East Greenbush in Rensselaer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Gen. Henry Knox Trail
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 14, 2008
1. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-24, East Greenbush, 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-24.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • 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° 35.312′ N, 73° 41.97′ W. Marker is in East Greenbush, New York, in Rensselaer County. Marker is at the intersection of Columbia Turnpike (U.S. 20) and Hays Road, on the right when traveling west on Columbia Turnpike. The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is on the lawn of the circa 1860 Greenbush Reformed Church at 688 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, New York, on the southern corner between the Columbia Turnpike (Routes 9 & 20) and Hays Road. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Citizen Genet (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 3.2 miles away); Fort Crailo (approx. 3.7 miles away); Bethlehem's Historic Waterfront (approx. 3.7 miles away); Votes for Women (approx. 3.8 miles away); Glenn Curtiss Flight (approx. 3.9 miles away); Fort Van Nassau (approx. 4 miles away); a different marker also named Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 4 miles away).
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,
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 20, 2008
2. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker
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
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 20, 2008
3. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-24 East Greenbush, NY
The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is on the lawn of the circa 1860 Greenbush Reformed Church at 688 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, New York.
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
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 20, 2008
4. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker
The view here is northwest along the Columbia Turnpike which is also US Rte 20 and NY Rte 9. The marker is on lawn on the left.
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, oxen, sleds, canons, Mortars
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 11, 2008
5. The Noble Train of Artillery
This Tom Lovell painting of General Knox and his soldiers transporting the cannons is on display at Fort Ticonderoga.
Photographed By U.S. Army Center Of Military History
6. Gen. Henry Knox
Born in Boston, July 25, 1750, and died Oct. 25, 1806
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 1,505 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 27, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5. submitted on July 24, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on October 27, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
