Constitution Island

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Coordinates: 41°24′20″N 73°57′15″W / 41.40556°N 73.95417°W / 41.40556; -73.95417
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Constitution Island
Constitution Island from the west
at Merritt Road at West Point
Constitution Island is located in the United States
Constitution Island
Location in the United States
Constitution Island is located in New York
Constitution Island
Location in New York
Nearest cityWest Point, New York, U.S.
Coordinates41°24′20″N 73°57′15″W / 41.40556°N 73.95417°W / 41.40556; -73.95417

Constitution Island is in the northeastern United States, located in New York on the east side of the Hudson River, north of New York City. It is directly opposite the U.S. Military Academy Reservation at West Point and is connected to the east shore by Constitution Marsh.

It is the only part of the U.S. Military Academy Reservation on the east side of the Hudson River. Formerly known as "Martelaer's Rock", Constitution Island is the site of the earliest

West Point Museum
ever since.

The Education Center was completed in 2016, the Warner House has been completely restored and will be ready as a museum again in the spring of 2020.

Martelaer's Rock

Between Cold Spring and West Point lay a large rocky island connected to the eastern shore by a reedy marsh. Dutch Navigators called it Martelaer's Island and the part of the river between it and Storm King Mountain, Martelaer's Rack, or Martyr's Reach. The word "martyr" signified "struggling", as vessels coming up the river with a fair wind would frequently find themselves, immediately after passing the point of the island into the reach, contending with the wind ahead.[1]

Fort Constitution

Constitution Island seen from US Route 9W

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. On May 25, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved to build fortifications in the Hudson highlands for the purpose of protecting and maintaining control of the Hudson River.

General George Washington was appointed by the Continental Congress to work with the New York Provincial Congress to draft plans as to how the Hudson River should be fortified against the British. Local residents James Clinton and Christopher Tappan were sent to scout appropriate locations. The initial site chosen was Martlaer's Island, across from West Point. Located on a strategic curve in the Hudson River, engineer Bernard Romans, was appointed to begin the construction of a large fort on the island which was to be named “Fort Constitution".[2]

Historical marker across the river at West Point

Plans for the fort called for four

Anthony's Nose was proposed, and in January 1776, the materials and resources from Fort Constitution were redirected to the construction at the new site.[3] The building of Fort Constitution was suspended while the militia concentrated their efforts on building Forts Clinton, Montgomery and Independence south of the island in the hope of containing the British further downstream.[4] The earthworks at Fort Constitution were unfinished when British troops destroyed them in 1777.[5]

In 1778 Polish engineer

Thaddeus Kosciusko began designing Fortress West Point as a series of forts and redoubts on both sides of the river. On Constitution Island, a barracks, three redoubts, and a water battery were constructed.[5]

Chain

The island is perhaps best known as the eastern anchor-point for the

Great Chain, a massive iron structure that stretched across the narrow bend in the Hudson between the island and the mainland at West Point. The chain was intended to prevent British naval vessels from navigating freely along the Hudson. This was the second attempt to string a chain across the Hudson River in an effort to prevent the British from taking control of the Hudson thereby splitting the American colonies. The first chain, which weighed 35 tons and was 1650 yards long stretched between the base of Fort Montgomery and the rock at Anthony's Nose. That chain failed to stop the British forces when they attacked Forts Montgomery and Clinton. That chain was dismantled by the British.[4]

The Great Chain remained in place (except during months when ice blocked the river) from 1778 to 1782. After the war, Constitution Island returned to civilian use.[6]: 17–18, 25–27 

Stirling Iron Works in Warwick, New York, the 1500 foot long chain weighed 186 tons. Kept afloat on huge logs, forty men removed the chain in winter.[clarification needed][7]
: 55, 58 

Warner House

The Warner House as part of the National Historic Landmark of the United States Military Academy, is located on Constitution Island and administered by the

Susan Bogert Warner and Anna Bartlett Warner were popular, prolific novelists whose works sold millions of copies in the United States, England and elsewhere. The Warner sisters are recognized as among the most significant American women writers of the nineteenth century. Anna Bartlett Warner's most well known song is Jesus Loves Me
. In 1908, seven years before her death, Anna Warner sold the island to Mrs. Olivia Sage, widow of the financier Russell Sage.

In 1908, Mrs. Russell Sage and Miss Anna Warner presented Constitution Island to the United States government as a joint gift according to the following stipulations:

“Lawrence, L.I., September 4, 1908,

The President:

Sir: I take pleasure in tendering as a gift to the United States from myself and Miss Anna Bartlett Warner, Constitution Island, opposite of West Point…to be an addition to the Military Academy…under the following conditions: First: That ‘the Island be for the use forever of the United States Military Academy at West Point…that no part of it shall ever be used as a public picnic, excursion, or amusement ground, operated by private enterprise, individual or corporate, for profit…”

The president sent the following letter to Mrs. Sage.

“My dear Mrs. Sage:

I have received your letter of September 4th. I wish to thank you for your very generous gift to the Nation, and I have written Miss Warner thanking her…. Permit me now, on behalf of the Nation, to thank you most heartily again for a really patriotic act.

With regard, Yours sincerely, Theodore Roosevelt.”

Both sisters are buried at West Point Cemetery.[6]: 78–79, 163–164 

The Constitution Island Association, a not-for-profit organization, traditionally provides historic and cultural tours for visitors to the island and maintains the extensive gardens surrounding the Warner House. At this time, the Warner House has been closed to visitors because the structure has become unsafe. The garden and grounds are open for visiting on certain days in the summer. The Military Academy has made improvements to the site including upgrades to the roadways, drainage, support facilities and trails. The West Point Museum and United States Army Garrison have begun the construction of an Education Center on the island. The project is a joint effort of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Directorate of Public Works, West Point and the

West Point Museum
and solely funded by the United States Army Garrison, West Point. [8]

  • Sign near caretaker's cottage
    Sign near caretaker's cottage
  • Viewed from Trophy Point during Winter
    Viewed from Trophy Point during Winter
  • Cannon on site of original Ft. Constitution
    Cannon on site of original Ft. Constitution
  • Ft. Constitution information plaque
    Ft. Constitution information plaque
  • Panoramic view of the island looking east
    Panoramic view of the island looking east
  • Gravel Hill Battery plaque
    Gravel Hill Battery plaque
  • Map of West Point fortifications from 1775 to 1783 showing the island and vicinity
    Map of West Point fortifications from 1775 to 1783 showing the island and vicinity
  • Information plaque at boat dock
    Information plaque at boat dock
  • Fortress West Point info plaque at boat dock
    Fortress West Point info plaque at boat dock
  • Great Chain historical marker at the boat dock
    Great Chain historical marker at the boat dock
  • The Warner house c1908
    The Warner house c1908
  • Warner House, July 2010
    Warner House, July 2010
  • Redoubt 7 on western edge of island, as seen from Trophy Point
    Redoubt 7 on western edge of island, as seen from Trophy Point
  • Ruins of Redoubt #7 on the western bluff of the island
    Ruins of Redoubt #7 on the western bluff of the island
  • View from Sherburne Battery at West Point
    View from Sherburne Battery at West Point

See also

References

  1. ^ Lossing, Benson John. The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea, New York, Virtue and Yorston, 1866
  2. ^ "The Revolutionary War", Constitution Island Association
  3. ^ "Fort Constitution", New York State Military Museum
  4. ^ a b Wade, William. Virtual Trip up the Hudson, 1846
  5. ^ a b ""Constitution Island", Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
  6. ^
    ISBN 0231070438
  7. ISBN 9780312388027
  8. ^ [1][permanent dead link]

External links

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