Romans Blockhouse - Constitution Island

Romans Blockhouse - Constitution Island (1779-1783) - A Patriot Revolutionary War Blockhouse established in 1779 on Constitution Island in Putnam County, New York. Named after engineer Bernard Romans. Abandoned at the end of the war in 1783. Romans Blockhouse Location and Marker History Part of Fortress West Point. Established as an octagonal(round), blockhouse in October 1775 by engineer Bernard Romans, completed on 11 Nov 1775. The blockhouse was located on knoll at what was to be the center of Fort Constitution Grand Bastion. Romans Blockhouse and Romans Battery were the only two components completed. The blockhouse was thirty feet in diameter and the upper story was armed with eight 4-pounders cannons. Lord Stirling described the blockhouse as "a log house or tower on the highest cliff, near the water, mounted with 8 cannons, pointed out of the garret windows, and looks very picturesque." The blockhouse was destroyed by the British during their 20 day occupation in October 1777. Current Status Archeological remains and a marker at the site. Location: United States Military Academy on Constitution Island, Putnam County, New York. Maps & Images Lat: 41.40172 Long: -73.95347 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....' See Also: Romans Battery - Constitution Island Fort Constitution Fortress West Point Revolutionary War United States Military Academy West Point Portal Sources: Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 591. West Point Fortifications Staff Ride Note Cards, 3rd ed, USMA History Department, January 1994 changed 1998 and 2008, Pdf, 82 pages, page 12. Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W., Fortress America: The Forts That Defended America, 1600 to the Present, DaCapo Press, 2004, ISBN 0-306-81294-0, page 114 Links: North American Forts - Romans Blockhouse Visited: 11 May 2012