Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1914-02-26
A CHAIN OF FAME.
The Barrier Washington Erected
Across the Hudson.
ARNOLD REMOVED ONE LINK.

Still the Monster Gable, In Spite Of tn
Traitors Act, Served Its Purpose an
! Blocked the Progress of the British
Ships Up the River.
| Somewhere in the bed of the Hudson
river just off Of West Point lies burie,
the larger part of great iron chain
one of several ordered by Genera
Washington during the Revolution tt
be constructed to prevent the enem!
from ascending certain rivers to &C
complish strategic points of vantage.
The British were making strenuou!
efforts to get hold Of the Hudson IL
order to keep free communication witt
Canada by the additional channels Of
the ST. Lawrence and Lake Champlain
the Hudson by a great chain crossing
from Fort Montgomery to Anthony's
Nose.
But this was a failure. The chain
parted within week after 1t had been
stretched, and, although subsequently
raised and again placed, it was de-
stroyed by the British.
Finally Washington decided to forge
another and 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. Be
sides, the channel was 300 feet narrow
er at this crossing.
The forging of chain such as was
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.
1t was originally organized by Lord
Sterling in 1851, well known officer
in the Revolutionary army, and con-
tinued in operation for more than a
hundred years, meanwhile passing into
the possession of Abel Noble, who
married a niece of Peter Townsend
md who now In association with the
after increased the capacity of the
works which eventually came into the
entire possession of Peter Townsend,
patriot and filled with the spirit OF
he time.
He finally obtained few Welsh min
rs from Pennsylvania for the heavy
handling in the forging and number
# men from Connecticut with their
x teams to do the hauling, and when
he chain was ready it was drawn
yer the rough mountainous roads and
through forests that had to be pur-
,osely cut in many places and so on
o New Windsor, the nearest river
'oint, and lowed to West Point
1t was strenuous undertaking from
he very start. Each link weighed 300
pounds, was two feet LIP length and
wo and a quarter inches square, and
ach 100 feet was secured by swivel,
twisting link, and at every thousand
eet there was a cieyis. The whole
f this weighed 1856 tons. When it
vas stretched across from West Point |
o Constitution island 1t was buoyed !
p by large sixteen foot logs, and |
hese were In turn held in place by |
be anchors.
The British made no specific attack
n this then invincible obstacle, for it
aust be remembered that In those |
avs there was no dynamite nor tor
edoes, and none of the enemy's prows
yould have pushed their way through
ucb barrier
Although the British did not succeed
/ passing the big Hudson river chain,
lie American traitor Arnold gave 1t
is particular attention and removed
link of it under the pretense of hav-
e it repaired for weakness at near
= smithy. He wrote to Major Andre
lat it would not be replaced until the
'rts were surrendered to the British.
ut somehow the chain stood for its
lrpose, and Sir Henry Clinton did
1t attempt to relieve Burgoyne.
Parts of this celebrated chain are to
, seen among various historical GU
os of prominent societies. A number
years ago Mayor Hewitt of New
ork, then the owner of a mine near
e Sterling properties, became inter.
ted in finding out the whereabouts Of
e remaining portions of the chain. A
rye part Of it lies at the bottom Of
e river, about thirty tons were In
rious possessions, and at West Point
ere are thirteen links, and staple
iced near the spot where the chain
Is anchored and plate tells of the
tie and place Of forging Boston
,rald.