Washington at Verplanck’s Point

Washington at Verplanck’s Point. By John Trumbull, 1790. , The Hudson River and its key crossing site between Verplanck’s Point and Stony Point were important and strategic locations for General George Washington and the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Defending the safe transit of troops and supplies at “Kings Ferry”, and protecting the critically important military outpost in West Point to the north were paramount to the successful effort of the colonists in defeating the British. On July 16, 1779, General “Mad Anthony” Wayne, who was put in Command by Washington, launched a nighttime attack on the British army and led a number of skilled American forces into battle as they successfully overtook the British outpost in Stony Point, New York. This battle became known as The Battle of Stony Point and had great importance to the morale of Washington’s forces., The portrait of General Washington standing with his horse at his side on the hills overlooking the Hudson River in Verplanck, New York was painted by the renowned Revolutionary War artist John Trumbull, and depicts a relaxed Commander-in-Chief in 1782, shortly after the surrender of the British at Yorktown, as he watches over the Continental and French troops marching together in a show of respect and gratitude for the French effort on behalf of the colonists. Trumbull painted and presented this portrait to Mrs. Martha Washington in 1790, where it was displayed in the New Room at the Mount Vernon Estate for many years. More information on this portrait painting and one of our greatest leaders and First President can be found at www.mountvernon.org and www.winterthur.org. , Eagle Scout Project, Boy Scouts of America , Presented by James D.K. McCarthy, Troop 49, Ossining, NY , 2016.