Revolutionary War Constitution Island

Defending the Hudson River against British ships was a major task of the Revolutionary Army, and Constitution Island’s sharp bend in the river and strong currents made it an important position. Construction of Fort Constitution began in late 1775 but stopped three months later when its shortcomings became clear, and work shifted to the Marine, Hill Cliff, and Gravel Hill Batteries, which were better placed for firing downriver. The main defense of the Hudson then moved five miles south to Forts Montgomery and Clinton, where a chain crossed the river. In October 1777, British forces advancing upriver to support Burgoyne’s army from Canada destroyed those forts and the Constitution Island fortifications, then returned to New York City after learning of Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga. In 1778, patriots built new fortifications on the commanding high ground at West Point, and from there a great chain and boom stretched across the river to Constitution Island, where two river batteries and three redoubts were built. The West Point garrison, including Constitution Island, was never attacked. The number of soldiers on Constitution Island ranged from about 130 men when the island was abandoned to the British in 1777 to several regiments assigned to work details when it formed part of the West Point garrison. During those later years, about 400 men, one seventh of West Point’s total strength, were considered necessary to defend the island. In opening fields of fire, gathering construction material, and supplying firewood, the soldiers stripped the island of trees, and a slaughterhouse, storehouse, smithy, three barracks, huts, tenting sites, and perhaps other essential facilities supported the garrison during parts of the island’s Revolutionary War history.

Philipstown, New York · United States