Westfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Gen. Henry Knox Trail
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 17, 2008
1. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker MA-7 Westfield, Mass.
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.
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 Commonwealth
of Massachusetts 1927
Erected 1927 by Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Marker Number MA-7.)
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • 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° 7.251′ N, 72° 44.893′ W. Marker is in Westfield, Massachusetts, in Hampden County. Memorial is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 20) and U.S. 202, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. The Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker is located on a stip of lawn between the sidewalk and the south side of Main Street (US 20), in front of the Tavern Restaurant (2 Broad Street). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Westfield MA 01085, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. IX Miles to Springfield Courthouse (within shouting
this page online
More about this marker. The marker consists of a bronze plaque mounted on a large stone base. The bas relief bronze plaque depictics Gen. Knox overseeing a train of ox-drawn sleds.
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
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 2, 2009
2. Knox Trail Marker MA-7
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 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
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 17, 2008
3. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker MA-7 Westfield, Mass
The marker is located on a stip of lawn between the sidewalk and the south side of Main Street, in front of the Tavern Restaurant.
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 . . . "Major General Henry Knox" biography from The American Revolution Homepage website. (Submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 17, 2008
4. Gen. Henry Knox Trail Marker Detail
The bas relief bronze plaque depictics Gen. Knox overseeing a train of ox-drawn sleds.
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
Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 3,508 times since then and 120 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 28, 2009, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 2. submitted on November 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 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.
