Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-12
A CHAIN OF FAME.
The Barrier Washington Erected
Across the Hudson.
ARNOLD REMOVED ONE LINK.

Still the Monster Gable. In Spite Of the
Traitors Act, Served It's Purpose and
Blocked the Progress OF the British
Ships Up the River.
Somewhere In the bed OF the Hudson
river just OF of West Point lies buried
the larger part Of a great iron chain.
one Of several ordered by General
Washington during the Revolution 10
be constructed to prevent the enemy
from ascending certain rivers to nc.
complish strategic points OF vantage
The British were making strenuous
efforts to get bold OF the Hudson IN
order to keep free communication with
Canada by the additional channels OF
the st. Lawrence and Lake Champaign.
and so il was determined TO obstruci
the Hudson by a great chain crossing
from Fort Montgomery to Anthony's
Nose
But this was a failure. The chain
parted within a week after II had been
stretched. and. although subsequently
raised and again placed. 1t was de
stroyed by the British
Finally Washington decided TO forge
another aud obstruct the river between
West Point and Constitution island. for
here there was an abrupt change OF
course. and heavy tide reduced the
speed OF any ship encountering IT, Re
sides. the channel was 800 feet narrow
er ut this crossing
The forging of a chain such as was
contemplated was then no small under
taking, Requests were secretly sent
TO various iron companies. and among
the bids the most favorable came from
the Sterling Iron works. situated In
one Of the most beautiful regions OF
the east. now within the fashionable
domains Of Tuxedo Park
II was originally organized by Lord
Sterling In 1851, well known officer
in the Revolutionary army. and con
tinued In operation for more than n
hundred years. meanwhile passing into
the possession OF Abel Noble. who
married niece OF Peter Townsend
and who now in association with the
latter increased the capacity OF the
works which eventually came into the
entire possession OF Peter Townsend.
a patriot aud filled with the spirit OF
the time.
He finally obtained few Welsh min
ers from Pennsylvania for the heavy
handling In the forging and number
OF men from Connecticut with their
OK teams TO do the hauling. and when
the chain was ready II was drawn
over the rough mountainous roads and
through forests that had TO be pur'
to New Windsor. the nearest river
point. and lowed to West Point
II was a strenuous undertaking from
the very start Each link weighed 300
pounds. was two feet In length and
two and quarter inches square. ana
each 100 feet was secured by a swivel
a twisting link. and ut every thousand
feet there was clevis The whole
OF this weighed 1856 tons When il
was stretched across from West Point
TO Constitution island II was buoyed
up By large sixteen foot logs. and
these were In turn held In place 10y
the anchors
The British made no specific attack
on this then invincible obstacle. for il
must be remembered that In those
days there was no dynamite nor tor
pedoes. and none of the enemy's prowS
would have pushed their way through
such n barrier
Although the British did not succeed
in passing the big Hudson river chain
the American traitor Arnold gave IL
his particular attention and removed
a link of IL under the pretense Of hay
ing II repaired for weakness AT a near
by smithy He wrote 10 Major Andre
that IL would not be replaced until the
forts were surrendered TO the British
But somehow the chain stood for It's
purpose. and Sir Henry Clinton did
not attempt 10 relieve Burgoyne.
Parts OF this celebrated chair are to
be seen among various historical Gu
rios OF prominent societies. A number
OF years ago Mayor Hewitt Of New
York. then the owner of mine near
the Sterling properties. became inter
csted In finding ont the whereabouts "i
the remaining portions OF the chain \
large part of II lies NJ the bottom "i
the river about thirty tons were IN
various possessions. and M West Point
there are thirteen links. and staple
placed near the spot where the chain
was anchored and plate tells of the
date and place OF forging. Boston
Herald