Fortress West Point Batteries

Fortress West Point Batteries (1776-1783) - Revolutionary War Batteries established beginning in 1776 as a part of the defenses of Fortress West Point in present day Orange and Putnam County, New York. Most abandoned at the end of the war in 1783.

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Romans Battery - Constitution Island

Romans Battery - Constitution Island (1776-1783) - Built in 1776 and destroyed by the British in October 1777. Rebuilt in 1778 as Greatons Battery after the British withdrew and the Great Chain was placed across the Hudson. Original battery probably mounted eleven, 12 or 18-pounder guns. The rebuilt battery mounted five 6-pounders and one 9-pounder.

Romans Battery, Magazine in the Foreground and West Point in the Background

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  Romans Battery Marker
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  Romans Battery Marker Locale
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  Romans Battery Magazine

Marine Battery - Constitution Island

Marine Battery - Constitution Island (1776-1783) - Built in 1776 and destroyed in October 1777 by British troops. The battery was partially rebuilt after the British withdrew and the Great Chain was placed across the Hudson. In 1776 armament consisted of seven 9-pounder cannon and one 6-pounder cannon.

Marine Battery Site

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  Marine Battery Marker
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  Marine Battery Wall

Gravel Hill Battery - Constitution Island

Gravel Hill Battery - Constitution Island (1776-1783) - Built in early 1776 as part of an effort to block the Hudson River from the British invasion. The battery was destroyed by the British in October 1777 and was rebuilt by the Patriots in 1778 after the British withdrew and the Great Chain was placed across the Hudson.

Gravel Hill Battery Site

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  Gravel Hill Battery Marker
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  Gravel Hill Battery Site
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  Hudson River from Gravel Hill Battery

Battery Lanthorn - West Point

Battery Lanthorn was constructed at Gees Point and armed with two 9-pounder cannons as a part of the defense of the great chain. The battery was built at 20' above the Hudson so as to be able to skip cannon balls into the sides of enemy ships.

Nothing remains of Battery Lanthorn and it is assumed that the construction and subsequent destruction of a lighthouse at Gees Point removed all traces of the battery.

Battery Byrne - West Point

A practice battery for Cadets, located in the NW part of the Plain. It was closed down and buried in place in the 1930s (sources differ: 1931 according to some, but there are photographs of it in use in 1933) when an errant round landed across the river in the center of the town of Cold Spring.

Current Status

Located on the United States Military Academy in Orange and Putnam County, New York.

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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 590-592

Links:

• North American Forts - Fortress West Point