Editing Fort Clinton

{{Other uses}}
[[File:BattleOfFortsClintonAndMontgomery1777.jpg|300px|thumb|Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery are right of center on this 1777 map]]
'''Fort Clinton''' was an [[American Revolutionary War]] fort erected by the [[Continental Army]] on the west bank of the [[Hudson River]] in 1776.

Fort Clinton was the original West Point academy

==Protecting the chain==
It was one of a pair of fortifications which straddled the confluence of [[Popolopen Gorge|Popolopen Creek]], standing on the south side of [[Popolopen Gorge]], with [[Fort Montgomery (Hudson River)|Fort Montgomery]] to the north.<ref name=Adams>[https://archive.org/details/hudsonriverguide0000adam/page/166 <!-- quote=fort clinton bear mountain. --> Adams, Arthur G., ''The Hudson River Guidebook'', Fordham Univ Press, 1996] {{ISBN|9780823216796}}</ref> The forts defended a huge wrought iron [[Hudson River Chain|chain]] that spanned the Hudson from Fort Montgomery to [[Anthony's Nose (Westchester)|Anthony's Nose]] on the river's east side. The sites of both forts are in present-day [[Highlands, New York|Highlands]], [[Orange County, New York]].

Fort Clinton's garrison of 300 soldiers was smaller than Fort Montgomery's, but it was built on higher ground, and its defenses were more complete. It was commanded by General [[James Clinton]], for whom it was named<ref>[https://www.westpoint.edu/sites/default/files/inline-images/WEST%2520POINT%2520FORTIFICATIONS%2520STAFF%2520RIDE_0.pdf West Point Fortifications Staff Ride Note Cards, USMA History Department], Second Edition, 2008, p. 29</ref> (and not his brother, General [[George Clinton (vice president)|George Clinton]], or [[Henry Clinton (1738–1795)|Sir Henry Clinton]], the British [[Commander-in-Chief, North America|Commander-in-Chief]] in North America and opposing general in the struggle over control of the strategically critical river).

==Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery==
{{main|Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery}}
[[File:Bear Mountain Bridge from below.jpg|thumb|The Fort Clinton site is near the west end of the [[Bear Mountain Bridge]]]]
On October 6, 1777, Forts Clinton and Montgomery were attacked by [[63rd (The West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot|the British 63rd Regiment]] led by [[Henry Clinton (1738–1795)|Sir Henry Clinton]] (a distant relative of James Clinton,  according to information at the Fort Montgomery state historic site museum). The [[Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery]] was intense but brief, with both forts being overrun within an hour and the wounded General James Clinton retreating with his men through [[Popolopen Gorge]].<ref>{{cite book|author=William Wade |title=Panorama of the Hudson River |year=1846 |url=http://www.hhr.highlands.com/clinton.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025135438/http://hhr.highlands.com/clinton.htm |archivedate=October 25, 2007 }}</ref> The forts  were razed by the British, and the iron chain they sought to defend was dismantled. The Rebels installed another [[Hudson River Chain]] farther upriver.

Although the ruins of Fort Montgomery survive and the site is a [[National Historic Landmark]], the Fort Clinton site was destroyed in the 1920s during the construction of [[U.S. Route 9W]] and the [[Bear Mountain Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E7DC1239F937A15756C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|work= The New York Times|date=May 24, 1998|title=Revolutionary Fort Held Hostage to Decay and Apathy | first=Richard | last=Severo | accessdate=May 2, 2010}}</ref> Today, the Fort Clinton site lies within [[Bear Mountain State Park]] and is used for the Trailside Museum and Zoo.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081011191544/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/books/popolopen.pdf Twin Forts of the Popolopen]
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[[Category:Forts in New York (state)|Clinton]]
[[Category:New York (state) historic sites]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 1776]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 9W]]
[[Category:Hudson River]]
[[Category:American Revolutionary War forts|Clinton]]
[[Category:New York (state) in the American Revolution]]
[[Category:Orange County, New York]]
[[Category:Ruins in the United States]]
[[Category:1776 establishments in New York (state)]]