Redoubt 4 - West Point

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Redoubt 4 - West Point (1779-1783) - A Revolutionary War Redoubt established in 1779 on the present day military reservation of the United States Military Academy in Orange County, New York. Abandoned at the end of the war in 1783.

Redoubt 4 Marker Stone
Redoubt 4 Northwest Angle Magazine Location
Redoubt 4 Eastern Overlook View of West Point with Fort Putnam Below
Redoubt 4 Western Reentrant Angle

Redoubt 4 - West Point History

Initially designed as a classic hexagonal redoubt by Colonel Thaddeus Kosciusko but built out with an inverted angle facing west toward the path of enemy approach. The northeast and southeast walls each contained a single embrasure and two 6-pounder cannon were placed at these positions. Both of the cannons had a field of fire down on the West Point Plain for support of Fort Putnam (1).

Redoubt 4 was described as “... a wooden work about ten feet high and four or five feet thick, the west side faced with a stone wall 8 feet high and four thick. No bomb proof, two six pounders, a slight abbatis, a commanding piece of ground 500 yards west.” It was designed to be manned by some 223 soldiers.

Current Status

Stabilized remains on the military reservation of the United States Military Academy, Orange County, New York. Active military installation, access may be limited. Site access via dirt road off of Hamilton Street.


USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2091613


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Location: United States Military Academy, Orange County, New York.

Maps & Images

Lat: 41.39000 Long: -73.9727778

Sources:

  • Cubbison, Douglas R., Historic Structures Report: The Redoubts of West Point, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, January 2004, pdf, 33 pages + appendix, illustrated
  • 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:

Visited: 30 May 2013

Redoubt 4 - West Point Picture Gallery

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