Fort Washington (Manhattan)

Fort Washington (New York) was a built by American, Continental Army during the Revolutionary War in 1776 fortifications on the northern end of Manhattan Island. The fort was built at the highest point of the island and served along with the lying opposite on the mainland side of the Fort Lee strategic environment for security, including time at the south end of the island town of New York. In the battle of Fort Washington the investment of British and Hessian units was conquered and renamed Fort Knyphausen. Today nothing remains of the plant. The fort is listed as Fort Washington site in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Strategic considerations

In June 1776, the American Generals Henry Knox, Nathanael Greene, William Heath and Israel Putnam visited the terrain and agreed that a fort at this point - if it 'll secured enough - would be almost impregnable. A short time later, was also the commander in chief of the Continental Army, George Washington, convinced of the suitability of the site. Washington held the area around the lower reaches of the Hudson for a key strategic position to defend Manhattan and the surrounding area against British warships and to secure a retreat. Under the command of Rufus Putnam units from Pennsylvania began immediately with the construction of the fort

Establishment and construction of the fort

For over a month stones and boulders from the heights of Manhattan were now brought to the shore of the Hudson River and placed in wooden hulls, which ( chevaux de frize ) were placed across the river then as barriers. This was to prevent British warships the American lines simply can circumnavigate across the Hudson. When the work was completed it, one began with the construction of the fort, since over the rocky ground, very little loose soil was available, it had to be brought from other places. Because of this geological feature also no sufficient deep trenches were dug. The floor plan of the fort corresponded to a pentagon with five bastions each. The main walls of the fort were built of earth and had Wall Shields ( ravelins ) with loopholes for muskets. The area around the fort was three to four acres (about 12 to 16 thousand square meters ) in size. Because of the prevailing powder shortage of Americans, no blasting of trenches were made to the fort and instead built abatis and damage tongues. The troops of shelters and store houses were completed in September and the Fort garrison under the command of Major General William Heath, a moved. Under the protection of the fort and Washington built in the immediate vicinity of his headquarters.

External defenses

Outside of the fort several lines of defense were built. Artillery units were overlooking the Hudson River, on a hill above the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, at the north end of Manhattan overlooking the Kings and Dyckmans bridges, and along the Laurel Hill, east of the fort, stationed at Jeffery 's Hook. In the south of the fort three lines of defense were established. The lines consisted of shallow trenches and foxholes. The second line lay a third of a mile north of the first, while the third line another quarter of a mile north was still under construction when the battle began at the fort. The battle went on for the American side lost, the surviving part of the crew in British captivity, and the fort was renamed in honor of the Hessian commander at Fort Knyphausen.

The site today

Of the original defenses today is nothing more visibly present. The former site is located in Bennett Park, Hudson Heights on Washington Avenue between West 183rd Street and West 185th Street. The outer rampart of the fort is marked in the park with stones and the interested visitor is informed by explanatory panels. In the vicinity is the highest natural point of Manhattan, which is indicated by a billboard.

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