Hudson River Chain
Encyclopedia
The Hudson River Chain may refer to any of several chains used as a blockade across the Hudson River
intended to prevent British
naval vessels from proceeding up the river during the American Revolutionary War
.
to Constitution Island
, opposite. It was constructed at the Stirling Iron Works
, in Warwick
, Orange County
, by Peter Townsend, under the supervision of Timothy Pickering
. The task was completed in six weeks.
The Hudson River's narrow width and sharp turns at West Point created adverse sailing conditions and prompted construction of The Great Chain in 1778 as an obstacle to the movement of British Ships north of West Point. West Point was chosen for the placement of The Great Chain because of the distinctive "S-Curve" the Hudson makes there, which would force any large ship to slow down in order to navigate it, thus making the ship an easier target for artillery batteries
.
American soldiers positioned the chain to impede the progress of a ship should it attempt to turn into the east-west channel against frequently unfavorable winds and a strong current. Due to the Lower Hudson River actually being an estuary, it is subject to significant tidal currents which make navigation by sailing vessels particularly difficult. Cannons were placed in forts and batteries on both sides of the river to destroy the ship as it slowed to a halt against the obstacle.
When finally completed, the 600-yard chain contained iron links two feet in length and weighing 114 pounds. The links were carted to New Windsor
, where they were put together, and floated down the river to West Point on logs late in April. Including swivels, clevises, and anchors, the chain weighed 65 tons. For buoyancy, 40 feet (12.2 m) logs were cut into 16 feet (4.9 m) sections, waterproofed, and joined by fours into rafts fastened with 12 feet (3.7 m) timbers. Short sections of chain (10 links, a swivel
, and a clevis) were stapled across each raft and later, in the river, the chain sections were united.
On 30 April 1778, Captain Thomas Machin, the Artillery Officer and engineer responsible for assembling and installing the obstruction, oversaw the extension of the chain across the river. Its northern end was anchored to Constitution Island and the southern end was secured to a small cove on the western bank of the river. The Constitution Island side was protected by Marine Battery and the emplacement on the West Point side was protected by Chain Battery. Chevaux-de-frise were also placed in the channel between Pollopel's Island
and the western shore of the river, just above the North Gate of the Hudson Highlands.
Both ends were anchored to log cribs filled with rocks, keeping the ends in place. A system of pulleys, rollers, ropes, and mid-stream anchors adjusted the chain's tension to overcome the effects of river current and changing tide. Until 1783, the chain was removed each Winter and reinstalled each Spring to avoid destruction by ice.
A log "boom" (resembling a ladder in construction) also spanned the river about 100 yards downstream (south of the chain) to absorb the impact of a ship attempting to penetrate the barrier.
The British never attempted to run the chain; but "In the course of his correspondence with the British, Benedict Arnold
claimed that a well-loaded ship could break the chain." Peter Townsend received a great sum of money from the Continental Congress
for manufacturing the chain.
The greater system of fortifications at West Point, of which the chain was part, was designed and built by Polish Engineer Tadeusz Kościuszko
. George Washington was responsible for delegating this responsibility.
After the Revolution, the portion of the Chain not saved was "relegated to the West Point Foundry furnaces near Cold Spring, New York
, to be melted down for other uses."
The portion of the chain that was saved was first displayed at the West Point ordnance compound along
with captured cannon much as the black and white drawing to the right. It would also be displayed at Trophy Point
in various poses where it is currently on display with the chain surrounding a pile of rocks. The display consists of thirteen links of the chain (one for each original state), one swivel
, and one clevis. These portions of chain are maintained and preserved by the West Point Museum, United States Army Garrison, in West Point.
A section of the boom was recovered from the river in 1855 and is now on display at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
in Newburgh, New York.
John C. Abbey, and later Francis Bannerman, made profits from counterfeited chain links sold to collectors and museums.
that was sunk underwater with the intention of sinking any British ships that passed over it. It was placed south of West Point between Fort Washington
, on the island of Manhattan
, and Fort Lee
, across the river in New Jersey
. However, an opening was left for the passage of American ships, and the British obtained its location with the help of a local inhabitant. The British were well aware of its existence, and successfully passed the barrier several times. Fort Washington was captured by the British on November 16, 1776, rendering the barrier useless.
to Fort Montgomery, at the lower entrance to the Highlands, just North of the modern day Bear Mountain Bridge. Fort Clinton was just South of the Chain, also on the West Bank of the river, on the opposite side of Popolopen's Kill (or Popolopen Creek). Captain Machin, the officer who would later be responsible for the emplacement of the Great Chain at West Point, also headed this effort. In November of 1776, a faulty link broke under stress induced by the river tides, highlighting some of the difficulties in the first attempt to run a chain across the Hudson. It was repaired and reset however. The capture of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton
by the British on October 6, 1777, allowed them to dismantle the chain and raid upriver as far as Kingston, New York
.
Governor Clinton saw a positive aspect to this loss in that the British never attempted to run ships through the chain, risking everything to capture the forts and take down the chain. It seemed as though the basic idea of obstructing the river seemed sound, and after Captain Machin recovered from his wounds, he would begin work on the stronger Great Chain at West Point.
, North of West Point. The defenses of the obstruction were never fully completed, and its importance was overshadowed by the Great Chain at West Point.
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
intended to prevent British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
naval vessels from proceeding up the river during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
The Great Chain (1778-1782)
In the spring of 1778, the most notable of all these obstructions, a heavy chain supported by huge logs, was stretched across the Hudson from West PointWest Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
to Constitution Island
Constitution Island
Constitution Island is an island in the Hudson River, at West Point, New York. It is part of the grounds of the United States Army Garrison, West Point. United States Military Academy...
, opposite. It was constructed at the Stirling Iron Works
Stirling Iron Works
The Sterling Iron Works owned by Peter Townsend was one of the first steel and iron manufacturer in the American colonies and the first steel producer in the colony of New York...
, in Warwick
Warwick (village), New York
Warwick is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,412 at the 2000 census. The 2010 census population was 6,731...
, Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, by Peter Townsend, under the supervision of Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering was a politician from Massachusetts who served in a variety of roles, most notably as the third United States Secretary of State, serving in that office from 1795 to 1800 under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.-Early years:Pickering was born in Salem, Massachusetts to...
. The task was completed in six weeks.
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
.
American soldiers positioned the chain to impede the progress of a ship should it attempt to turn into the east-west channel against frequently unfavorable winds and a strong current. Due to the Lower Hudson River actually being an estuary, it is subject to significant tidal currents which make navigation by sailing vessels particularly difficult. Cannons were placed in forts and batteries on both sides of the river to destroy the ship as it slowed to a halt against the obstacle.
New Windsor, New York
New Windsor is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was estimated at 25,244 in 2010 by the US Census.The Town of New Windsor is in the eastern part of the county, bordering the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh....
, where they were put together, and floated down the river to West Point on logs late in April. Including swivels, clevises, and anchors, the chain weighed 65 tons. For buoyancy, 40 feet (12.2 m) logs were cut into 16 feet (4.9 m) sections, waterproofed, and joined by fours into rafts fastened with 12 feet (3.7 m) timbers. Short sections of chain (10 links, a swivel
Swivel
A swivel is a connection that allows the connected object, such as a gun or chair, to rotate horizontally and/or vertically. A common design for a swivel is a cylindrical rod that can turn freely within a support structure. The rod is usually prevented from slipping out by a nut, washer or...
, and a clevis) were stapled across each raft and later, in the river, the chain sections were united.
On 30 April 1778, Captain Thomas Machin, the Artillery Officer and engineer responsible for assembling and installing the obstruction, oversaw the extension of the chain across the river. Its northern end was anchored to Constitution Island and the southern end was secured to a small cove on the western bank of the river. The Constitution Island side was protected by Marine Battery and the emplacement on the West Point side was protected by Chain Battery. Chevaux-de-frise were also placed in the channel between Pollopel's Island
Pollepel Island
Pollepel Island is an island in the Hudson River.Also known as Pollopel Island, Pollopel's Island, and Bannerman Island, it is the site of Bannerman's Castle...
and the western shore of the river, just above the North Gate of the Hudson Highlands.
A log "boom" (resembling a ladder in construction) also spanned the river about 100 yards downstream (south of the chain) to absorb the impact of a ship attempting to penetrate the barrier.
The British never attempted to run the chain; but "In the course of his correspondence with the British, Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
claimed that a well-loaded ship could break the chain." Peter Townsend received a great sum of money from the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
for manufacturing the chain.
The greater system of fortifications at West Point, of which the chain was part, was designed and built by Polish Engineer Tadeusz Kościuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
. George Washington was responsible for delegating this responsibility.
Cold Spring, New York
Cold Spring is a village located in the Town of Philipstown in Putnam County, New York. The population was 1,983 at the 2000 census. It borders the smaller village of Nelsonville...
, to be melted down for other uses."
The portion of the chain that was saved was first displayed at the West Point ordnance compound along
Trophy Point
Trophy Point is a scenic overlook of the Hudson River Valley located at West Point, New York. It has been the subject of numerous works of art since the early 19th century. Trophy Point is the location of Battle Monument, one of the largest columns of granite in the world...
in various poses where it is currently on display with the chain surrounding a pile of rocks. The display consists of thirteen links of the chain (one for each original state), one swivel
Swivel
A swivel is a connection that allows the connected object, such as a gun or chair, to rotate horizontally and/or vertically. A common design for a swivel is a cylindrical rod that can turn freely within a support structure. The rod is usually prevented from slipping out by a nut, washer or...
, and one clevis. These portions of chain are maintained and preserved by the West Point Museum, United States Army Garrison, in West Point.
A section of the boom was recovered from the river in 1855 and is now on display at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site is a historic site in Newburgh, New York, USA. It consists of the Hasbrouck House, the longest-serving headquarters of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, and three other structures....
in Newburgh, New York.
John C. Abbey, and later Francis Bannerman, made profits from counterfeited chain links sold to collectors and museums.
Fort Washington's Chevaux-de-Frise (1776)
This barricade was not a chain, but actually a chevaux-de-friseCheval de frise
The cheval de frise was a Medieval defensive obstacle consisting of a portable frame covered with many long iron or wooden spikes or even actual spears. They were principally intended as an anti-cavalry obstacle but could also be moved quickly to help block a breach in another barrier...
that was sunk underwater with the intention of sinking any British ships that passed over it. It was placed south of West Point between Fort Washington
Fort Washington
Fort Washington may refer to:In the United States:* In California:** Fort Washington, California, census-designated place* In Maryland:** Fort Washington, Maryland, census-designated place...
, on the island of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
, across the river in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. However, an opening was left for the passage of American ships, and the British obtained its location with the help of a local inhabitant. The British were well aware of its existence, and successfully passed the barrier several times. Fort Washington was captured by the British on November 16, 1776, rendering the barrier useless.
Fort Montgomery Chain (1776-1777)
A chain and boom were stretched across the river from Anthony's NoseAnthony's Nose (Westchester)
Anthony's Nose is a peak along the Hudson River at the north end of Westchester County, New York.- Topography :Anthony's Nose, together with Dunderberg Mountain, comprises the South Gate of the Hudson Highlands...
to Fort Montgomery, at the lower entrance to the Highlands, just North of the modern day Bear Mountain Bridge. Fort Clinton was just South of the Chain, also on the West Bank of the river, on the opposite side of Popolopen's Kill (or Popolopen Creek). Captain Machin, the officer who would later be responsible for the emplacement of the Great Chain at West Point, also headed this effort. In November of 1776, a faulty link broke under stress induced by the river tides, highlighting some of the difficulties in the first attempt to run a chain across the Hudson. It was repaired and reset however. The capture of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton
Fort Clinton
Fort Clinton was an American Revolutionary War fortification in present-day Highlands, Orange County, New York. It was a companion to Fort Montgomery. Its garrison of 300 was smaller than that of Fort Montgomery, but Fort Clinton was built on a ridge at the mouth of the Popolopen Gorge, overlooking...
by the British on October 6, 1777, allowed them to dismantle the chain and raid upriver as far as Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
.
Governor Clinton saw a positive aspect to this loss in that the British never attempted to run ships through the chain, risking everything to capture the forts and take down the chain. It seemed as though the basic idea of obstructing the river seemed sound, and after Captain Machin recovered from his wounds, he would begin work on the stronger Great Chain at West Point.
Pollepel Island's Chevaux-de-Frise (1776-1777)
Despite the failure of the chevaux-de-frise at Fort Washington, another was constructed between Plum Point and Pollepel IslandPollepel Island
Pollepel Island is an island in the Hudson River.Also known as Pollopel Island, Pollopel's Island, and Bannerman Island, it is the site of Bannerman's Castle...
, North of West Point. The defenses of the obstruction were never fully completed, and its importance was overshadowed by the Great Chain at West Point.
External links
- The Chain and Boom By Merle Sheffield
- West Point Fortifications
- The Great Chain
- Chaining of the Hudson in 1778
- The Great Chain
- Chaining The Hudson
- George Washington's letter about the strategic importance of the Hudson
- Contract for the forging of The Great Chain
- New York Times Article about The Chain February 17, 1895
- Chain Salvaging Blurb
- Revolutionary West Point: "The Key to the Continent"