Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-05-30
REVOLUTIONARY RECoLLECTIONs

WEST Po1Nr. To the young gentlemen Of
the military school, it may be interesting to be
informed Of the time and circumstances OF ITS
firsl occupancy as military post. sAa3r &,
AS preliminary, j will recall to mind some IN
cidents which led to IT, In October, l777, the
British army in New York began their movement
up the Hudson river, to form junction with Gen.
Burgoynes army. Fort Montgomery, situated
on the west bank OF the river and about the cen
tire Of the Highlands, was place Of cosiderable
strength as adapted to oppose shipping in going
up the river but not TO sustain an assault on the
land side. A massive chain was drawn across
the river, which must be removed before ships
conld PASS. To reduce this fort, a strong body Of
the enemy was detached, which advanced in tive
columns, one on the west and the other on the
east side Of Bald mountan,-both columns being
reguated by large flag on the top OF the noun
tain The two columns joined about O'Clock
r. M and after carrying the small work on the
south side Of the creek called Fort Clinton, be-
gan the assault on the IN in work. 1t was yio-
lent, but repulsed with equui spirit by Gen.
George Clinton and the brave garrison,-iess nu
meraus than the ASSISTANTS. The writer was on
the east bank of the river at the time, in deach-
rnent Of four hundred picked men under the com
Inand of Col. Megs. We were on the point Of
springing into the fiat boats drawn up ready to
receive us, when the firing ceased and three
cheers were heard which convinced us that the
fort Rad surrendered. Two fine ships Of ours,
which had been recently stationed just above the
fort, were set on fire by our own people These
discharged their guns as the fire reached them,
and We heard the balls strike among the trees as
they passed over our heads. , sze ~
On the loss of this post, West Point was selec-
ted to be fortified, and IN February, l77s, the
first detachaaent- t.4vyrd On, cruising the ice.
When we arrived on the flat ground directly back
of The point we found it covered with shrub-pines i
the snow was waist high, and the cold intense
We Topped the tops Of the small pines, trod
down the snow, and rolling ourselves in our ban-
kets, slept soundiy through the night week
or ten DAYS was spent in making temporary huts
for our covering In short time, site was
traced out for fort BY tho engineerlLa Raider,
young French gentleman educated at militia
ry school III France. Tho snow was removed
frem the spot where the principal work now re-
mains, and the rest of the winter was spent IN
drawing timber and stone for the erection of the
fort, which was begun as soon as the frost was
out of the ground. o $50
. Thus from shrubby, sterile spot, without a
hut or sheep-cote on it. now covered and orna-
mented with elegant and durable buildings, &C
conmodated to ever, purpose, meeting the appro-
baton and exciting the admiration of every vis-
itor of Judgment and taste; commenced this
proud, well selected and well sustained military
post. The few rerraining survivors who acted
then, remember and yet feel the hardships attend
ing It's origin. Poor Col. La Raiders delicate
frame was not equal to sustaining those hardships,
which were SO familiar TO the soldiers OF the rev.
olu,ionary, army: he caught a severe cold that
ended in consumption, of which he died about
Midsummer following On the removal of La
RAIDER, occasioned by his illness, the we'll known
Kosciusko came to the post and served as engi-
neer. l quartered considerable time with him
10 the same log hut, and soon discovered an ele-
walton of mind, which gave fair promise Of those
high aolieymants to Which he attained. His
nanners were soft and csnciliating, and at the
same time elevated
In the April following weat with President
Dwight, ti,sa chaplain in the array, to view the
ruins and battis ground of Fort Montao,,,er,
eight or ten miles beiew. There WA = no,,d
just north Of the fort, whore We found the ri;,sb
had thrown in the dead bodics Of their country.
men, and those Of ours who fell in the attack /
The water had receded, leaving some of the bod
les entirely out of the water, while others lay
covered at different depths. l saw many fine