.8.19 A 22.8.19 at with 230.8.13. 263.8.17 I gave Mr. S---y a 164.8.16 / 147.8.261 to be 209.9.216 in C----a and have from 163.8.17 to .163.8.17 .58.8.27 to him. / Such 147.8.21 as I 164.9.5 147.9.16 s which he 24.9.125 me has 169.9.23'd to you / I 129.8.7 .46.9.22'd no 19.8.29 to 175.9.17 . 158.8.8 - or any 177.8.13 . 168.9.13 . ------- / I 105.9.5. soon to 57.9.7 .at 288.9.8 , 198.9.26, and most . 230.8.12. by --- / 291.8.27 an 149.8.27 with ---255.9.11 . 148.8.22, 182.4.28 in whom a 175.9.12 / 67.8.28 could be .196.9.16 --- the 177.8.8 is .103.8.19 to 22.9.3, and / to 66.8.15 -- are 182.8.28, 169.8.25 be . 260.8.5 , 205.9.3 near / that 209.9.18. --- and 192.9.9'd to 224.9.9 on ,188.8.13 or some ---- / 182.8.28 on 188.8.13 sent 185.6.24 to 95.9.124 an .104.8.1 120.9.7, W------- 105.9.5's on the .22.9.14.---- / of 163.8.19 F----- 172.8.7s to 56.9.8 |30.000| 172.8.70 to 11.94. in / 62.8.20. If 179.8.25, 84.8.9'd, 177.9.28. N---- is 111.9.27.'d on / 23.8.10. the 111.9.13, 180.9.19 if his 180.8.21 an .179.8.25., 255.8.17. for / that, 180.9.19, 44.8.9 --a-- is the 234.8.14 of 189.8.17. I --- / 44.8.9, 145.8.17, 294.9.12, in 266.8.17 as well as, 103.8.11, 184.9.15.---- / 80.4.20. ---- I149.8.7, 10.8.22'd the 57.9.71 at 288.9.9, 198.9.26, as, a / 100.4.18 in 189.8.19-- I can 221.8.6 the 173.8.19, 102.8.26, 236.8.21's--- / and 289.8.17 will be in 175.9.7, 87.8.7--- the 166.8.11, of the .191.9.16 / are .129.19.21 'of --- 266.9.14 of the .286.8.20, and 291.8.27 to be an ---163.9.4 / 115.8.16 -'a .114.8.25ing --- 263.9.14. are 207.8.17ed, 125.8.15, 103.8.60--- / from this 294.8.50, 104.9.26 -- If 84.8.9ed -- 294.9.12, 129.8.7. only / to 193.8.3 and the 64.9.5, 290.9.20, 245.8.3 be at an, 99.8.14 . / the .204.8.2, 253.8.7s are 159.8.10 the 187.8.11 of a 94.9.9ing / 164.8.24, 279.8.16, but of a .238.8.25, 93.9.28.
Press "Blue Button" to see decoded Spy letter. Source: Collections of the Clements Library, and the Clinton Collection
The Culper Gang, June 27, 1779 - George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge Source: Collections of the Clements Library
In 1778, at Washington's orders Benjamin Tallmadge organized a spy network in New York City, the heart of the British forces. Tallmadge was to take all precautions that this ring would be extremely secret; in fact, it was so secret that Washington did not know who the men in the spy ring were. Robert Townsend, Aaron Woodhull, Austin Roe, Anna Strong, and Caleb Brewster made up this ring, and the code name for it was Samuel Culper.
Press "Blue Button" for details of "The Culper Gang"
The Shot Heard Round The World "On April 19, 1775, was fired "the shot heard round the world." It was the shot fired for freedom and democracy by the Americans at Lexington and Concord. In 1836, upon the completion of the battle monument at Concord;, the gallant deeds of those early patriots were commemorated by Emerson in verse.
"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.
"This is not the only shot for freedom fired by America and Americans. As President Wilson has said, "The might of America is the might of a sincere love for the freedom of mankind." The shots of the Civil War were fired for united democracy and universal freedom.
" . . . On April 6, 1917, the shot was heard again. The whole world had been listening anxiously for it, and was not disappointed.
"Those against whom the first American shot for freedom was fired in 1775 have now become the strongest defenders of liberty and democracy. Their country is one of the three greatest democracies of the world. Shoulder to shoulder, the Americans and British fight for the freedom of mankind everywhere. They fight to defend the truth and to make this truth serve downtrodden peoples as well as the mighty."
Lest we forget: world war stories was used as a source for The Shot Heard Round The World. This book "was written as a reading book or as an historical reader for the upper grammar grades. While great care has been employed to secure accuracy of fact and to select material of permanent value, the stories are written in a manner that will appeal to children."
Source: Lest we forget: world war stories by John Gilbert Thompson, Inez Bigwood (1918 Silver, Burdett, Original from Harvard University)
The American Revolution, "American War of Independence" The American Revolution, 1775-1783 was a conflict between 13 British colonies on the eastern shores of North America and their mother country, Great Britain. The colonies won the war against the British and became a separate nation called "The United States of America". Many historians also refer to the American Revolution as "The American War of Independence".
The American Revolution, ended two centuries of British rule over most of the North American Colonies, resulting in the formation of the United States of America. One of the causes of the American Revolution can be traced to the end of the French and Indian War, when Britain had succeeded in gaining territory from France at the expense of increasing its already enormous national debt. In an attempt to relieve Britain of its financial burden, British Parliament decided that the American Colonists would have to help pay for their own defense, despite the fact that a French invasion was no longer a real threat.
Toward this end, Parliament passed the first of several tax laws, the Stamp Act, which taxed all paper products in the colonies. The Americans declared it was unfair to tax them when they had no representation in Parliament, and protests eventually escalated to open hostilities in 1775, when the British Regulars fired on the Minutemen in Lexington, Massachusetts.
This conflict contributed to the formation of the Continental Congress (which directed the American war effort) and to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The first years of the war saw major defeats for American forces, who were outnumbered 3-1 by the British army, but the tide soon turned as nations such as France, Spain and the Netherlands offered troops and assistance, elevating the conflict to the status of an international war.
After eight long years of fighting, George Washington's army and a force under the French Count de Rochambeau trapped Lord Cornwallis, the leader of the British army, in Yorktown. This siege ended with Cornwallis surrendering his army of more than 7,000 men on October 19, 1781. However, it wasn't until the Treaty of Paris in 1783, a full eight years after the initial outbreak of violence, that Great Britain signed the formal peace treaty recognizing the former colonies as an independent nation.
Miss Jenny in the American Revolution From the Collections of the Clements Library
Miss Jenny, August 15, 1781. Baron Ottendorf was a German mercenary who began fighting in the Revolutionary War on the side of the Americans. In 1777, Washington relieved him of duty. Ottendorf joined up with the British army under the leadership of Sir Henry Clinton. In this letter, Ottendorf took the deposition of a woman spy who had infiltrated the French armies fighting on the American side. Nothing is known of Miss Jenny's personal life or professional career in intelligence gathering, but her spying expedition played an important role in the British troop's movements in the late summer of 1781. Earlier in the spring, Sir Henry Clinton learned from his spy network that American troops, under the leadership of General Washington, were planning to meet up with Rochambeau's French troops, cross the Hudson River and attack the British in New York City. Clinton and his men nervously watched the movements of the American and French troops, hoping to learn of Washington and Rochambeau's strategies. In August of 1781, French and American troops crossed the Hudson River and settled near Tappan where New York militiamen were mobilizing.
Press "Blue Button" for details of Miss Jenny and her impact on the outcome of the American Revolution.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has operated Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) under a lease with the City of Newark since March 22, 1948. Newark Liberty International Airport is located in New Jersey. EWR is located in Essex and Union Counties between the New Jersey Turnpike (accessible from Exits 13A and 14), U.S. Routes 1 & 9 and I-78. Newark Airport is approximately 16 miles from midtown Manhattan.
A Walk in the Woods website can be enjoyed by K3 and older children. Kids and adults learn the basics of enjoying a safe and fun walk in the woods. Tips given to make your walk safe and enjoyable include wearing the right shoes, bringing insect repellant, identifying poison oak and poison ivy, and more. Site sections include a Teachers Guide, Nature Notes, Getting Ready, Fun Place, and Resources.
A Walk in the Woods website conveys information in simple and easy to follow steps that can be followed by even the youngest child. The Teachers' Guide can be used by parents and teachers as an opportunity to explore the environment.
The word is: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is a wonderfully funny and engaging tale of Bryson's walk on the Appalachian Trail. Follow him on his walk and prepare to laugh out loud.
Promote your business by advertising in our popular Accountants and CPA's in Westchester County section. When you're looking for an accountant or if you need a Certified Public Accountant / CPA, in Westchester, NY look here.
"A A Fishing" is dedicated to those kindred spirits who have an inborn desire for fishing and seek knowledge about the science and sport of fishing. Since the beginning, mankind has sought fish as a food source. To most, catching fish was simply a means to an end. To some, the pursuit was the awakening of an instinct that drew them to the water in search of the thrill of the "tap - tap" that only a true fisherman really understands.
Knowledge gained from fishing for fun as well as tournament fishing is collected and organized relative to fishing various waters for a variety of species. Their Knowledge center comprises the work of many anglers who wish to share their knowledge and fishing experiences with others. Included in "AA Fishing" are tips, techniques and secrets for all aspects of fishing.
Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services such as water, gas, electricity or telephones were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Therefore, the best way to make your family and your home safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes. Blackouts Chemical Emergencies Drought Earthquakes Fires Floods Heat Waves Hurricanes Mudslides Terrorism Thunderstorms Tornado Tsunami Volcanoes Wild Fires Winter Storms Press "Blue Button" for Disaster Services.
Emergency Plan There are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container. Possible containers include a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack, or a duffle bag. Source: The American National Red Cross. Press "Blue Button" for Disaster Supplies Kit.
American Revolution - 1: Causes of the Revolution
The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, spanned eight long years of fighting and political negotiations between Britain and her colonies. On October 19, 1781, the Americans, with the help of French troops under the French Count de Rochambeau, won a major battle at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, leader of the British troops, surrendered 7,000 men. However, the final struggle of the American War of Independence was yet to come.
Two years later, in September, 1783, after much diplomacy, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the former 13 colonies were recognized as an independent nation; the United States of America was born.
Read about the American Revolution through different perspectives, written at different times in history, by different historians. Historical works used as a source for this section, may be accessed online and read in its entirety.
"In 1763 the British Government, reasonably from its point of view, moved to tighten the system of imperial control and to force the colonists to contribute to imperial defense, proposing to station 10,000 soldiers along the American frontiers and to have the Americans pay part of the bill. This imperial defense plan touched off the long controversy about Parliament's right to tax that started with the Stamp and Sugar Acts and ended in December 1773, when a group of Bostonians unceremoniously dumped a cargo of British tea into the city harbor in protest against the latest reminder of the British effort to tax. In this 10-year controversy the several British ministries failed to act either firmly enough to enforce British regulations or wisely enough to develop a more viable form of imperial union, which the colonial leaders, at least until 1776, insisted that they sought. In response to the Boston Tea Party, the king and his ministers blindly pushed through Parliament a series of measures collectively known in America as the Intolerable Acts, closing the port of Boston, placing Massachusetts under the military rule of Maj. Gen. Sir Thomas Gage, and otherwise infringing on what the colonists deemed to be their rights and interests.
"Since 1763 the colonial leaders, in holding that only their own popular assemblies, not the British Parliament, had a right to levy taxes on Americans, had raised the specter of an arbitrary British Government collecting taxes in America to support red-coated Regulars who might be used not to protect the frontiers but to suppress American liberties. Placing Massachusetts under military rule gave that specter some substance and led directly to armed revolt."
This information has been sourced from The American Revolution: First Phase, Extracted from: American Military History, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC 1989. The Army Historical Series can be accessed online and read in its entirety.
American Revolution - 2: Outbreak of the War
The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, spanned eight long years of fighting and political negotiations between Britain and her colonies. On October 19, 1781, the Americans, with the help of French troops under the French Count de Rochambeau, won a major battle at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, leader of the British troops, surrendered 7,000 men. However, the final struggle of the American War of Independence was yet to come.
Two years later, in September, 1783, after much diplomacy, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the former 13 colonies were recognized as an independent nation; the United States of America was born.
Read about the American Revolution through different perspectives, written at different times in history, by different historians. Historical works used as a source for this section, may be accessed online and read in its entirety.
"In Massachusetts, the seat of the crisis, the Provincial Congress, eyeing Gage's force in Boston, directed the officers in each town to enlist a third of their militia in minutemen organizations to be ready to act at a moment's warning, and began to collect ammunition and other military stores. It established a major depot for these stores at Concord, about twenty miles northwest of Boston.
"General Gage learned of the collection of military stores at Concord and determined to send a force of Redcoats to destroy them. His preparations were made with the utmost secrecy. Yet so alert and ubiquitous were the patriot eyes in Boston that when the picked British force of 700 men set out on the night of April 18, 1775, two messengers, Paul Revere and William Dawes, preceded them to spread the alarm throughout the countryside. . .
" . . . Before Congress could assume control, the New England forces assembled near Boston fought another battle on their own, the bloodiest single engagement of the entire Revolution. After Lexington and Concord, at the suggestion of Massachusetts, the New England colonies moved to replace the militia gathered before Boston with volunteer forces, constituting what may be loosely called a New England army. . .
" . . . Late in May Gage received limited reinforcements from England, bringing his total force to 6,500 rank and file. With the reinforcements came three major generals of reputation: Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, and Sir John Burgoyne; men destined to play major roles in England's loss of its American colonies. . .
" . . . The British scorned such a tactic, evidently in the mistaken assumption that the assembled "rabble in arms" would disintegrate in the face of an attack by disciplined British Regulars. On the afternoon of the 17th, Gage sent some 2,200 of his men under Sir William Howe directly against the American positions, by this time manned by perhaps an equal force. Twice the British advanced on the front and flanks of the redoubt on Breed's Hill, and twice the Americans, holding their fire until the compact British lines were at close range, decimated the ranks of the advancing regiments and forced them to fall back and re-form. With reinforcements, Howe carried the hill on the third try but largely because the Americans had run short of ammunition and had no bayonets. . .
" . . . Bunker Hill was a Pyrrhic victory, its strategic effect practically nil since the two armies remained in virtually the same position they had held before. Its consequences, nevertheless, cannot be ignored. A force of farmers and townsmen, fresh from their fields and shops, with hardly a semblance of orthodox military organization, had met and fought on equal terms with a professional British Army. On the British this astonishing feat had a sobering effect, for it taught them that American resistance was not to be easily overcome; never again would British commanders lightly attempt such an assault on Americans in fortified positions. . . Bunker Hill, along with Lexington and Concord, went far to create the American tradition that the citizen soldier when aroused is more than a match for the trained professional, a tradition that was to be reflected in American military policy for generations afterward."
This information has been sourced from The American Revolution: First Phase, Extracted from: American Military History, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC 1989. The Army Historical Series can be accessed online and read in its entirety.
American Revolution - 3: Formation of the Continental Army
The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, spanned eight long years of fighting and political negotiations between Britain and her colonies. On October 19, 1781, the Americans, with the help of French troops under the French Count de Rochambeau, won a major battle at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, leader of the British troops, surrendered 7,000 men. However, the final struggle of the American War of Independence was yet to come.
Two years later, in September, 1783, after much diplomacy, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the former 13 colonies were recognized as an independent nation; the United States of America was born.
Read about the American Revolution through different perspectives, written at different times in history, by different historians. Historical works used as a source for this section, may be accessed online and read in its entirety.
" . . . The creation of a Continental Army was in the long run perhaps their most significant achievement. . .
" . . . The next day, June 15, Congress chose George Washington, a Virginian, to be Commander in Chief. The choice was made for geographical and political as much as for military reasons. . . His impressive appearance, quiet and confident manner, and good work in the military committees of Congress had impressed all.
"The choice proved fortunate. . . He brought to the task traits of character and abilities as a leader that in the end more than compensated for his lack of professional military experience. Among these qualities were a determination and a steadfastness of purpose rooted in an unshakable conviction of the righteousness of the American cause, a scrupulous sense of honor and duty, and a dignity that inspired respect and confidence in those around him. . .
" . . . The army of which Washington formally took command on July 3, 1775, he described as "a mixed multitude of people . . . under very little discipline, order or government." Out of this "mixed multitude," Washington set out to create an army shaped in large part in the British image. Basing his observations on his experience with British Regulars during the French and Indian War, he wrote: "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable;
"While establishing discipline in the existing army, Washington had at the same time to form a new one enlisted directly in the Continental service. Out of conferences with a Congressional committee that visited camp in September 1775 emerged a plan for such an army, composed of 26 regiments of infantry of 728 men each, plus one regiment of riflemen and one of artillery, 20,372 men in all, to be uniformly paid, supplied, and administered by the Continental Congress and enlisted to the end of the year 1776. Except for the short term of enlistment, it was an excellent plan on paper, but Washington soon found he could not carry it out. . . Washington found that he had only slightly more than 8,000 enlistments instead of the 20,000 planned. Returns in early March showed only a thousand or so more.
" . . . With enlistments falling short, the only recourse was to continue to use short-term militia to fill the gaps in the lines. A Continental Army had been formed, but it fell far short of the goals Washington and Congress had set for it."
This information has been sourced from The American Revolution: First Phase, Extracted from: American Military History, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC 1989. The Army Historical Series can be accessed online and read in its entirety.
American Revolution - 4: Invasion of Canada and Fall of Boston
The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, spanned eight long years of fighting and political negotiations between Britain and her colonies. On October 19, 1781, the Americans, with the help of French troops under the French Count de Rochambeau, won a major battle at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, leader of the British troops, surrendered 7,000 men. However, the final struggle of the American War of Independence was yet to come.
Two years later, in September, 1783, after much diplomacy, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the former 13 colonies were recognized as an independent nation; the United States of America was born.
Read about the American Revolution through different perspectives, written at different times in history, by different historians. Historical works used as a source for this section, may be accessed online and read in its entirety.
"Schuyler managed to get together a force of about 2,000 men from New York and Connecticut, thus forming the nucleus of what was to become known as the Northern Army. In September 1775 Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery set out with this small army . . .
"Montgomery, advancing along the route via Lake George, Lake Champlain, and the Richelieu River, was seriously delayed by the British fort at St. Johns but managed to capture Montreal on November 13. Arnold [Col. Benedict Arnold] meanwhile had arrived opposite Quebec on November 8, after one of the most rugged marches in history. One part of his force had turned back and others were lost by starvation, sickness, drowning, and desertion. Only 600 men crossed the St. Lawrence on November 13, and in imitation of Wolfe scaled the cliffs and encamped on the Plains of Abraham. It was a magnificent feat, but the force was too small to prevail even against the scattered Canadian militia and British Regulars . . .
"Nowhere did the Canadians show much inclination to rally to the American cause; the French habitants remained indifferent, and the small British population gave its loyalty to the governor general. With the enlistments of about half their men expiring by the new year, Arnold and Montgomery undertook a desperate assault on the city during the night of December 30 in the middle of a raging blizzard. The Americans were outnumbered by the defenders, and the attack was a failure. Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded.
"The wounded Arnold, undaunted, continued to keep up the appearance of a siege with the scattered remnants of his force while he waited for reinforcements. The reinforcements came. . . but they came in driblets . . . Meanwhile, the British received reinforcements and in June 1776 struck back against a disintegrating American army that retreated before them almost without a fight. By mid-July the Americans were back at Ticonderoga where they had started less than a year earlier, and the initiative on the northern front passed to the British.
" . . . Washington finally took the initiative at Boston. On March 4, 1776, he moved onto Dorchester Heights and emplaced his newly acquired artillery in position to menace the city; a few days later he fortified Nook's Hill, standing still closer in. On March 17 the British moved out. . . The stores of cannon and ammunition the British were forced to leave behind were a welcome addition indeed to the meager American arsenal."
This information has been sourced from The American Revolution: First Phase, Extracted from: American Military History, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC 1989. The Army Historical Series can be accessed online and read in its entirety."
American Revolution - 5: The New Nation
The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, spanned eight long years of fighting and political negotiations between Britain and her colonies. On October 19, 1781, the Americans, with the help of French troops under the French Count de Rochambeau, won a major battle at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, leader of the British troops, surrendered 7,000 men. However, the final struggle of the American War of Independence was yet to come.
Two years later, in September, 1783, after much diplomacy, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the former 13 colonies were recognized as an independent nation; the United States of America was born.
Read about the American Revolution through different perspectives, written at different times in history, by different historians. Historical works used as a source for this section, may be accessed online and read in its entirety.
"The new nation was still a weak confederation of thirteen independent states. Such national feeling as existed was a new phenomenon growing out of common opposition to British measures. Colonial tradition, divided loyalties, the nature of the economy, and the spirit of a revolt born in opposition to the use of military force to suppress popular liberties, all worked against the creation of any new strong central authority capable of mobilizing resources effectively for the long struggle that lay ahead.
"The thirteen states proclaiming their independence in 1776 possessed a total population of about two and a half million people, but not all the males of military age were part of the military potential. . .The genuine patriots still provided a far larger potential of military manpower than the British could possibly transport and supply across the Atlantic, but most of the men of military age were farmers who married young and immediately started large families. Whatever their patriotic sentiments, few were ready to undertake long terms of military service, fearing that if they did their farms and families at home would suffer. . .
"The economy of the thirteen new states was neither self-sufficient nor truly national. The states were essentially a collection of separate agricultural communities, accustomed to exchanging their agricultural surplus for British manufactured goods and West Indian products. Manufacturing was still in its infancy. . . While the country produced foodstuffs in ample quantity, transport from one area to another was difficult. The normal avenues of commerce ran up and down the rivers, not overland; . . .
"The governmental machinery created after the Declaration was characterized by decentralization and executive weakness. The thirteen new "free and independent states" transformed their existing de facto revolutionary governments into legal state governments by adopting institutions. . . Articles of Confederation stipulating the terms of union and granting Congress specific but limited powers were drawn up shortly after the Declaration, but jealousies among the states prevented ratification until 1781. . .
"The decentralized structure provided no adequate means of financing the war. The state legislatures, possessing the power to tax that Congress lacked, hesitated to use it extensively in the face of popular opposition to taxation, and were normally embarrassed to meet even their own expenses. . . paper money was a useful expedient in the early part of the war; indeed the Revolution could not have been carried on without it. But successive issues by Congress and the states led to first gradual and then galloping inflation, leaving the phrase "not worth a Continental" as a permanent legacy to the American language."
This information has been sourced from The American Revolution: First Phase, Extracted from: American Military History, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC 1989. The Army Historical Series can be accessed online and read in its entirety.
American Revolution - 6: Winning of Independence 1777-1783
The American Revolution, also known as the American War of Independence, spanned eight long years of fighting and political negotiations between Britain and her colonies. On October 19, 1781, the Americans, with the help of French troops under the French Count de Rochambeau, won a major battle at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis, leader of the British troops, surrendered 7,000 men. However, the final struggle of the American War of Independence was yet to come.
Two years later, in September, 1783, after much diplomacy, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the former 13 colonies were recognized as an independent nation; the United States of America was born.
Read about the American Revolution through different perspectives, written at different times in history, by different historians. Historical works used as a source for this section, may be accessed online and read in its entirety.
"Today many scholars stress not the astonishment that Washington felt at the victory of a weak and divided confederation of American states over the greatest power of the age, but the practical difficulties the British faced in suppressing the revolt. These were indeed great but they do not appear to have been insuperable if one considers military victory alone and not its political consequences. The British forfeited several chances for military victory in 1776-77, and again in 1780 they might have won had they been able to throw 10,000 fresh troops into the American war. American military leaders were more resourceful and imaginative than the British commanders, and they proved quite capable of profiting from British blunders. In addition to Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, Daniel Morgan, and Benedict Arnold showed remarkable military abilities, and of the foreign volunteers Steuben and the young Lafayette were outstanding. The resourcefulness of this extraordinary group of leaders was matched by the dedication of the Continental rank and file to the cause. Only men so dedicated could have endured the hardships of the march to Quebec, the crossing of the Delaware, Valley Forge, Morristown, and Greene's forced marches in the southern campaign. British and Hessian professionals never showed the same spirit; their virtues were exhibited principally in situations where discipline and training counted most.
"The militia, the men who fought battles and then went home, also exhibited this spirit on many occasions. The militiamen have been generally maligned as useless by one school of thought, and glorified by another as the true victors in the war. In any balanced view it must be recognized that their contributions were great, though they would have counted for little without a Continental Army to give the American cause that continued sustenance that only a permanent force in being could give it. It was the ubiquity of the militia that made British victories over the Continentals in the field so meaningless. And the success with which the militia did operate derived from the firm political control the patriots had established over the countryside long before the British were in any position to challenge it; the situation that made the British task so difficult in the first place.
"For all these American virtues and British difficulties and mistakes, the Americans still required French aid; money, supplies, and in the last phase military force, to win a decisive and clear-cut military victory. Most of the muskets, bayonets, and cannon used by the Continental Army came from France. The French contested the control of the seas that was so vital to the British, and compelled them to divert forces from the American mainland to other areas. The final stroke at Yorktown, though a product of Washington's strategic conception, was possible only because of the temporary predominance of French naval power off the American coast and the presence of a French army.
"French aid was doubly necessary because the American war effort lacked strong national direction. The Revolution showed conclusively the need for a central government with power to harness the nation's resources for war. It is not surprising that in 1787 nearly all those who had struggled so long and hard as leaders in the Continental Army or in administrative positions under the Congress were to be found in the ranks of the supporters of a new constitution creating such a central government with a strong executive and the power to "raise armies and navies," call out the militia, and levy taxes directly to support itself.
"Strictly military lessons of the Revolution were more equivocal. Tactical innovations were not radical but they did represent a culmination of the trend, which started during the French and Indian War, toward employment of light troops as skirmishers in conjunction with traditional linear formations. By the end of the war both armies were fighting in this fashion. . .
"Since both militia and Continentals played roles in winning the war, the Revolutionary experience provided ammunition for two diametrically opposed schools of thought on American military policy: the one advocating a large Regular Army, the other reliance on the militia as the bulwark of national defense. . . The real issue, as Washington fully recognized, was less militia versus Regulars; for he never believed the infant republic needed a large standing army, than the extent to which militia could be trained and organized to form a reliable national reserve. The lesson Washington drew from the Revolution was that the militia should be "well regulated," that is, trained and organized under uniform national system in all the states and subject to call into national service in war or emergency.
"The lesson had far greater implications for the future than any of the tactical changes wrought by the American Revolution. It balanced the rights of freedom and equality, proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, with a corresponding obligation of all citizens for military service to the nation. This concept, which was to find explicit expression in the "nation in arms" during the French Revolution, was also implicit in the American, and it portended the end of eighteenth century limited war, fought by professional armies officered by an aristocratic class. As Steuben so well recognized, American Continentals were not professional soldiers in the European sense, and militia even less so. They were, instead, a people's army fighting for a cause. In this sense then, the American Revolution began the "democratization of war," a process that was eventually to lead to national conscription and a new concept of total war for total victory."
This information has been sourced from The Winning of Independence, 1777-1783, Extracted from: American Military History, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, DC 1989. The Army Historical Series can be accessed online and read in its entirety.
New York State apple growers have been perfecting their apples for over 300 years. Enjoy them all year long. From the classic McIntosh to the snappy Empire, New York has what you want in an apple. Taste the difference, savor the quality, share the pride.
It's no coincidence that apples are the symbol of good health. In the Middle Ages, the English said "To eat an apple before going to bed will make the doctor beg his bread." We now know that there's a sound basis for the familiar "apple a day" rhyme. Take a look at the nutritional benefits of a medium size Apple Country® apple.
Nutritional Facts: Apples are absolutely fat-free. One apple provides as much dietary fiber as a bowl of bran cereal. Apples are loaded with pectin, a soluble fiber that aids digestion and may help reduce cancer and heart disease. The complex carbohydrates in apples give your body a longer, more even energy boost compared to high-sugar snacks. Snacking on apples can keep you going throughout the day. Apples provide boron, an essential trace element that helps harden bones and help prevent osteoporosis.
Learn: Apple education and see the Kid's Section on apples. Where to pick you own apples. Major health benefits of eating apples. Variety, flavor and best use of each type of apple. Apple recipes.
Ask for Kids is a fast, easy and kid-friendly way for kids to search online. Designed to be a fun destination site focused on learning and "edu-tainment," Ask for Kids uses natural-language technology that allows kids to ask questions and perform web searches, such as "When did Hawaii become a state?" or "What's it like to live in space?"or even "Convert 122 inches into feet" in the same way they would ask a parent, friend or teacher.
Ask for Kids combines human editorial judgment, age-appropriate feature content and filtering technology to enable kids to find both relevant and befitting information on the Web. Press "Blue Button" to explore Ask For Kids.
Cogito was developed and is maintained by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. "You're passionate about math and science. You already like to think about, talk about, and do math and science, but you also want to know what else is out there; and who else is out there. Or maybe you're someone with a developing interest in math or science and trying to figure out what's out there for you and who's out there to share your ideas with. Either way, Cogito is just the place for you. On Cogito, you can learn about amazing scientists your own age, what they're doing and how they managed to do it."
Inspired and funded by the John Templeton Foundation, Cogito is being developed through a collaborative effort by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and eight partners; all highly renowned organizations that serve gifted youth.
Parents' Choice Awards Fall website 2009 Ages: 12 - 18 yrs Publisher: Cogito, Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University
From the very beginning, Community Markets has been an organization that believes strongly in three important ideas: supporting local agriculture, strengthening local communities, and making fresh produce available to neighborhoods with limited access. Since 1991, farmers markets developed and managed by Community Markets have been successfully serving all three purposes: making locally-grown produce and locally-made products readily available and, at the same time, providing an ideal place for the community to come together to share news and gossip, thoughts, and ideas, and improving nutrition.
Press "Blue Button" to find a local Farmers Market. Select a county and view the markets in Westchester, Rockland, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn or Queens.
The Farmers’ Market Federation of New York is a statewide not-for-profit organization designed to both promote and provide support services for the farmers markets within New York State. The Federation was formed through the collective efforts of market managers throughout the state, Cooperative Extension and the Department of Agriculture & Markets and was initially funded by a Federal State Marketing Improvement Grant in early 1998.
Farmers markets provide a means for local producers of agricultural products to sell those products directly to the consumer. Many communities throughout New York State view farmers markets as a positive avenue for supporting local agriculture, providing a source of fresh fruits and vegetables to the residents of their community, and as a means of drawing people into their community aiding in the economic redevelopment of an area.
Comments: Press "Blue Button" to find a local Farmers Market. Select a county and click that county on the New York State map.
FirstGov for Kids is a U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. This site was developed and is maintained by the Federal Citizen Information Center. It provides links to Federal kids' sites along with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations all grouped by subject.
FirstGov for Kids is divided into educational subjects that you might have in your school. Within each subject, we have also divided the sites into these categories: Government, Organizations, Education, and Commercial. The Government sites could be Federal, State, or Military sites. Government sites generally do not sell anything. They are simply sharing information with visitors. Organization sites are developed by groups that have an interest in a special topic - sometimes these sites sell products. Education sites are developed by schools. They can be developed by colleges/universities or high, middle, or elementary schools. These sites usually do not have products to sell. Commercial sites are developed by businesses. Commercial sites share information, but they also have products to sell. Press "Blue Button" to explore Ask For Kids.
Fizzy's Lunch Lab is a vibrant, fun and kid-friendly web-only series featuring original characters and funny stories that entertain and educate families about the importance of good nutrition, a balanced diet, and physical activity. Join Professor Fizzy and his friends in the super-charged Lunch Lab Test Kitchen, as they prepare healthy snacks, investigate the difference between good and bad food, and learn what happens once the food you eat goes into your body.
Each week, The Lunch Lab web site will release a new animated short video as well as a corresponding recipe for kids and parents to enjoy. Monthly food/nutrition themes will help guide the program's message, and the animated videos will reinforce concepts pertaining to the featured theme. This will make it easy for parents to extend the learning into the home.
KidSmart is a guide to early learning and technology for the Home and School. Both Parents and Teachers can benefit from this website. Whether you are just becoming comfortable with technology or have been using it for years, KidSmart will help you understand what's possible when it comes to young children and computer time.
KidSmart answers many questions such as:
How can I use a computer to encourage early learning in our home? How can I make the computer a part of our household routine? How can I make sure that the computer serves my child?
Things You Can Do A list of useful ideas and suggestions to help you get the most out of your family's PC
School Link Concrete teacher tips, overviews of classroom issues and other tools that your child's teacher may use. The text and audio features of this site will help you discover that the computer is just one of many rich, varied materials found in a good learning environment.
Kids Health is about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years. On a typical weekday, more than 500,000 people visit KidsHealth. One of the things that makes KidsHealth special is that it's really three sites in one: with sections for parents, for kids, and teens.
KidsHealth is more than just the facts about health. As part of The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth also provides families with perspective, advice, and comfort about a wide range of physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that affect children and teens.
KidsHealth has received its share of recognition — among them, four Webby Awards, including for Best Family/Parenting Site and Best Health Site on the Web, the Parent's Choice Gold Award, the Teacher's Choice Award for Family, and the International Pirelli Award for best educational media for students.
KidsHealth is more than just the facts about health. As part of The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth also provides families with perspective, advice, and comfort about a wide range of physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that affect children and teens.
OLogy, the Museum of Natural History's website for kids ages seven through twelve, is based on the premise that "everyone wants to know something," and is designed as a place for kids to explore, ask questions, get answers, meet OLogists, play games, and see what other kids are interested in.
With age-appropriate content in archaeology, astronomy, biodiversity, genetics, marine biology, paleontology, and physical science, OLogy makes science learning rich and engaging. Educators can find suggestions and tips on how to use the OLogy website in the Educator's Guides.
Ology is The Museum of Natural History's "science rich" website for kids. Winner of 2004 Distinguished Achievement Awards for Interactivity and Navigation from The Association of Educational Publishers. Press "Blue Button" and enjoy.
"Big Green Company, Inc. (BGC) is dedicated to creating a portfolio of original children's entertainment properties collectively known and marketed as The Healthiest Children's Brands on the Planet.™ BGC believes that there is a clear link between our personal health and the health of the planet. We foster a connection between children of all ages, their bodies, their communities, and the natural world. . . . BGC is pioneering entertainment that addresses two of the biggest epidemics affecting future generations today: childhood obesity and global environmental degradation . . .
". . . BGC is a "first mover" in demonstrating how these two issues are intrinsically connected now and in the future. It is a holistic approach to children's media that reminds us that we're all connected, and that taking good care of ourselves and each other can lead to better care of our planet as a whole."
Parents' Choice Awards Fall website 2009 Big Green Rabbit Ages: 2 - 8 yrs. Publisher: Slice of Lime
Dentists4kids.com offers good information on Oral Health and Dental Care as well as fun activities. Be sure to visit Mouth Power for a fun time while learning how to take care of your teeth.
Disney Online includes many features for both children and adults. You can visit the Character Gallery and see Mickey Mouse, Winnie The Pooh, Disney Princess, Disney Fairies and more. Also available are Kids Island, Disney Destinations, and Playhouse Disney. Or, you can shop, play games, visit Video Entertainment which includes Walt Disney Pictures, Disney DVD & Video, Disney on Broadway and many other Disney venues.
Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online is a subscription service that supplements children's pre-kindergarten learning in a fun, safe, and personalized interactive environment that is secure and advertising-free.
The word is: Advertising is displayed on the non-subscription sections of Disney Online.
The Literacy Center Education Network is non-profit organization with a mission to deliver free, professionally designed, education material to preschool-age children. In 2009, the LiteracyCenter.net had more than 30 million page views from children in 220 countries.
One hundred years ago, children learned to read with one book. Today, they are exposed to a dizzying array of objects, toys, and games that purport to be educational. The only thing these products have in common is that they are confusing.
At the LiteracyCenter.Net, we believe that learning to read in a first language should be as natural as learning to speak. Learning becomes clear and concise. Our system offers alphabets, numbers, and words in clear and concise formats . . . Our lessons allow children to have fun, concentrate, and remember.
The word is: Teach children how to read with this clear, concise, and easy to use online educational guide - provided with no ads.
PBSKids.org is the official Public Broadcasting Service website for children. Young children love the many interactive activities available with their most beloved characters. You and your child can explore Games, Stories, Coloring and Music within many sections including: Arthur, Barney, Berenstain Bears, Between the Lions, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cyberchase, Dragon Tales, Postcards From Buster, Mister Rogers, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, Zoboomafoo, and ZOOM.
Press "Blue Button" for hours of fun, entertainment, learning and enrichment for your child.
Playmusic.org introduces you to the various components of an orchestra, the family of instruments within an orchestra (Brass, Percussion, Weedwinds, Strings) and about the individual instruments. Learn about the String Section (bass, cello, viola, violin). Or learn about the Percussion Family (cymbals, triangle, bass drum, xylophone, timpani, snare drum). You can even learn how these instruments are made and how each one sounds.
Learn about each instrument: The violin is the smallest member of the string family. Because its strings are the shortest, it produces the highest sound. There are more violins in the orchestra than any other single instrument. The violins play in two different groups, with the first violins playing the highest-pitched part and the second violins playing the second-highest. Learn how an may be held: Rest the violin on one shoulder and hold it in place using your chin and left hand. Hold the bow in your right hand and draws it across the strings. This changes the pitch in two ways: by drawing the bow across different strings, and by pressing on the strings with the fingers of your left hand. The shape of the violin has stayed pretty much the same ever since the 1500s. That's almost 500 years! The modern violin has four strings, but the earliest ones had only three.
At Playmusic.org you can also learn how to write your own music! Press "Blue Button" and enjoy.
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of children worldwide by addressing their critical developmental needs. The Workshop is committed to the principle that all children deserve a chance to learn and grow; to be prepared for school; to better understand the world and each other; to think, dream and discover; to reach their highest potential.
Sesame Workshop provides information about children's activities and tips for parents. This site is helpful and informative - whether you're visiting with a child in search of educational fun or looking for resources to help guide a child through a particular challenge - See how Elmo is comforted when "Visiting the Doctor" or during the "First Day at School".
The Sesame Street website is rich in Games, Stories, Art, Music, Mail, Elmo's World and more. Take the time to explore and find your favorites sections. Play Dot-To-Dot or Letters Big Bird Gets a Letter, Keyboard-o-rama, Bumper Cars, Ernie's Window Box or Numbers Keyboard-o-rama, Cooking with Rosita, Walking the Dogs or Shapes Clouds, Make-a-Monster, Prairie Dawn in the Science Lab, Elmo's Road Trip or Sorting Zoe's Pet Shelter, Bert's Bottle Caps, Oscar's Trash Collection, Things in a Car or visit the Special Section Snuffy's Magic Garden, Zoe's Pet Shelter, Big Bird Gets a Letter, Limbo Elmo, Elmo's Mixed-Up Farm, Your Amazing Body, Footprints and more. See Pinky Dinky Doo designed for children ages 4 to 7, to encourage literacy through the power of storytelling.
For 35 years, Sesame Street has been embraced by millions of viewers through PBS in the U.S. and around the world. You may not know it, but Sesame Workshop is much more than Sesame Street. Sesame Workshop is guided by the conviction that all children deserve a chance to dream and discover, to understand the world and their place in it, to reach their highest potential.
If you're a parent, revisit Sesame Street with your child and watch their joy as they experience your childhood favorites: Bert, Big Bird, Ernie, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Cookie Monster, Zoe, Rosita and Count Von Count. Play along with Elmo at Elmo's World or visit Sesame Street's Music Zone. Go ahead - sing along!
Sesame Street has helped generations of children around the world to learn ABCs, to understand the meaing of letters and letter sounds, and to use these means to begin making sense of the world. "Press "Blue Button" to explore the website of Sesame Street - possibly the most wonderful and certainly the most innovative concept in children's education.
With Toy Symphony, Tod Machover and his team at the MIT Media Lab strive to bridge the gap between professional musicians and children, as well as between audience and performers. This three year project, combining children, virtuosic performers like violinist Joshua Bell and conductor Kent Nagano, composers and symphony orchestras around the world, is intended to radically alter how children are introduced to music, serving to redefine the relationship between professional musicians and young people.
Through the use of innovative technologies to create musical instruments and compositional tools designed for an individual of any skill level, as well as weeklong workshops culminating in an integrated performance with children and professional musicians, Toy Symphony is designed as an utterly inclusive experience, one that will infuse the orchestra with youthful and enthusiastic collaborators, and the instruments, sounds, and ideas of the 21st century.
Press "Blue Button" and enjoy an exploration into the world of music.
The EPA Environmental Kids Club helps you explore your environment and learn how to protect it. Learn about Air, Water, Garbage & Recycling, Plants & Animals, and about you and your environment. Discover the Art Room, Coloring and Activities Books, Game Room, Science Room, and Trophy Case; in addition to Questions A to Z listing everything in the Kids Club.
Press "Blue Button" to explore this website. Learn all about our environment through interactive games and more. Learn how you can show your commitment to keeping our planet clean for everyone.
EssentialMom is a place for the busy, on-the-go mother. EssentialMom provides listings of places to go, things to do, class schedules and resources, as well as fast, easy solutions to your parenting questions. Newcomers groups, play groups and many more "child related resources" are available. Press "Blue Button" to explore more about EssentialMom.
LocalHarvest is a leading informational resource for the Buy Local and Organic movement. We maintain a definitive and reliable "living" public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources. Our search engine helps people find products from family farms, local sources of sustainably grown food, and encourages them to establish direct contact with small farms in their local area. Our online store helps small farms develop markets for some of their products beyond their local area.
The richness, variety, and flavor of our communities, food systems, and diets is in jeopardy. The exclusive focus on economic efficiency has brought us low prices and convenience through large supermarkets chains, agribusiness and factory farms, while taking away many other aspects of our food lives, like our personal relation with our food and with the people who produce it. More and more people are realizing this and actively working to turn the tide and to preserve a food industry based on family-owned, small scale businesses. They are our best guarantee against a world of styrofoam-like long-shelf-life tomatoes and diets dictated from corporate boardrooms.
The Buy Local movement is quickly taking us beyond the promise of environmental responsibility that the organic movement delivered, and awakening the US to the importance of community, variety, humane treatment of farm animals, and social and environmental responsibility in regards to our food economy.
Press "Blue Button" to find locally grown farm products. Also, look for restaurants that buy from local farms. Just enter your zip-code on the Local Harvest website and find farms and restaurants nearby.
A Wine Lover’s Event Resource How many times have you found yourself looking for a really cool local wine event, wine education class, boutique wine shop or friendly wine club in your area? Or searched for wine events in destinations you plan on traveling to? After spending needless time searching inefficiently, you find very little or, worse, nothing more fun than visiting the local grocery store’s wine department. Or you could type www.LocalWineEvents.com into your browser and find it all at your fingertips.
LocalWineEvents.com offers a user-friendly city search feature in the state or country of your choice, making it easy to find out what’s going on in your part of the world. Once you have selected the specific city, you simply choose those events of interest or select the subject pages such as “Wine & Food Educators,” “BYOB Restaurants” or “Food, Wine and Lodging” located at the top of the city webpage. LocalWineEvents.com users may also sign up to receive “The Juice” newsletter and e-mails about local wine events happening in their area. . . Tom DiNardo, Wine Adventure Magazine.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood invites children to visit the places that make them feel good. As in the television program, Mister Rogers' website is geared to 2 to 5 year olds, but appropriate for all ages. Through Songs, Games, Videos, and even Coloring Pages, Mister Rogers brings children a one-to-one affirmation of their self-worth and offers them a place where they feel accepted and understood.
Games such as "Stop Light Green" help children to develop control over their bodies. Playing “stop and go” games helps them practice control, so that they may be more likely to have self-control and be able to stop in other situations.
Songs such as "It's Such a Good Feeling" or "Its You I Like" teach children that they are important, "not the things you wear or they way you do your hair" . . . Press "Blue Button" and listen to a few songs . . . be sure to watch the smile on your child's face as they hear:
It's you I like It's not the things you wear It's not the way you do your hair But it's you I like. The way you are right now The way down deep inside you Not the things that hide you Not your toys They're just beside you . . . It's you I like.
Welcome to MouthPower®, the online oral health education program created by the National Museum of Dentistry! This program is excellent for use in classrooms, libraries, or your home.
MouthPower is an interactive learning experience about oral health. There are six modules within MouthPower, each focusing on a different aspect of oral health and dentistry. In each one, a character named Mouthie serves as guide . . . to help children explore and learn about oral health.
The Food Station introduces the Food Pyramid, explores combination foods, and demonstrates healthy portion sizes of common foods.
The Tobacco Experiment Station demonstrates some dangers of tobacco use in terms of oral health. Older children and teens can drag cigarettes or chew tobacco into Mouthie's mouth and see the dangerous consequences. Explore peer pressure and media influences.
The Cleaning Experiment Station examines the consequences of various levels of personal dental hygiene, revealing the long-term effects of poor hygiene.
Your Tooth Story shows typical development of teeth from birth to adulthood. This demonstration eases concerns kids have about losing teeth and engages them in a discussion of how their mouth develops with their body. Younger kids may enjoy a lesson about the tooth fairy and tooth traditions around the world.
The Dental Time Warp lets children compare dental instruments and practices from the 19th century and today to see how the focus has shifted from painful intervention to painless prevention. Discuss the types of instruments the students are looking at and what they might be used for.
The Creativity Corner lets children and teens design a poster or product packaging to share their new knowledge about the dangers of tobacco with their peers. Kids can use a simple drawing program to make a poster about peer pressure, or tobacco packaging that tells the true story about tobacco addiction.
This National Gallery of Art website includes NGA Kids and Online Tours. Many wonderful activities for children are available. Children can learn about art through various activities available for kids of all ages.
Online Tours Online Tours presents a collection of tours. Choose a tour by school or medium and explore the National Gallery's collections of painting, sculpture, works on paper, photographs, and decorative arts.
NGA Kids An interactive area where fun and learning are combined in The Art Zone. Topics include: Collage Machine, Mobile, PixelFace, 3-D Twirler, Cubits, and more.
Faces and Places Faces & Places encourage children of all ages to create portraits and landscape paintings in the style of American artists. By combining visual elements borrowed from more than 100 works in the National Gallery's permanent collection, this two-part interactive activity offers an overview of American folk art of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Photo Op This interactive activity introduces you to digital photography and image editing. Use the virtual camera to snap photos, then edit the images or add special effects to create your own works of art.
Still Life Still Life allows you to create an interactive Still Life that mirrors the paintings of the old masters. Children of all ages can learn about the world of "Still Life" art by creating their own masterpiece.
Netflix has revolutionized the way people "go to" the movies - by bringing the movies directly to them. With today's busy lifestyles and consumers demanding more value and control, it's no wonder that Netflix has become the preferred online provider of the home entertainment experience.
Sign up today and try Netflix for free!
Over 80,000 Titles Fast, Free Delivery Family Friendly Features Give Netflix as a Gift - Buy a Gift Subscription Get a drink, get a snack, sit back and relax - to a new movie or your favorite classic. "It's great to watch a movie in your own space with no time restrictions"
Environment If Netflix members drove to and from a rental store, they would consume 800,000 gallons of gasoline and release more than 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The New York Philharmonic KidZone offers many exciting sections that will teach, entertain, and engage your child in the art of Music. Kids and adults can explore the Game Room, Musicians' Lounge, Composers' Gallery, Instrument Storage Room, Instrument Laboratory, Conductor/Soloist Dressing Rooms, Newsstand, Composition, and Workshop.
Meet famous composers at The Composer's Gallery or meet the musicians in the Musicians' Lounge. Learn about different categories of instruments in the Instrument Lab; you can even make your own instrument. Kids can also create their own music at the Composition Workshop.
The New York Philharmonic KidZone is a must for anyone interested in music. Press "Blue Button" to hear and see this unique website.
When you bite into a crunchy New York State apple or enjoy a glass of New York State wine, you can almost taste the pride. New York growers and food manufacturers are proud to provide a rich and diverse array of quality products such as locally grown produce, syrups and sauces, cheese, honey, meats, pasta and baked goods – fresh and processed products that never go out of season.
The Pride of New York Program was developed to promote and support the sale of agricultural products grown and food products processed within New York State. The Program’s growing membership now includes farmers and processors, retailers, distributors, restaurants and related culinary and support associations, all working together to bring you wholesome, quality New York State products.
Be part of the Pride. Look for products displaying the Pride of New York logo when you shop and support your neighbors, the generations of family farms and food processors who have made New York State one of America’s leading suppliers of food and agricultural products. Press "Blue Button" to find your local Farmers' Markets, Products produced in New York, Harvest Dates, Events, Recipes, and more.
When you bite into a crunchy New York State apple or enjoy a glass of New York State wine, you can almost taste the pride. New York growers and food manufacturers are proud to provide a rich and diverse array of quality products such as locally grown produce, syrups and sauces, cheese, honey, meats, pasta and baked goods, fresh and processed products that never go out of season.
The Pride of New York Program was developed to promote and support the sale of agricultural products grown and food products processed within New York State. The Program’s growing membership now includes farmers and processors, retailers, distributors, restaurants and related culinary and support associations all working together to bring you wholesome, quality New York State products.
Be part of the Pride. Look for products displaying the Pride of New York logo when you shop and support your neighbors – the generations of family farms and food processors who have made New York State one of America’s leading suppliers of food and agricultural products.
Following is just a small sample of the wealth of information that can be found on the "Pride of New York State" website. Find Local Farmers' Markets, NY Product information, NY Product standards and guidelines for "healty and safe products", Products grown and produced in New York State, and much more.
Read about New York’s commodities including: Honey, Maple Syrup, Poultry and Poultry Products, Shell Eggs, Wine, Bottled Water, Christmas Trees, and Fresh Produce.
PBS Parents is a trusted online resource that's filled with information about your child’s development from birth through the early school years. Filled with input from experts in child psychology, early childhood education, media and other fields, PBS Parents provides the answers you need to be your child’s first, best teacher.
Looking for expert advice on the latest parenting issues? Check out the Expert Q & A blog on our Issues and Advice page. Post comments, ask questions, share stories — be part of the conversation.
PBS Parents is committed to providing valuable educational resources for parents and caregivers. Our Education section offers strategies for building literacy and math skills, tips for Going to School, and recommendations from children’s book experts in our Booklights blog.
"Visit Fun and Games for engaging, age-appropriate games from your child's favorite PBS KIDS programs. And, be sure to put a PBS KIDS character in a photo with your child with our Photo Factory. There's also a field guide with activities that encourage children to explore the wonder of the world around them. Our Parties page has fun party ideas and activities too.
To enhance your online experience, visit My PBS Parents, where you can customize the site to see TV schedules from your local PBS station and get activities from your child’s favorite PBS KIDS programs.
Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning You should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of poisoning. It is important to remove the person from the source of exposure quickly. Remove contaminated clothing and wash off any chemical which has soaked through. You may save a life. Press "Blue Button" for important information on Pesticide Poisoning Symptoms and First Aid.
Change the World by Changing What You Eat The Regional Farm & Food Project is a member supported, farmer focused, non-profit serving the greater Hudson-Mohawk Valley food shed of New York State. Founded in 1996 to promote sustainable agriculture and local food systems, we do grass roots organizing, farmer to farmer trainings, consumer re-skilling workshops and public issues education. Our reward is restoring the balance between farms and factories, local and global, and people and profits.
Nutrient Dense Farming The Next Frontier Every time we harvest crops from a field, we are strategically mining minerals from the soils. If we do not replenish the minerals removed up to the level where everything that we need in our bodies is present in our crops, we are not fully optimizing our crop production. That's where Nutrient Dense Farming becomes a profound yet simple solution, presenting easy to incorporate practices to enrich our soils, our food and our selves.
Nutrient Dense Farming (NDF) aims to create a highly functioning soil ecosystem in which the crops that are harvested have a measurably greater quantity of a broad spectrum of minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients, and antioxidants than either conventional or many certified organic crops. These nutrient components also need to be in appropriate ratios to each other in order to maximize absorption and use by the body. This series draws from cutting edge research and long proven techniques that build the ideal soil environment for crop growth and production. Highly functional and robust soils translate into peak nutritive levels, peak yields, and peak pest, disease and extreme weather resistance. Press "Blue Button" to learn more about The Regional Farm & Food Project.
Starfall, a completely ad-free site, teaches children to read with phonics. Starfall is designed for children in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade; using exciting phonics games and online interactive books to teach children how to read.
Starfall includes a lot of ABC animations, animated interactive books and other reading exercises. There are also a lot of downloadable materials such as handouts for home or classroom use and print-outs for learning activities. This site can be used to teach both younger and older children to read. It teaches simple alphabets and sounds for the younger child and phonics based reading for an older child.
Meet nearby Stay at Home Moms! Come to a local Stay at Home Moms Meetup for friendship and reassurance, parenting and career advice, stories and fun. All are welcome so bring the kids! Press "Blue Button" to find your local Moms Group.
Meetup Groups Help Moms
Find others who share their interests Get involved locally Learn, teach, and share things Make friends
"Welcome to StoryPlace, the ultimate Children's Digital Library. Explore our pages full of stories and activities for children young and old." StoryPlace. a wonderful website for children! The following awards and acknowledgements say it all.
Awards & Acknowledgements
Chosen by the American Library Association as a Great Web Site for Kids.
Chosen by PBS Teacher Source as a recommended resource for teachers.
Selected as a featured site by Lightspan’s StudyWeb as one of the best educational resources on the Web.
Selected as a Best Bet on the USA TODAY Education Web Site for educational value.
A+ rating by Education World as an outstanding site for Pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Net-mom approved as one of the best sites for families on the Net!
Selected as Web Site of the Month by School Library Journal for providing quality content appropriate for family viewing and participation.
The Story of Thomas & Friends Our story begins in 1917 in the sleepy village of Box in Wiltshire, England. It is nighttime and a young boy lies awake in his bed, listening to steam engines huffing and puffing along the nearby railway tracks.
Deep in the surrounding countryside, where the Great Western Railway main line climbs steadily uphill for 2 miles, a tank engine from Box station is steaming away, helping a heavy goods train up the hill. To the little boy tucked up in bed, listening to the engines struggling up the incline, it sounds very much like they are talking to each other.
The young boy is Wilbert Awdry - later to become the Reverend W. Awdry, the creator of Thomas. Listen to the story of how Thomas became "the most famous tank engine in the world".
Press "Blue Button" for wonderful stories that reinforce friendship, loyalty, and "being a useful engine". Thomas entertains your child with Games, Videos, Activities and more fun.
The word is: There are advertisements on top and side bars, but the stories of Thomas and his friends are quite wonderful.
From Lake Erie to Long Island New York Wine Country spans the entire breadth of New York State. View "Uncork New York" and click on the many New York Wine Regions. View the list of wineries found in each wine region as well as have the opportunity to view a short video clip on the region, peruse a map locating the wineries and check out the calendar of events for this particular region. You’ll also learn about each region’s specialties and find some general statistics.
If there are one or more “Wine trails’’ active in the region, we have provided links to their sites as well. Wine trails are groups of wineries that are related geographically and work cooperatively to encourage visitors to learn about the fine products they are bringing to the market. Many of the wine trails have special event programs that feature wine and food pairing events throughout the year. These events are listed along with the winery-specific events in the Calendar of events for the individual regions.
Map Center To see a statewide map indicating the location of the various regions. You can easily identify how to move from one region to another if you have time for an extended visit. By then clicking on the specific region of interest, you will get a more detailed map.
Hudson River Valley Wine Region North of New York City, graced by the beauty and temperature-moderating effects of the majestic Hudson River, lies one of America's most historic wine regions. Even more important than the water's effect on the air, the steep palisades funnel maritime breezes through the region, which today hosts more than 20 wineries building on the tradition of the oldest vineyard and winery in America. A pioneering region for French-American grape varieties such as Seyval Blanc and Baco Noir, the Hudson River Region has also proved hospitable to the more delicate European grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.
Within the larger Hudson River Region, on the West side of the Hudson River enjoy the "Shawangunk Wine Trail," named after a nearby mountain range. On the East side of the Hudson River is the "Dutchess Wine Trail". Press "Blue Button" to view Uncork New York".
Watchknow collects and organizes educational videos for kids. Watchknow does the screening for you so that you do not need to research, literally, millions of videos that are available on the net.
Watchknow makes it easier to find good educational videos for children by subject. You can easily access quality educational videos for kids by age, subject, and sub categories. Parents and Teachers may select videos for kids to learn from, by category and by rating. The best rated videos are sorted at the top of the page.
Videos for kids are categorized and easily found by subjects. Find videos by language arts, literature, math, science, history, social studies, and many more topics. Once you've selected your category, just drill down to sub-categories such as chemistry within science. Watchknow is excellent for children that need extra help or for gifted children that want to expand their learning experience in a particular subject.
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Welcome to John F. Kennedy International Airport, "Where America Greets the World." If you've been to JFK recently, you probably noticed that there's a lot of new construction under way. Well, what you see is only the beginning of a nearly complete makeover of the airport.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is operated by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a lease with the City of New York since June 1, 1947. JFK is located in the southeastern section of Queens County, New York City, on Jamaica Bay. It is fifteen miles by highway from midtown Manhattan. Geographic reference points are 40¡ 38' 28.5" north, 73¡ 46' 41.9" west. John F. Kennedy International Airport consists of 4,930 acres, including 880 acres in the Central Terminal Area (CTA). The airport has more than 30 miles of roadway and is 12.7 feet above sea level.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) has been operated by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a lease with the City of New York since June 1, 1947. LGA is located in the Borough of Queens, New York City, bordering on Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay. It is eight miles from Midtown Manhattan. Geographic reference points are 40° 46' 36.2" north, 73° 52' 23.7" west. LaGuardia consists of 680 acres and 72 aircraft gates. The airport is 12.7 feet above sea level.
Following is a brief history of LaGuardia Airport. First occupied by Gala Amusement Park, the site was turned into a 105-acre private flying field in 1929. Ground was broken on September 9, 1937 for a new airport, which was built jointly by the City of New York and the Federal Works Progress Administration. It was dedicated on October 15, 1939 as New York City Municipal Airport. On November 2, 1939, the name was changed to New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field. On December 2, 1939 the airport was opened to commercial traffic. On June 1, 1947 the airport was leased to the Port Authority and renamed LaGuardia Airport, after one of New York City's most celebrated figures, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. A new Central Terminal Building was opened in 1964, enlarged in 1967 and again in 1992. The airport celebrated its 65th anniversary of commercial flight on December 2, 2004.
American Revolution - Battle of Fort Washington
Battles of the American Revolution Battle of Fort Washington Date: November 16th, 1776 Between: British and German (Hessian) troops against American Continental Army Location: Washington Heights, New York (183rd Street and Ft. Washington Avenue)
On November 16, 1776 the last position the Americans held on Manhattan Island was the area around Fort Washington on the northern tip, known as Harlem Heights. General Nathan Greene commanded the American positions with an option; at his discretion, to withdraw if he considered it necessary. Major General William Howe commanded the British troops.
There are several accounts of the Battle of Fort Washington. Following, are excerpts from three highly regarded books about the Battle of Fort Washington in the American Revolution:
Source: Rise, and Fight Again: Perilous Times Along the Road to Independence, by Charles Bracelen Flood
November 16, 1776. "Heavy rains spoiled Major General, William Howe's planned second attack on the American army near White Plains on October 31. The next day the Americans were found to be apparently well entrenched at North Castle Heights. The rebel earthworks were composed largely of cornstalks pulled from nearby fields, whose roots, full of clinging soil, faced outward. Howe may have been discouraged by these illusory defenses, but his goal remained the complete removal of American troops from Manhattan, not the annihilation of Washington's army. His attention returned to Fort Washington which the American commander in chief had left garrisoned under Colonel Robert Magaw after a general rebel evacuation of the island."
Source: History Of The American Revolution, by John R. Alden (De Capo Press, 1989)
" . . . Washington decided to evacuate Manhattan, except for the fort named after him; and to concentrate at White Plains. He ought also to have abandoned Fort Washington, for the troops within it were left without support and exposed to British attack. But he did withdraw the bulk of his men on Manhattan in time . . .
" . . . At White Plains the Patriot army was in improved spirits. It had diminished to 14,500 men. But the morale of the Americans had been improved by the good showing they had made in the several skirmishes that took place after the capture of New York: by a few days of rest, by the arrival of food and drink, and perhaps even by the departure of many deserters. Moreover, the Patriot army was no longer seriously threatened with encirclement.
" . . . One attack by the Hessians and another by the British were repulsed. Gradually, the Americans on Chatterton's were almost encompassed by their enemies. Before Washington could reinforce them, they were driven from the hill . . . The losses on both sides at White Plains were counted in scores rather than in thousands. Nevertheless, the battle was a great turning point, since General Howe soon afterward abandoned his stately and dignified pursuit of Washington's army and turned westward.
"They entered New York Harbor in scores, the tall-sailed warships of Admiral Howe and the humbler transports carrying the troops of General Howe. From Manhattan, week after week in July and August of 1776, General Washington watched the British forces grow. The Patriots had resolved, if possible, to defend the city, and Washington had collected a large army there. At last, when all was ready, General Howe moved to the attack. He routed one third of Washington's troops in the battle of Long Island; he seized the city; he pursued Washington to White Plains and defeated him there; he easily captured Fort Washington and its large American garrison; and he drove the Patriot general across New Jersey and the Delaware River. He won a chain of victories in the late summer and autumn of 1776, and the Patriots seemed to be in the direst distress. But the British had not conquered, as they had planned to do, New England. And suddenly, as winter came on, Washington struck back.
"He overcame a Hessian garrison at Trenton, defeated a British detachment at Princeton, and went into secure winter quarters, early in 1777, at Morristown in the hills of New Jersey. When weariness, cold, and snow forced both the British and the Patriots to remain quiet, Howe held only New York, Long Island, Newport, and eastern New Jersey. Guy Carleton and his army were still in Canada and the Patriots had survived the first powerful British onslaughts.
"As the Patriot commander in chief feared, William Howe had determined to take Fort Washington. Colonel Magaw had more than 3,000 men to defend it, but its works were unfinished. Howe knew that it was by no means impregnable. He had the opportunity to hit hard a the Patriots with very little risk of encountering a check. He began to move troops and artillery into position for assault during the night of November 14. The following day Magaw was summoned to surrender. He replied that he would fight to the "last extremity". On the morning of November 16, 8,000 British and Hessian soldiers advanced to the attack in four divisions, supported by artillery fire and also by cannonading from the frigate Pearl, stationed in the Hudson. Howe intended to make three assaults: the fourth division was merely to feign an attack. As it turned out, all four parts of the royal troops took part in the battle that followed. Magaw tried to defend the approaches to the fort. He did not have enough men to do it . . . The British and the Hessians drove forward in overwhelming force, penned Magaw's men within the unfinished fort, and compelled its surrender before the end of the day. The British and Hessians are reported to have had 78 killed and 374 wounded, the Americans only 59 slain and 96 injured. But the outcome was nothing less than disastrous for the Patriots. The British captured 2,607 American soldiers and 230 officers together with all their weapons, large quantities of artillery, ammunitions, tents, and other military equipment. The Americans had suffered a grievous blow."
Source: Almost A Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling (2007 Oxford University Press, USA)
"The British surrounded the installation and brought up their artillery. Before they opened fire, Magaw was offered the opportunity to surrender. To refuse was to invite a bombardment that was certain to be catastrophic. Furthermore, to lose after refusing to surrender was to run the risk that the victors, driven to an insane fury by the loss of comrades, would give no quarter. Magaw, who had blustered of fighting to the death and of holding out for weeks, conceded to brutal reality. He surrendered. From start to finish, the operation had consumed only five hours. When the gates of Fort Washington opened, 2,870 men paraded into British captivity. Another 149 Americans had been killed and wounded in the battle, and vast amounts of arms were lost. The British in turn, had lost 458 killed, wounded, and missing, proportionally but a small fraction of their losses at Bunker Hill . . ."
Battles of the American Revolution Battles of Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery Date: October 3, 1777 Between: British, German (Hessian), and Loyalist troops against American Continental Army
Location: Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery in Bear Mountain
Click to enlarge sign at Fort Clinton.
The sign reads: Fort Clinton Oct. 6, 1777, Orange County Militia Defended this Post, stormed by British, On futile Expedition to, Aid Burgoyne at Saratoga
Fort Clinton was constructed on the south side of Popolopen Creek on a rocky ridge overlooking the Hudson River below, oriented to cover a 400-yard wide plain before the drop to the waterway.
Fort Montgomery also overlooked the Hudson River, but was situated on the northern shore of Popolopen Creek, which ran west from the Hudson . . . Learn more about the American Revolution in the Hudson River Valley and the Battles at Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery.
Battles Of The Revolutionary War: 1775-1781 by W.J. Wood (Dec 23, 2003)
"Now began what could be called the campaign of the Clintons. Sir Henry was opposed by an American Clinton, Major General George Clinton, who was also governor of New York. The governor had a brother, Brigadier General James Clinton. George commanded Fort Montgomery; James commanded Fort Clinton.
"Sir Henry left 1,000 men at Verplanck's Point and with the remaining 2,000 moved up the west side of the Hudson, sending 900 men under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell against Fort Montgomery, while Sir Henry himself led the remainder to Fort Clinton. The British successfully stormed both forts, though suffering a combined loss of over 300 killed and wounded. The 600 Americans in the two forts took an even heavier proportion of losses: 250 killed, wounded, or missing."
Fort Clinton, Today Today, the site of Fort Clinton is part of Bear Mountain State Park. Unfortunately, most of Fort Clinton was demolished during the construction of the Bear Mountain Bridge and nearby Route 9W.
Fort Montgomery, Today Today, Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site is a genuine vestige of our nation's struggle for independence. Visitors will see the actual foundations of the fort's buildings and remains of the fort's earthworks.
Visit Fort Montgomery and tour the remains of the 14 acre fortification, perched on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River. Visitors can learn about this important military post at the new Visitor Center. You can view original artifacts and weapons, large scale models of the fort and the attack, detailed mannequins frozen in poses of battle, and a fifteen minute movie of the 1777 assault.
American Revolution - Battle of Fort Montgomery
845-446-2134
Battles of the American Revolution Battle of Fort Montgomery and Battle of Fort Clinton Date: October 3, 1777 Between: British, German (Hessian), and Loyalist troops against American Continental Army Location: Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton in Bear Mountain
"To aid Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's British army stalled at Saratoga, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton sailed from New York with 3,000 British, German, and Loyalist soldiers and a flotilla of warships. On the morning of October 6, 1777, Clinton landed 2,100 of his men on the west side of the Hudson River near Stony Point. This force followed a narrow trail through the mountains, where they ran into a party of 30 men sent from Fort Clinton to detect the British advance. After beating the Americans back, Sir Henry Clinton sent 900 men around Bear Mountain to attack Fort Montgomery. The rest would wait to attack Fort Clinton until the first group had reached Fort Montgomery."
The invasion of the Hudson Highlands had begun.
On October 6, 1777, the Battle of Fort Montgomery lasted all afternoon before the British finally overran the badly outnumbered garrison of Forts Clinton and Montgomery. So valiant was the defense, that fully half the American force was killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The small American fleet and the iron chain were destroyed, and the river lay open to Sir Henry Clinton's forces.
"On the afternoon of October 6, 1777, the British began an assault on both forts, which were defended by no more than 700 men. At Fort Montgomery, the Americans kept the British at bay as the two sides exchanged musket fire. When the Americans refused to surrender, the British stormed both forts. Taking advantage of the growing dark and the smoky haze from the battle, many of the Americans escaped, but as many as 275 were taken as prisoners to New York City where they remained for much of the war."
When the battles of the "twin" forts was over, the British destroyed Fort Montgomery, left British troops at Fort Clinton, and burned Kingston, the capital of New York. Then, receiving orders to join Sir William Howe's army near Philadelphia, Clinton's men destroyed Fort Clinton and sailed back down the Hudson. Although captured and destroyed, the forts had presented enough of an obstacle to keep the British forces in New York from aiding Burgoyne's army. The following year, in 1778, the American began rebuilding their defenses, this time at West Point.
"Sir Henry Clinton's fleet sailed north and burned the state's capitol at Kingston. Then, news that General Burgoyne's army had been completely defeated brought Clinton's expedition to an abrupt end. Despite the success of his part of the campaign, Clinton was forced to return to New York City. Behind him, he left Forts Montgomery and Clinton in ruins."
Information Source The history of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, during the American Revolutionary War, a War of Independence between the Americans and England, is sourced from interpretive signs at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center and on the Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton historic trails.
Fort Montgomery State Historic Site is located in Fort Montgomery, New York 10922 in the historic Hudson River Valley.
Information Source The history of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton during the American Revolutionary War; a War of Independence between the Americans and England, is sourced from interpretive signs at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center and on the Fort Montgomery historic trails.
Click to enlarge sign about Fort Montgomery in the American Revolution.
The interpretive sign reads: Welcome to Fort Montgomery "You are standing near the western end of Fort Montgomery: a Revolutionary War fort built to defend the Hudson Highlands and protect American control of the Hudson River. On October 6, 1777, the British captured Fort Montgomery and destroyed it in the days that followed.
"Trails from this parking area lead to two of the fort's redoubts. The trail that passes beneath the highway will take you to the Fort Montgomery visitor center and Fort Montgomery's remains where interpretive signs will help you understand the history of the fort and the battle."
Today, Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin.
Fort Montgomery was the scene of a fierce battle for control of the Hudson River during the American Revolutionary War; the Hudson was considered strategic by both the Americans and the British during the American War for Independence.
Building Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton "Early in the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress realized that the Hudson River was critical to the American cause. If the British controlled the river, they could divide the rebellious colonies. Therefore, the Americans began work on Fort Montgomery in March 1776. . .
" . . . When the Americans discovered that the land on the opposite side of the Popolopen Creek was higher and would threaten Fort Montgomery if held by the enemy, they began constructing a second fort there, called Fort Clinton. They connected the two forts by a pontoon bridge. . .
"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.
"Supplies were often hard to obtain, morale was often low, and discipline was a chronic problem. Nevertheless, Forts Montgomery and Clinton were largely complete by October 1777, when the British attacked them."
Fort Clinton "Originally, the commissioners in charge of the work were confident that no overland attack on the fort was possible, but misgivings led them to begin extending the fortifications inland. They began fortifying several pieces of high ground that became Fort Montgomery's three redoubts. The realization that a higher piece of ground just across the Popolopen Creek threatened Fort Montgomery led to the construction of Fort Clinton."
Click to enlarge sign about the Battle of Fort Montgomery in the American Revolution.
The interpretive sign reads: Battle of Fort Montgomery "To aid Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's British army stalled at Saratoga, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton sailed from New York with 3,000 British, German, and Loyalist soldiers and a flotilla of warships. On the morning of October 6, 1777, Clinton landed 2,100 of his men on the west side of the Hudson River near Stony Point. This force followed a narrow trail through the mountains, where they ran into a party of 30 men sent from Fort Clinton to detect the British advance. After beating the Americans back, Sir Henry Clinton sent 900 men around Bear Mountain to attack Fort Montgomery. The rest would wait to attack Fort Clinton until the first group had reached Fort Montgomery.
"In the afternoon, the British began an assault on both forts, which were defended by no more than 700 men. At Fort Montgomery, the Americans kept the British at bay as the two sides exchanged musket fire. When the Americans refused to surrender, the British stormed both forts. Taking advantage of the growing dark and the smoky haze from the battle, many of the Americans escaped, but as many as 275 were taken as prisoners to New York City where they remained for much of the war.
"Following the battle, the British destroyed Fort Montgomery, garrisoned Fort Clinton, and burned New York's capital at Kingston. Then, receiving orders to join Sir William Howe's army near Philadelphia, Clinton's men destroyed Fort Clinton and sailed back down the Hudson. Although captured and destroyed, the forts had presented enough of an obstacle to keep the British forces in New York from aiding Burgoyne's army. The following year, in 1778, the American began rebuilding their defenses, this time at West Point."
Click to enlarge photo of the Wounded Patriot at the Battle of Fort Montgomery.
Men in the photo represent two American patriots: Private, Ulster County Militia, and Private, 5th New York Regiment. The militiaman, in civilian clothing, is armed with a British musket. He assists his wounded comrade carrying a French musket from the 1750s.
The American Revolution - 1777: History of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton The following historical accounts record the Battles of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton from different historical perspectives:
The War of the Revolution, by Christopher Ward, Volume II (Macmillan, 1952)
"An opaque fog lay close to the surface of the Hudson River on the morning of October 5, 1777. The awakening bugles of General Israel Putnam’s Continentals at Peekskill on the eastern shore of the river seemed muted by the white and misty blanket. The slow-rising sun burned irregular holes in it, however, and through these the General’s sentinels, who had been posted south of his encampment during most of the summer, saw something that banished their accustomed boredom. There were barges and galleys downriver—many of them—and above the low lying haze rose the towering masts of British frigates. From downriver, too, came the muffled sounds of alarm guns. The long-dreaded invasion of enemy troops from occupied New York had begun.
The elderly Yankee Israel Putnam was busy at once. An oarsman, rowing desperately, bore messages across the wide stream to Fort Montgomery, an unfinished cluster of earthworks then under the command of the thirty-eight-year-old governor of the new state of New York, Brigadier General George Clinton. At this bastion, nearly a hundred and fifty feet above the spot where the Popolopen Creek joins the Hudson, the Governor received Putnam’s letter. Immediately he sent a summary of its contents to his older brother, General James Clinton, then in command of Fort Clinton, a smaller stronghold on the steep south bank of the narrow creek.
In the meantime, the British under Sir Henry Clinton (a distant cousin of the American generals of the same surname) were disembarking at Verplanck’s Point on the east bank of the Hudson, not far below Putnam’s headquarters. The grating of their boats in the shallows of the river, the sharp voices of their officers ordering immediate formations, came strangely through the thick fog to the ears of Putnam’s scouts, informing them only that the invaders were in considerable numbers . . .
. . . Perhaps the Battle of Fort Montgomery would have been utterly neglected had not two young American soldiers chosen to visit the site on a sunny spring day of the following year. Historians do not usually end their chapters on such footnotes as these men provided, but their reports have so documented the narrative that they deserve place here. One of them, a young chaplain named Timothy Dwight (later president of Yale College), wrote in his journal that while he was climbing from a river barge to the place where the battle had been fought, the stench of dead bodies caused him great distress.
We found, at a small distance from Fort Montgomery, a pond of a moderate size, in which we saw the bodies of several men, who had been killed in the assault upon the fort. They were thrown into this pond, the preceding autumn, by the British … Some of them were covered at this time; but at a depth so small as to leave them distinctly visible. Others had an arm, a leg, or a part of the body, above the surface. The clothes which they wore when they were killed, were still on them, and proved that they were militia; being the ordinary dress of farmers. Their faces were bloated and monstrous; and their postures were uncouth, distorted and to the highest degree afflictive . . ."
Battles Of The Revolutionary War: 1775-1781 by W.J. Wood (Dec 23, 2003)
"On October 6th, 300 Continental soldiers of the 5th New York regiment, 100 artillerymen of Lamb's Artillery, and some 300 Levies and militiamen defended the unfinished Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton against a combined force of roughly 2,100 Loyalists, Hessians, and British regulars led by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton attacked Forts Montgomery and Clinton from the landward side (which was only partially completed) with support from cannon fire from British ships on the Hudson 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 Regiments of Foot.
The Americans had emplaced an iron chain and a boom across the Hudson River, protected by four warships, to impede the British flotilla.
Lt. Col. Mungo Campbell and several British regulars approach the fort with a flag of truce indicating that they wish to avoid `further effusion of blood.' Clinton sends Lt. Col. William S. Livingston to meet the enemy. The British officer requests that the patriots surrender. They are promised that no harm would come to them. Livingston, in turn, invites Campbell to surrender and promises him and his men good treatment. Fuming at this audacity, the British resume the fight. British ships working against an ebb tide attack the forts and American vessels. A steady volley ensues with each side receiving a share of the bombardment. British officers Campbell and Vaughan close in on all sides of the twin forts. Leading his men into battle, Campbell is killed in a violent attack on the North Redoubt of Fort Montgomery. Vaughan's horse is shot from under him as he rides into battle at Fort Clinton.
After a fierce battle lasting until dark, the British pushed the courageous Americans from the forts at the points of their bayonets. The defenders are overpowered by sheer numbers and the British gain possession of Forts Montgomery and Clinton. American casualties numbered about 350 killed, wounded and captured, while the British paid a price of at least 190 killed and wounded. Those who were not killed or did not escape are shipped to the infamous Sugar House Prisons in New York City and then onto British "hell ships" (prison ships) in the harbor. A "return," or report of prisoners, is sent to communities in the Highlands to inform families of their loved ones' capture. It is up to the families to send provisions lest the prisoners starve. Countless patriots perish on the prison ships.
U.S. Army battle map, The Battle of Fort Montgomery, 5-6 October 1777 U.S. Army battle map, The Battle of Fort Montgomery, The British Attack, Dusk, 6 October 1777 Forts Montgomery and Clinton, located just south of West Point, were built for the defense of the Hudson Highlands in 1776. It was here that British and loyalist troops overwhelmed Clinton's outnumbered patriots in October.
Although the Americans lost the battle for the Highlands, a relative handful of Americans aided in delaying British reinforcements from joining Burgoyne in the upper Hudson Valley and allowed Gates to gain much needed militia reinforcements in time to ultimately win Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga."
A guide to the Battles of the American Revolution by Theodore P. Savas and J. David Dameron (Savas Beatie LLC, NY 2006)
American Perspective: "Waiting within the American fortifications on Bemis Heights was the bloodied Continental Army led by Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates. Not an audacious commander, Gates was content to await General Burgoyne's next move. While Gates market time on Bemis Heights, Patriot forces assigned to defensive positions guarding the entrance to the Hudson Highlands worked to complete two forts on the Hudson River 100 miles south of Albany, New York. Their commander was Brig. Gen. George Clinton (not to be confused with the British commander with the same last name). The forts over which the American Clinton (who was also governor of New York) labored were named Montgomery, in honor of fallen Patriot Gen. Richard Montgomery, and Clinton, after himself as commander of the forces in that region. Built on opposite banks of Popolopen Creek, which emptied into the Hudson River on its western shore at a strategic bend, eight miles south of West Point, the bastions were key to the strategic defense of the Hudson Highlands.
Fort Montgomery guarded the northern bank of the creek and Fort Clinton the southern bank. To the east of both forts flowed the majestic Hudson River. All told, the American fielded 600 men and 20 pieces of heavy artillery. The Patriots strung a heavy iron chain across the river and seeded the water with log obstacles to disrupt any maritime assault upon the American forts. Patrolling the Hudson were two Americans warships, Montgomery and Congress, supported by a handful of smaller vessels . . .
. . . Fort Clinton was constructed on the south side of Popolopen Creek on a rocky ridge overlooking the Hudson River below, oriented to cover a 400-yard wide plain before the drop to the waterway. Fort Montgomery also overlooked the Hudson River, but was situated on the northern shore of Popolopen Creek, which ran west from the Hudson . . .
After a perfunctory request that the defenders capitulate (which was rejected), the twin assaults began. There was no element of surprise or effort at finesse. The British attached nearly simultaneously with the sun setting behind Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell's columns. Sir James Wallace's British river fleet also arrived and opened fire on the American vessels and forts, providing the British land forces with supporting fire.
Fort Montgomery fell first . . . Fort Clinton's defenders offered a better account of themselves, but the outcome was the same. Sir Henry Clinton ordered his command to launch a direct attach (there was little room to maneuver). His regulars and Hessian allies swept forward through a line of obstructions, taking terrible casualties during the approach and in the close-quarter fighting that followed. The weight of British metal carried the day, however, and within a short time the garrison was dead, wounded, captured, or fleeing . . .
By 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. the fighting was over. Only 300 Americans, including Generals James and Governor George Clinton, escaped, most from Fort Montgomery . . . Casualties: British: 190 killed and wounded; American: 350 killed, wounded, and captured."
Fort Montgomery as a Historic Ruin New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has decided not to recreate Forts Montgomery and/or Clinton. "Because of the limits of available information, any recreation would be inaccurate and would hide the violent end of these massive fortifications. Instead, the remains are preserved, just as the have survived the ages, as hallowed ground."
Fort Montgomery stands as an archeological site and a historic ruin.
Fort Montgomery, Today Today, Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. This Historic Site is a genuine vestige of our nation's struggle for independence. Visitors will see the actual foundations of the fort's buildings and remains of the fort's earthworks. Visit Fort Montgomery and tour the remains of the 14 acre fortification, perched on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River.
The site includes a Visitor Center and interpretive trail that guides visitors past the fort's ruins to breathtaking views of the Hudson River. The Visitor Center features artifacts discovered in Fort Montgomery, mannequin displays, a 3 dimensional map model, and a 14 minute orientation film.
Attractions Include Audio-Visual Programs Demonstrations Group Tours Hiking Interpretive Signs Scenic Views Self Guided Tours Visitor Center
Fort Montgomery West Redoubt in the American Revolution.
Click sign at the Fort Montgomery West Redoubt.
The sign reads: Fort Montgomery's West Redoubt "Fort Montgomery's West Redoubt was one of three strong points built to defend the fort from an overland attack.
"New York State's Governor, Brigadier General George Clinton, commanded Fort Montgomery during the battle on October 6, 1777. Clinton ordered his men into the fort's three redoubts, where they were attacked by 900 British and Loyalist soldiers. After mounting a brave resistance, the Americans were driven from the redoubts and were forced to abandon the fort."
One of the drawings in the sign shows that: "Aware that the British were approaching, Governor Clinton ordered some of his men to take a 3-pounder cannon down the road that lead to the fort and delay them. The Americans were able to temporarily stop the advancing British and Loyalist soldiers, but were eventually forced to abandon the gun and return to the fort."
Click trail marker for the Historic 1777 & 1779 American Revolution Trail.
The sign reads: The Historic 1777 & 1779 Trails "You are walking part of the 1777 historic trail that retraces as nearly as possible the routes taken by the British army during the Revolutionary War.
"The 1777 trail represents the route taken by British General Sir Henry Clinton's forces on October 6, 1777. After landing 2100 men at Stony Point, he marched north to capture Forts Clinton and Montgomery. At Doodletown, the trail splits. The east branch of the trail follows the march of forces under Sir Henry Clinton and Major General John Vaughn that captured Fort Clinton. The west branch follows the route of Lieutenant Colonel Mungo Campbell's force, which captured Fort Montgomery.
"The 1779 trail traces the route taken by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's Corps of Light Infantry in its assault on the British fortifications at Stony Point just after midnight on July 16, 1779. After a brief but fierce fight, Wayne's men captured Stony Point, achieving one of the Continental Army's most spectacular victories."
Walk the grounds of the Historic 1777 & 1779 Trails at Fort Montgomery Historic Site. You can pick up the 1777 & 1779 trails close to the Bear Mountain Bridge and/or near the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center.
Battles of the American Revolution Battle of Bennington Date: August 16th, 1777 Between: British, including British marksmen, German (Hessian), Canadian, Indian and Loyalist (Tories) troops against American Continental Army (mostly New England militia). Location: Walloomsac, New York; just 10 miles from Bennington, Vermont
"Bennington, in fact, was one of the most important fights of the Revolution, contributing as it did so largely to the final surrender of Burgoyne's whole army at Saratoga, and the utter ruin of the British invasion from the north. It is also interesting as an extremely gallant bit of fighting . . . There stood the enemy strongly entrenched on a hill, and Stark, calling his undisciplined lines about him, went at them . . . He and his men fought well their hand-to-hand fight on that hot August day, and carried the entrenchments filled with regular troops and defended by artillery. It was a daring feat of arms, as well as a battle which had an important effect upon the course of history and upon the fate of the British Empire in America." Henry Cabot Lodge
This battle was fought on August 16, 1777 in a British effort to capture American storehouses in Bennington to restock their depleting provisions. The British forces had underestimated the strength of their enemy and most of their men were killed or taken prisoner while the Americans sustained smaller losses. The British surrendered on October 17, 1777, after two unsuccessful battles in Saratoga.
Casualties and losses were recorded as: American losses: 30 killed and 40 wounded = 70 casualties. British losses: 207 killed and 700 captured = 907 casualties.
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site is located in Grafton, NY 12082, in Rensselaer County in the Hudson River Valley. Bennington Battlefield is the location of a Revolutionary War battle between the British forces of General John Burgoyne and Colonel Friedrich Baum against the American forces under Brigadier General John Stark and Colonel Seth Warner. Press "Blue Button" for more about Bennington Battlefield.
Click to enlarge the sign Chaining the Hudson in the American Revolution.
The sign reads: Chaining the Hudson "Early in the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress realized that if the British controlled the Hudson River, they could divide the rebellious colonies. To prevent this, in March 1776, the Americans began construction of Fort Montgomery above the Popolopen Creek on the west side of the Hudson River. Their work soon expanded to include a second fort, Fort Clinton, on the south side of the creek, and a massive iron chain that stretched across the Hudson River.
"Lieutenant Thomas Machin, one of the Continental Army's most able engineers, directed the work on the forts and the chain. During two separate attempts, the chain quickly broke under the strain of the ebb tide. Convinced that the chain could still work, Machin had the damage repaired and successfully stretched the chain across the river in march 1777.
"British ships never tested the chain. Rather, the British captured the forts on October 6, 1777, and cut the chain the following day. Today, Fort Montgomery State Historic Site is open to the public and interprets the story of the forts and the battle."
Click to enlarge sign: The First Chain along the Hudson River.
The sign reads: First Chain New York The First Chain Planned to keep British Ships from going up River. Anchored on shore Below, was forced by the Enemy Oct. 7, 1777
Chain at West Point After the British destroyed the Fort Montgomery chain, the Americans created an even bigger chain at West Point, which was never challenged by the enemy. The diagram on the interpretive sign is courtesy of the West Point Museum Collection, United States Military Academy.
Fort Montgomery as a Historic Ruin Rather than rebuild Fort Montgomery, New York State Parks has chosen to preserve and interpret it as a ruin. The site includes an interpretive trail that guides visitors past the fort's ruins to breathtaking vies of the Hudson River.
Battles of the American Revolution Battle of Stony Point Date: July 16th, 1779 Between: British against the American Continental Army Location: Stony Point, New York
The Stony Point Battlefield marks the "Battle of Stony Point" and the victory of the American light infantry over the British in a daring midnight raid.
Visit the site of the Battle of Stony Point, one of the last major Revolutionary War battles in the northeastern colonies. This is where Brigadier General Anthony Wayne led his corps of Continental Light Infantry in a daring midnight attack on the British, seizing the site's fortifications and taking the British garrison as prisoners on July 16, 1779.
By the late 1770s, the war had been raging for four years and both sides were eager for a conclusion. Sir Henry Clinton, commander of the British forces in America, attempted to coerce General George Washington into one decisive battle to control the Hudson River. As part of his strategy, Clinton fortified Stony Point. Washington devised a plan for Wayne to lead an attack on the fort. Armed with bayonets only, the infantry captured the fort in short order, ending British control of the river.
The site features a museum, which offers exhibits on the battle and the 1826 Stony Point Lighthouse, as well as interpretive programs, such as reenactments highlighting 18th century military life, cannon and musket firings, cooking demonstrations, and children's activities.
Attractions Include Children's Activities Costumed Interpreters Demonstrations Educational Services Group Tours Museum and Visitors Center Picnic Area
American Revolution - John André
