The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-11-26
WAR STORIES.
Historic West Point.

lnseparablc interviewer with the mill
tary glory Of the nation; West Point
and the army are almost synonymous.
The association Of the spot with the
names Of our great military leaders
aud heroes makes it national shrine.
But, long before it became school
for soldiers, West Point had illus
trious traditions as a spot of peculiar
sacrcdncss to the American people.
Within its vicinity were enacted some
Of the most celebrated events of the
Revolutionary War.
The history Of West Point dates
back to 1873, when tract of land,
comprising one thousand four hun
drcd and sixty three acres, was grant
cd Charles Congrcvc by the English
Crown, upon the condition that with
in three years he or his heirs should
settle and cultivate at least three
acres for every fifty described in the
grant.
Early in the War of the Revolution,
the value Of .his spot was known bo tn
to the Americans and the British
It was regarded as the most important
post in the colonies. Early in 1875,
Congress passed resolution ordering
three forts to be erected Immediately
In che Highlands. Here were stored,
as the safest place in the colonies,
large quantities of cannon and other
III iitary supplies, as we'll az provis-
ions.
That the British knew the value Of
this point is shown by the instruc-
tions sent that same year by the Brit
ish Government to its officers, to get
possion Of the Hudson and East
Rivers, aud thus to cut off all com.
municatiou between New York and
Albany and the provinces to the north.
The defenscs Of West Point and
the vicinity were strengthened from
time to time, but in 1777 Washington
felt great uncasiness, for he suspect
ed that the enemy were about to move
up the river. Despite all his precau-
tions, in October of that year the
British under General Clinton took
all the forts in the Highlands, de-
stroying works and stores to the
value Of quarter Of million Of dol
lars.
After an occupation of only twenty
days, the news Of the surrender Of
General Burgoyne caused them to re-
turn to New York. Washington now
ordered the utmost speed in refortify-
ing the Hudson. Fort after fort was
erected and strongly garrisoned. In
April, 1778, great chain was stretch
ed across the river from the most
eastern part Of West Point to Consti-
tutional Island. The chain was placed
on boom made Of logs sixteen fee
in length and pointed at the ends to
ITer little resistance to currents. The
whole chain weighed one hundred aud
eighty six tons, aud some Of the links
weighed one hundred and thirty
pounds each.
All this time, West Point was pri-
vate property. though its owner was
petitioning Congress to purchase it.
General Knox, the Secretary of War,
in a report to Congress, dated July
thirty first, 1876, stated that
"West Point is of the most decisive
Importance to the defense of Hudson
River, for the following reasons: First,
the distance across the river is only
about fourteen hundred feet, far
less distance than at any other point.
Second, the peculiar bend, form
ing an almost angle.
Third, the high bank on each side
of the river, favorable for the con-
struction Of formidable batteries.
Fourth, the demonstrated practi- |
oability Of fixing across chain or
chains at spot where vessels, in
turning the point, invariably lose
their rapidity and force, by which
chain at any other part of the river
would be likely to be broken"
No action was taken upon the mat
ter until in September, 1880, upon re-
commentator Of General Hamilton,
Secretary of the Treasury, Congress-
purchased the tract for permanent
military post for the sum of eleven
thousand and eighty.fve dollars.
Additional purchases were made in
1924 and in 1929.
West Point and its dependencies
never again fell into the hands of the
British, though, through the treach-
cry OF its commander, it was once
H.ys ~