Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-12-12

great vigor, Notwithstanding the sever
ity of the winter. Parsons brigade
hauled logs and stones through the deep
snow and soon a fort which at that
time was considered almost impregna-
BILE commanded the narrow and danger
GUS curve of the Hudson
This fort was on the east corner of
the plateau. 1t is still in existence
and is kept in excellent repair by the
Military Academy authorities. With
in the fort the cadets are taught practi-
cal engineering during the summer
months On the northeast corner
monument has been erected by former
class of cadets to the gallant Kosciusko
Before Benedict Arnold's treacher,
this fortification was known as For
Arnold. The name was afterward
changed to Fort Clinton, which it still
retains. There are many trophies OF
later wars stored in Fort Clinton. On
the cliffs directly under this fort sew
eral batteries commanded the river, the
most important of which was Battery
Knox. This battery, of several large
guns, is kept in good condition. 1t is
n favorite spot for the summer visitors,
and on hot July day the white trous-
cred cadets, with their fair companions,
find it an agreeable resting place after
n stroll through Filtration.
A little south of Battery Knox is the
romantic nook known as Kosciusko's
Garden. This garden Is narrow. rocky
ledge, overlooking precipice of more
tha., 400 A l,,,,N,J ..,l,
bubbles out of the rock and small
fountain. having upon its rim the name
"Kosciusl1o, " are its principal features
Tradition says that this spot was the
favorite resting place of tho gallant
General after whom it was named, and
an indentation in the rock is pointed
out where it is said that British war
vessel, in passing up the river, fired
cannon shot, supposing that the brave
Polewas then taking his usual after
noon siesta.
The most interesting fort at West
Point is Fort Putnam. 1t was built by
Colonel Rufus Putnam on the top Of
Mount Independence, nearly five hun
dred feet above the river. 1t commands
view of the surrounding country for
many miles. and was designed to cover
the landward side of Fort Clinton. 1t
abuts upon precipice of 150 feet on
the south side and in revolutionary
days was considered impregnable.
This was the fort that Arnold bargained
to surrender, and but for the capture
of Andre and the discovery of the
treacherous conspiracy heavy blow
would have been dealt to the cause Of
liberty.
The broken classmates, the ruined
ramparts, the yawning chasms in the
once tureted walls, make up a picture
that is extremely interesting. Every
spot of Importance in the neighborhood
was commanded by this fortification,
and had it fallen into the hands of the
enemy the key to all the northern Sec
tion would have been theirs. The view
from Fort Putnam is superb; the
,,lains, the splendid new buildings
which belong to the Military Academy.
Trophy Point. with its many guns and
battle monuments, the officers quar-
ters, the Artillery Park, the mortar and
siege batteries and seacoast batteries,
the beautiful cemetery, dotted with
monuments to the illustrious dead,
make up the foreground. The winding
Hudson, its surface, CLASSY and placid,
rejecting the rocky and PERCEPTIONS
mountains Break Neck and Gro NesH,
forms the middle distance, while the
blue outline of the Catskills and other
hills along the east shore melts away
in the distant horizon and makes up
panorama with every variety of seem
cry, the extent and beauty of which
are surprising and pleasing to the be-
holder.
The south side of Fort Putnam COM
manded the old post road. the site of
the village of Highland Falls, and the
Hudson to Peekskill. A chain of small
forts or redoubts extended along the
hills to Fort Montgomery. Fort Wyllis
and Fort Web were in the immediate
neighborhood. The new observatory
stands ON the site of Fort Webb, but
there remains scarcely trace of Fort
Wyllis Fort Sherbourne, now "Tro-
ply Piont," commanded the river
north. Many interesting ruins of rev o.
lntionary forts are to be found further
back in the mountains, but they are
fast disappearing. The destroying
hand of the thoughtless and times de-
caying touch are obliterating the prec-
ious ruins.