Kinderhook in Columbia County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Gen. Henry Knox Trail
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, March 22, 2008
1. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-26 Kinderhook, 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-26.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • 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° 23.716′ N, 73° 41.895′ W. Marker is in Kinderhook, New York, in Columbia County. Marker is at the intersection of Hudson Street (County Route 21) and New York State Route 9, on the right when traveling south on Hudson Street. The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is Located on the west side of Hudson Street in a small triagular green at the intersection with State Route 9 in the Village of Kinderhook within the Town of Kinderhook
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. James Clark (a few steps from this marker); Kinderhook World War I Monument (a few steps from this marker); Martin Van Buren (within shouting distance of this marker); House of History (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lawrence Van Buren House (about 400 feet away); Heermance House (about 500 feet away); Gen. John Burgoyne (approx. 0.2 miles away); Reformed Dutch Church (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kinderhook.
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,
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2010
2. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker (Restored)
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
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2010
3. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker
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.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, March 22, 2008
4. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker NY-26 Kinderhook, NY
The Gen. Henry Knox Trail marker is located on the west side of Hudson Street in a small triagular green at the intersection with State Route 9 in the Village of Kinderhook within the Town of Kinderhook of Columbia County. In the photo above the marker is on the left, beside the white signpost. The view is south along NY Rte 9, Hudson Ave. is to the left.
Also see . . .
1. The Knox Trail - Heritage Tour Guide. The Hudson River Valley Institute website entry (Submitted on April 24, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Henry Knox. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 24, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. George Washington, Ft George, Ft Edward, Saratoga, Halfmoon, Albany, Kinderhook, Claverach, Noblestown, Cambridge, heritage trail
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
and died October 25, 1806
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 2,885 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on October 28, 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 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
