Kiersten Marcil — How American Rebels Blocked British Control of the Hudson River: Iron in the Water

Kiersten Marcil

Before the echoes of gunfire at Lexington and Concord had faded, American rebels and the Crown were plotting and vying for control of the Hudson River. This crucial passageway was considered key to transporting men, weapons, food, and morale from the Canadian and Northern Departments to the South. We will delve into primary sources describing the construction of the Montgomery Chain in 1777, plus the Great Chain and its home at West Point in 1778. No such exploration would be complete without a glimpse into the people and politics of such a weighty endeavor.