Revolutionary War Beacons

Hudson Valley Press ^ | 11 Nov 2008 | Anon

[Pharmboy]

On November 25, 2008, to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the evacuation of the United States of America by British troops, the Palisades Parks Conservancy, in collaboration with the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Scenic Hudson, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Palisades Interstate Park Commission will symbolically light five beacon sites that replicate the original signal locations used by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. These vital systems summoned the militia in both New York and in neighboring New Jersey and warned residents of the approaching British Redcoats. The types of beacons varied from tar barrels on top of poles, to pyramids, to wooden towers filled with dried grass or hay that could be ignited. The beacons enabled quick and effective communication with troops throughout the lower Hudson River Valley.

Instead of lighting fires, Palisades, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and Scenic Hudson will create a symbolic Xenon light display that will light up Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area from Bear Mountain State Park to Beacon. This project is also part of the larger interstate effort with national heritage area partners in New Jersey, the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. Six additional Beacons will be lit in New Jersey. The total project area will stretch from Princeton, NJ to Beacon, NY.

New York's landscape, people, and natural resources directly affected the course of our nation's struggle for independence. Without the Hudson River Valley, victory might not have been achieved. During the Revolutionary War, this region was the setting for many important events and strategic conflicts: the battles of Forts Clinton and Montgomery and Stony Point, as well as the fortification of West Point and the Hudson River chain.

[ETL]

Ah, the once-great Marylanders.

Yes, by their incredibly brave actions during the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island, they bought Washington the time he needed to move the main army up to Brooklyn Heights where they later snuck across the East River into Manhattan to fight another day. The Marylanders helped out greatly there as well (at 'McGowan's Pass', near the Harlem Meer in Central Park -at the northeast corner of the park).

Sadly, although there is a monument in Brooklyn's Prospect Park in their honor, it is believed that the remains of many of them lie beneath an automobile repair shop in Bklyn. That's New York for you.

McGOWN'S PASS - Central Park:
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=12377

[Pharmboy]

Here is the pensioner's document for one Robert Brooks.

This may indeed have been your ancestor. Was he a Virginian?

[Sparky1776]

Here’s a link describing the 80’ beacon pole used in Providence, RI.

Great-ggggggrandfather was a member of the Sons of Liberty there.

digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/...?article=1020&context=primary

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the link, but more important, thanks for your ancestor’s service!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Thank you. Did you notice this up in the corner?
*************************************************

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Yes
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[SunkenCiv]

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[Pharmboy]

No...I did not see that. He IS writing a book and I WILL read it.

Thanks for pointing that out...

[ZULU]

Actually, the boy scouts for the 200th anniversary of the end of the revolution in 1983 had set up a program to build full sized replicas and ignite them all along the original path of the beacons. In some cases, local wussies stopped the project, in others it proceeded.

There was a ring of these around New York City where the Brits were garrisoned. A chain of them ran across New Jersey from this ring to Philadelphia to warn the Continental congress if the Brits were moving out towards them by land.

They were ingeniously contructred for the most part in the form of a tall slender pyramid of interlocking wooden logs. In the hollow center, they were filled with brush and combustibles and in some cases the structure was surmounted with a pole from which a barrel of tar was suspended. When a structure like this is lit from below, an immense draft is created upwards which ignites the combustibles generating a high column of fire which could be seen miles away, especially at night. These structures were placed on very high hills in areas like the Watchung Mountains to make them even more visible at a distance.

At the end of the revolution, when the Treaty of Paris was signed, Washington ordered them all set alight in celebration. Since early Americans were MEN not WUSSIES, I don;t think there were any complaints. If there were, I am sure the complainants were expeditiously and appropriately dealt with.