Missouri S&T GEO ENG 342 - efense of West Point on the Hudson, 1775 – 1783

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GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointDefense of West Point on the Hudson, 1775 – 1783GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointPURPOSETo inform students how possession of the Hudson River Valley and fortifications at West Point were vital to defense of the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War.GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointOUTLINE• Background/Orientation• Brief Chronology of Events• Military Implications• Major Fortifications• Summary• ConclusionGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West Point• Walker, Paul. Engineers of Independence: A documentary of the Army Engineers in the American Revolution, 1775-1783.Washington, DC: Historical Division, Office of Administrative Services, Office of the Chief of Engineers, 1981.• Diamant, Lincoln. Chaining the Hudson. New York: Carol, 1989.• LTC Dave Palmer. The River and The Rock: A History of Fortress West Point, 1775-1783. New York: Greenwood, 1969.• U.S. Military Academy Department of History. "West Point Fortifications Staff Ride Notecards."http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/pdfs/ Second Edition (1998).ReferencesGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointBackground/Orientation1 of 3• Located in the Hudson Highlands, 50mi North of New York City.• 16000 acres of Orange County, NY.• Located along the Hudson River’s “S” CurveGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointBackground/Orientation2 of 3GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointBackground/Orientation3 of 3GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointChronology of Events1 of 4• Bernard Romans begins to develop a plan for the defense of the Hudson Valley on Constitution Island, beginning in August 1775•This become Fort Constitution•It is opposite West Point and 200 feet lowerGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West Point• October 1777, British forces march up the Hudson Valley, engaging and conquering Forts Montgomery and Clinton(south)• They also succeed in breaking Thomas Machin’sfloating chain across the Hudson at Ft. Montgomery.• Fort Clinton(Arnold) is built on West Point 12 March1778; Louis Radiere and Thaddeus Kosciuszko feudon design of defenses for West Point.• April 1778, construction begins on Forts Putnam, Webb, Willys, and Meigs on West Point side of Hudson.Chronology of Events2 of 4GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointChronology of Events3 of 4• Thomas Machin emplaces the improved, thicker“Great Chain” across the Hudson, 30 April 1778.• 1 June 1779 British capture Stony Point, the Americans recapture, then abandon it in July. Washington renews his commitment to West Point –maintenance performed and additional redoubts built to the south and west.• Fall 1779, plans for defense of West Point were complete.GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointChronology of Events4 of 4• George Washington establishes his headquarters at West Point in 1779.• West Point opened as the U.S. Army Engineer school on July 4, 1802.• April 29, 1812, an act of Congress reorganizes the Academy and increases its strength to 250 officers.GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications1 of 11Physical Geography• Topography & The Hudson River ValleyGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications2 of 11GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications3 of 11GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications4 of 11GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications5 of 11Physical Geography• Topography & The Hudson River Valley• VegetationGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications6 of 11Vegetation, as viewed from Constitution IslandGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications7 of 11Physical Geography• Topography & The Hudson River Valley• Vegetation• WeatherGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications8 of 11Strategic Analysis• Geopolitics• Strategic MobilityGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications9 of 11GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications10 of 11Tactical Analysis• Avenues of Approach• Observation of Fields of Fire• Key Terrain • Obstacles• Cover and ConcealmentGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMilitary Implications11of 11Logistical Analysis• Supply• Transportation• Construction MaterialsGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications1 of 10GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications2 of 10GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications3 of 10Constitution Island• Original plan created by Bernard Romans• East side of Hudson, excellent SoutheastFields of Fire• Surrounded by water on three sides andMarsh on its east side• Not the highest terrain in the areaGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications4 of 10Fields of Fire from Fort ConstitutionGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications5 of 10Fort PutnamRedoubt 4GE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications6 of 10Fort Arnold/Clinton on West PointGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications7 of 10View of Hudson River from Fort Arnold/ClintoGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications8 of 10The Great ChainGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications9 of 10The Great ChainGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West PointMajor Fortifications10 of 10The Great ChainGE 301 Introduction to Military GeologyThe Hudson River and West Point• The colonial army successfully applied its surveyed geographical/geological


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Missouri S&T GEO ENG 342 - efense of West Point on the Hudson, 1775 – 1783

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