GEOLOGY OF THE WEST POINT QUADRANGLE, NEW YORK 1 5 



played an important part in the Revolutionary \Var and in fad 

 may have determined the political destiny of the American colonies. 



General Washington, defeated in the battle of Long Island and 

 driven from his strongholds in New York and the lower part of 

 the river, removed his headquarters to Newburgh on the north side 

 of the mountains. For over two years he remained behind the shel- 

 ter of these hills, with just enough strength to man his positions 

 and oppose the British advance, though constantly threatened by a 

 persistent enemy and once almost betrayed by the traitor Burr. 



In October 1777, while Washington was in the south, the Hudson 

 pathway through the hills was captured and all the fortifications in. 

 the Highlands were destroyed by a British force under Sir Henry 

 Clinton in a brilliantly executed attack. Landing on the east side 

 of the river at Verplanck's Point, this able commander caused 

 General Putnam, who was holding the Albany post road with his 

 main force encamped at Continentalville, in the valley north of 

 Peekskill, to withdraw most of his forces from the west to the 

 east bank. 



The British force then quickly crossed to the west side of the 

 river and found its way to the west of Dunderberg by a rapid march 

 through the Timp pass. The objective was the forts guarding the 

 approach to West Point, which were well placed upon the terrace 

 so strongly developed on the west side of the river. 



Once upon the smooth bench above the river, the British took 

 Fort Montgomery in spite of a stubborn defence by the small force 

 of Continentals, who were aided by the deep and easily defended 

 trench of Popolopen brook, and in a few days the forts were all 

 destroyed, and this topographic stronghold was in British hands. 

 But defeats in the north forced the abandonment of the areas, and 

 Washington, perceiving the importance of retaining control of this 

 natural fortification, rebuilt his forts and stretched chains across the 

 river to prevent the passage of the hostile fleet. Thereafter, in spite 

 of diminished resources in men and munitions, he successfully 

 retained his positions until the end of the war. 



This rough wild country was an effective barrier to land com- 

 munication except on the river itself up to the time of railroad 

 building. But the railroad and the river together soon became the 

 best route of emigration to the great unsettled interior regions. 

 Since that time commerce has followed the same line in such volume 

 that New York City, as the principal port to benefit by the advan- 

 tages of this natural route, has become the greatest trade center of 

 the continent. 



