Schodack in Rensselaer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Gen. Henry Knox Trail

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 15, 2008

1. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-25 Schodack, 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.

Inscription. Through this Place Passed
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-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: 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° 32.882′ N, 73° 40.263′ W. Marker is in Schodack, New York, in Rensselaer County. Marker is at the intersection of New York State Route 9 and U.S. 20, on the right when traveling north on State Route 9. The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is Located on the east side of NY Route 9 in a small triangular green at the intersection with US 20 in the Town of Schodack (Rensselaer County). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Castleton on Hudson NY 12033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 3.2 miles away); Citizen Genet (approx. 3.2 miles away); Empire State Trail (approx. 3.3 miles away); Mohican Homelands (approx. 3.3 miles away); Nassau Academy (approx. 3.6 miles away); Passenger and Freight Depots (approx. 3.7 miles away); a different marker also named The Empire State Trail (approx. 3.8 miles away); The Nassau Fair (approx. 3.8 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, Halfmoon, Albany, Kinderhook, Claverach, and Noblestown.

Regarding Gen. Henry Knox Trail. The Henry Knox Cannon Trail denotes the

Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-25 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 15, 2008

2. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-25

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 in 1927. The trail is one of the earliest heritage paths created in the United States.

According to the Hudson River

Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 15, 2009

3. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker

The marker is mounted so that it faces the traffic on NY Route 9. US Route 20 is in the background.

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 used by Knox to transfer cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Mass.

Also see . . .

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 15, 2008

4. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-25

The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is Located on the east side of NY 9 in a small triangular green at the intersection with US 20 within the Town of Schodack. Rte 20 is in the foreground. The automobile in the photo is on Rte 9 which veers south in the background.

"Major General Henry Knox" biography from The American Revolution Homepage website. (Submitted on October 28, 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, Canon Trail, oxen

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 15, 2008

5. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker

The marker stone is on the right, located at the junction of Routes 9 & 20.

<i>The Noble Train of Artillery</i> image. Click for full size.

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.

Gen. Henry Knox image. Click for full size.

Photographed By U.S. Army Center Of Military History

7. 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 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,181 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6. submitted on July 24, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.