Fort Montgomery
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Fort Montgomery is the name of multiple fortifications in United States history. The first fortification which bore that name was built during the American Revolution and was one of the first major investments by the Americans in strategic construction projects.
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Fort Montgomery in the American Revolution
Fort Montgomery was located at the confluence of Popolopen Creek and the Hudson River near Bear Mountain in what is now Orange County, New York. The fortifications consisted of a river battery of six 32-pound cannons, a boom and cable across the Hudson River, and landward redoubts connected by ramparts, all situated on a cliff promontory rising 100 feet above the River. The fort was commanded by General George Clinton, who was the newly appointed governor of the state. Fort Montgomery and its companion fortification Fort Clinton (on the southern bank of the Popolopen) held a combined garrison of roughly 700 American soldiers.
The strategic importance of the ability to control navigation along the Hudson River was obvious to both the Americans and the British from the outbreak of open hostilities. The Hudson was the major means for transportation of supplies and troops throughout a large portion of the northeast. The eventual location of the fort was noted for its strategic advantage as a well-placed location for controlling navigation along the river as early as the seventeenth century. Only a month after the first open armed conflict in Lexington, the Continental Congress indicated its intent to build fortifications in the Hudson highlands for the purpose of protecting and maintaining control of the Hudson River. On May 25, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution to construct fortifications along the Hudson River in order to retain control of the waterway that "…a post be also taken in the Highlands on each side of Hudson’s River and batteries erected in such a manner as will most effectually prevent any vessels passing that may be sent to harass the inhabitants on the borders of said river…"[1].
James Clinton and Christopher Tappan, both lifetime residents of the area, were sent to scout appropriate locations for the required fortifications. The initial site chosen was further to the north at West Point, and construction of the fortifications to be named Fort Constitution began. However, difficulties in construction and management of the original plan of fortifications and the escalating costs involved led to its abandonment. The location on Popolopen Creek across from Anthony's Nose was proposed, and the materials and resources from Fort Constitution were redirected to the construction at the new location. Construction began on the new Fort Montgomery in March 1776.
The strategic importance of the opposite bank of Popolopen Creek was quickly realized, as it was an elevated cliff terrace that had full view of the location of Fort Montgomery, so a smaller fortification named Fort Clinton was built there as well. The placement of these two forts and their associated cannon batteries effectively controlled this stretch of the Hudson River. However, in addition to the fortifications, a major engineering project was conceived to effectively blockade any naval traffic on the river. A boom and chain were built across the river to provide a physical barrier in addition to the combined firepower of the fortifications.
In July 1776, a committee appointed by the New York convention, which included John Jay, Robert Livingston, George Clinton and Robert Yates was appointed to "devise and carry into execution" measures for "obstructing the channel of Hudson's river, or annoying the navigation of the said River." It bemoaned the situation of its arms, and made measures to procure more cannon.
Battle of Fort Montgomery
On October 6, 1777, a combined force of roughly 2,100 Loyalists, Hessians, and British regulars led by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton attacked Forts Montgomery and Clinton from the landward side (which was only partially completed) with support from cannon fire from British ships on the Hudson River. By the end of the day, both forts had fallen to the British, who burned the forts and tore down the stonework buildings.
Although the battle was a complete loss for the Americans, it played a small but critical role in the loss by the British of their northern campaign. The delays involved in mounting the campaign against Forts Montgomery and Clinton affected the outcome for the American forces in Saratoga. This battle had held up the expected reinforcements for which General Burgoyne was waiting. The irony is that, on the day after the victory in the Hudson highlands, Burgoyne lost a more well known battle to the north—the Battle of Bemis Heights—and was forced to surrender ten days later with his reinforcements still far to the south.
Nineteenth century Fort Montgomery
The later Fort Montgomery was a massive stone fortification built between 1844 and 1871 on the northwest arm of Lake Champlain at Island Point in the town of Rouses Point, New York. The first fort at this location was built in 1816 to protect against an attack from British Canada such as that which led to the Battle of Plattsburg in 1814. This first fort was inadvertently built on the Canadian side of the border, resulting in its sometimes being better known as "Fort Blunder." Construction on the fort was abandoned after three years, and much of its material was cannibalized by the locals. No evidence has come to light that this first fort was ever named. It is often mistakenly referred to as Fort Montgomery.
This second fort was constructed after the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 returned Island Point to the United States. Fort Montgomery was one of a very few "Third System" forts built along the Northern Frontier, most being constructed along the Atlantic Coast.
Most of the fort was demolished in 1937 for fill to construct a bridge between Rouses Point, New York and Alburg, Vermont.