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WASHINGTON, George. Letter signed ("G:o Washington") as Commander-in-Chief, Continental Army, to Brigadier General James Clinton in the Hudson Highlands; Head Quarters, New York, 8 September 1776. 1 full page, folio, clean horizontal fold separations without loss (repairable), verso with recipient's docket "Posts at the Highlands." With a fine, clear signature.
DEFENDING THE CRITICAL HUDSON RIVER FORTS: "THEIR GREAT IMPORTANCE MUST BE OBVIOUS TO EVERY PERSON"
While Washington and his army wait for the long-expected British move to capture New York, he takes pains to provide for the defense of the critical Hudson Highlands posts (Forts Clinton and Montgomery). "I have this day wrote [sic] to the President of the Convention of the State of New York, requesting that an aid of six hundred Militia may be sent to you from the [New York] Counties of Ulster and Orange or any other that is more proper and convenient, for the purpose of assisting you either in the defence of the Highlands in case they should be attack'd, or of constructing new works & fortifications, by which they may be rendered more secure; however whether you receive this reinforcement or not, I must entreat you in the strongest terms to exert yourself to the utmost of yr. abilities in making those two posts at the highlands as defensible as possible; their great importance must be obvious to every person."
The fortifications Washington is so concerned with were two carefully constructed forts guarding the west side of the Hudson Highlands at Bear Mountain (below present-day West Point). The American works strategically dominated the "gateway to the interior" which the river constituted. This proved to be a critical defensive position even though both forts fell to a bold attack by Henry Clinton in October 1777. The British, unable to hold the area, evacuated them almost immediately. Published in Papers, Rev. War Ser., ed. Twohig, 6:245-246. Provenance: See note preceding 316.
DEFENDING THE CRITICAL HUDSON RIVER FORTS: "THEIR GREAT IMPORTANCE MUST BE OBVIOUS TO EVERY PERSON"
While Washington and his army wait for the long-expected British move to capture New York, he takes pains to provide for the defense of the critical Hudson Highlands posts (Forts Clinton and Montgomery). "I have this day wrote [sic] to the President of the Convention of the State of New York, requesting that an aid of six hundred Militia may be sent to you from the [New York] Counties of Ulster and Orange or any other that is more proper and convenient, for the purpose of assisting you either in the defence of the Highlands in case they should be attack'd, or of constructing new works & fortifications, by which they may be rendered more secure; however whether you receive this reinforcement or not, I must entreat you in the strongest terms to exert yourself to the utmost of yr. abilities in making those two posts at the highlands as defensible as possible; their great importance must be obvious to every person."
The fortifications Washington is so concerned with were two carefully constructed forts guarding the west side of the Hudson Highlands at Bear Mountain (below present-day West Point). The American works strategically dominated the "gateway to the interior" which the river constituted. This proved to be a critical defensive position even though both forts fell to a bold attack by Henry Clinton in October 1777. The British, unable to hold the area, evacuated them almost immediately. Published in Papers, Rev. War Ser., ed. Twohig, 6:245-246. Provenance: See note preceding 316.