Editing Springfield Armory (section)

== Founding (1777) ==
Local and colonial militia used the bluff on which the Springfield Armory would become located during the 17th century for militia training, particularly after the [[Attack on Springfield]] during [[King Philip's War]].

In 1777, during the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[George Washington]] scouted and approved the site of the Springfield Armory, after it was referred to him by General [[Henry Knox]], his artillery chief. Although a small town at the time, [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], offered obvious geographical advantages—it lay at the intersection of three rivers (including the major [[Connecticut River]]), and four major roads headed toward New York City, Boston, Albany, and Montreal. Additionally, Springfield is located just north of the Connecticut River's first waterfall ([[Enfield Falls]]), which is too steep to be navigated by ocean-going vessels. Thus, Springfield was the first town on the Connecticut River protected from attack by seafaring naval vessels.

The Armory site itself sits atop a high bluff like a citadel, overlooking a wide stretch of the Connecticut River, at its confluence with the [[Westfield River]]. General Knox concurred with Washington that "the plain just above Springfield is perhaps one of the most proper spots on every account" for the location of an arsenal.

In 1777, patriot colonists established "The Arsenal at Springfield" to manufacture cartridges and gun carriages for the war effort. During the Revolution, the arsenal stored muskets, cannon, and other weapons. Patriots built barracks, shops, storehouses, and a magazine.  Some doubt exists that the colonists manufactured arms during the Revolutionary War.<ref>{{cite web|title=Springfield Arsenal in the Revolutionary War|url=http://www.nps.gov/spar/historyculture/springfield-arsenal-in-rev-war.htm|work=nps.gov|publisher=National Park Service (US Govt)|access-date=13 September 2010}}</ref> After the war, the Army kept the facility to store arms for future needs.  By the 1780s, the Springfield Arsenal functioned as a major ammunition and weapons arsenal.

Some time later, when manufacturing became important, the arsenal expanded to a second area south and west in Springfield, where water power was available.  Around that time, the Mill River was dammed to form a mile-long lake called [[Watershops Pond]]. The main shops were behind the dam and a foundry was built below it.  This factory was modernized, and the greater part of machining for Springfield and Garand rifles was conducted in it.

President George Washington appointed David Ames as first superintendent of the armory.<ref name="Clarke">{{cite journal|last1=Clarke|first1=James W.|title=Oliver Ames|journal=The New England Magazine |volume=2|date=1885|pages=186}}</ref> His father [[John Ames (captain)|Capt. John Ames]] was a blacksmith who had provided guns to the Colonial army.<ref name="Clarke" />