Fort Clinton’s Outer Redoubt

Fort Clinton’s Outer Redoubt is the surviving remnant of a Revolutionary War fort whose construction began in July 1776 after American officers warned that this high ground could compromise Fort Montgomery, then being built across Popolopen Creek. Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery were both vital to the defense of the Hudson River Valley north of the Highlands. Work on Fort Clinton continued until British forces under Sir Henry Clinton captured both forts on October 6, 1777, and some of the fiercest fighting of that day took place at the Outer Redoubt. The British renamed Fort Clinton as Fort Vaughn, used it as Sir Henry Clinton’s headquarters for nearly three weeks, and destroyed the fort when they withdrew from the Hudson Valley. On June 14, 1777, Congress adopted a flag of thirteen red and white stripes with thirteen white stars on a blue field, though it did not specify the stars’ arrangement; the thirteen-star circle pattern later became associated with the Betsy Ross legend. The first recorded use of the new flag was at Fort Schuyler in August 1777 during General Barry St. Leger’s siege, so it is possible that the new American flag flew over Fort Clinton during the British attack.

Highlands, New York · United States