After cutting down most of the trees at Stony Point to reduce cover for potential attackers and create a field of fire for artillery, the British constructed two sets of fortifications: the Outer Works near the present museum building and the Upper Works, an unenclosed, incomplete fort closer to the river made of earth and rock formations. Both stood on rugged terrain with commanding views. The British navy also controlled the Hudson River and protected the Stony Point peninsula, with a small gunboat guarding the shallow waters of Haverstraw Bay to the south and HMS Vulture patrolling deeper water on the northern flank. A principal feature of the Outer Works was an abatis, a wall of felled trees laid side by side and pointed toward the west, or landward side, the most likely direction of attack. One of two such barriers built at Stony Point by the British, it ran the width of the peninsula from north to south and extended about 50 yards into the waters of Haverstraw Bay. Artillery was positioned to defend the abatis, and troops of the 17th Regiment of Foot, along with Grenadiers of the 71st Highland Regiment, Fraser’s Highlanders, were deployed to protect the Outer Works and repel invaders.