West Point Great Chain

This is a piece of the 'Great Chain' at West Point.

Great Chain History Notes:

1.  During the Revolutionary War, West Point was the site of a
     permanent garrison of Washington's troops.  Here a massive iron
     chain was thrown across the sharply angled Hudson River to
     Constitution Island, preventing the British from using this all
     important waterway. *Source: West Point field trip page*

2. It was in 1778 that the Great Chain was forged of iron links, each 
    two feet long, weighing between 140 and 180 pounds. 

3.  More detail on the Chain Across the Hudson:
     By 1778, the Americans had decided to fortify West Point.  Fort
     Montgomery and Fort Clinton had been built near Bear Mountain,
     and Fort Constitution was located across the river from West Point.
     The idea was to prevent British Ships from sailing up the Hudson
     from New York City. The Americans had earlier constructed a 
     similar chain further south on the river, from Fort Montgomery to 
     the eastern shore of the Hudson, but it was broken by the British
     soon after. The Great Chain was never tested, as no British ship 
     got that far up the river after its creation.
     *Source: Hudson River History page*

     A Quote From the Trail!:
   " I decided to do the chain stuff because not many people get to
      see these markings, waaaayyyyy....waaaayyyy back in the woods. 
      It is not a trail well travelled.  I was the ONLY person on the whole
      trail. The bikers were at the entrance.....I didn't see a soul there
      except for the two guys on the river"
      - Quote from "Summer", who took this elegant photo!! -


        Proceed to Pic 6