Waterford in Saratoga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Gen. Henry Knox Trail
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 5, 2008
1. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-18 Waterford, NY
The Henry Knox Cannon Trail follows the route that Gen. Henry Knox used to transport 59 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point, New York to Cambridge, Massachusetts in the winter of 1775-1776.
Gen. Henry Knox
In the Winter of 1775 - 1776
To Deliver To
Gen. George Washington
At Cambridge
The Train of Artillery
From Fort Ticonderoga
Used to Force the British
Army to Evacuate Boston
Erected by
The State of New York
During the Sesquicentennial
of the American Revolution
Erected 1926 by State of New York. (Marker Number NY-18.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Roads & Vehicles • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, and the General Henry Knox Trail series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1775.
Location. 42° 47.354′ N, 73° 40.56′ W. Marker is in Waterford, New York, in Saratoga County. Marker is at the intersection of Broad Street (New York State Route 4) and 1st Street, on the right when traveling east on Broad Street. The Gen. Henry Knox Marker marker is located in the Town of Waterford Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park which lies between First Street and the Hudson River in the Village of Waterford. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waterford NY 12188, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
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More about this marker. The marker consists of a bronze plaque mounted on a large stone base. The plaque is attributed to sculptor Henry James Albright, 1887-1951.
A relief plaque on a stone marker commemorates General Henry Knox's delivery of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to General George Washington at Cambridge, Massachusetts in the winter of 1775-1776. The image on the relief plaque depicts a young male figure driving a team of oxen. A uniformed male, probably General Knox, stands to the far right. The left side of the plaque contains a map that traces Knox's route from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, also naming Ft George, Ft Edward, Saratoga, Halfmoon, Albany, Kinderhook, Claverach, and
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 8, 2008
2. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-18
The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is shown in the Town of Waterford Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park. The bridge in the background crosses the Hudson River between Waterford and Lansingburgh, N.Y.
Regarding Gen. Henry Knox Trail. The Henry Knox Cannon Trail denotes the path followed by Colonel Knox and his men from December 1775 to January 1776 to transport 59 captured weapon pieces from Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain, New York to General George Washington at Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston, Massachusetts.
This pivotal event of the American Revolution resulted in the evacuation of British soldiers from Boston.
The Advisory Board on Battlefields and Historic Sites recommended that the state of New York purchase 30 granite markers in identical pattern, each with a bronze tablet featuring a map of the trail, an image in relief of cannon being dragged by ox sled through the snow, and the words:
"Through this place passed General Henry Knox in the winter of 1775 - 1776 to deliver to General George Washington at Cambridge the Train of Artillery from Fort Ticonderoga used to force the British army to evacuate Boston. Erected by the State of New York 1927."
In all, 30 of the bronze plaques are in New York State and 26 in Massachusetts. They represent the 56-day journey of American troops from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston.
The monuments were erected beginning in 1926, during the commemoration of the 150-year anniversary of the American Revolution, and completed
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 5, 2008
3. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-18
The marker is in the park near the intersection of Broad Street (Route 4) and 1st Street.
According to the Hudson River Valley Institute website, General Washington believed he could dislodge the British from the city, and dispatched Henry Knox, a 25-year-old Boston bookseller, to organize transportation of the captured artillery pieces from Lake Champlain forts to the heights overlooking Boston in the winter of 1775. The British had occupied Boston since their victory in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Henry Knox arrived at Fort Ticonderoga on the evening of December 5, 1775 accompanied by his 19-year-old brother William and a servant, Miller. Early the next day, assisted by the garrison of Fort Ticonderoga, he began to move the guns, including 43 heavy brass and iron cannons, 6 coehorns, 8 mortars and 2 howitzers.
In the second week of March, 1776, four months before the Declaration of Independence was signed, General Washington was ready to bombard the British in Boston from Dorchester Heights, using the array of heavy guns General Knox had laboriously dragged from Lake Champlain.
Lord William Howe recognized that only the evacuation of his army could save it, and on March 18 the victorious American army marched into the deserted city.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These markers follow the route
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 8, 2008
4. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker
This view is to the west into the Village of Waterford along Broad Street. The marker is to the left of the sidewalk, beside the white sign.
Also see . . . "Major General Henry Knox" biography from The American Revolution Homepage website. (Submitted on October 27, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
Additional keywords. George Washington, Ft George, Ft Edward, Saratoga, Halfmoon, Albany, Kinderhook, Claverach, Noblestown, Cambridge, Heritage Trail
Photographed By U.S. Army Center Of Military History
5. Gen. Henry Knox
Born in Boston, July 25, 1750, and died Oct. 25, 1806
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 11, 2008
6. The Noble Train of Artillery
This Tom Lovell painting of General Knox and his soldiers transporting the cannons is on display at Fort Ticonderoga.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,354 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 27, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6. submitted on July 24, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
