West Point in Orange County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Fort Clinton

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 27, 2009

1. Fort Clinton Marker

Inscription. Fort Clinton was built in 1778 by troops of the Continental Army. It was originally named Fort Arnold after Benedict Arnold, the hero of early Revolutionary War campaigns. The fort retained its original name until General Arnold deserted to the British in 1780. Carefully sited at the bend in the Hudson River where sailing ships moving upstream would have to come to a virtual stop to navigate the turns, Fort Clinton was the center of the West Point fortifications. The fort was constructed to protect the batteries along the edge of the water, to deny the British the use of Constitution Island, and to cover with fire the Great Chain that stretched across the river.

Fort Clinton was constructed of earth and logs. During the Revolution it contained a powder magazine, barricades, and bombproofs for its garrison of about 700 men. Its armament consisted of 12 cannon and 11 mortars of various calibers. Because Fort Clinton was dominated by higher ground to the south and west, several forts and redoubts were built there to defend it against overland attack. Fort Putnam, the major protective work in the system, can be seen on the

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

treeline to your rear.

After the Revolution, Fort Clinton served as an active fort and an arsenal for the storage of arms and equipment. After the Military Academy was founded in 1802, Fort Clinton ceased to be used as a fortification.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1778.

Location. 41° 23.662′ N, 73° 57.158′ W. Marker is in West Point, New York, in Orange County. It is on Cullum Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the United States Military Academy. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Point NY 10996, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Hudson Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers.

Marker at West Point image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 3, 2011

2. Marker at West Point

The Fort Clinton is found just south of the Kosciuszko Monument.

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Fort Clinton (a few steps from this marker); Kosciuszko (within shouting distance of this marker); Water Battery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Malek Tennis Center (about 700 feet away); Battle of Yorktown (about 700 feet away); Battle of Palo Alto (about 700 feet away); Battle of Resaca De La Palma (about 700 feet away); Great Chain Battery (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Point.

More about this marker. The bottom of the marker contains a relief showing the Great Chain spanning the Hudson River between Constitution Island and the site of Fort Clinton.

Fort Clinton image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 27, 2009

3. Fort Clinton

The enhancement and beautification of the Fort Clinton Parapet was done by the USMA Class of 1940.

Marker at US Military Academy image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 27, 2009

4. Marker at US Military Academy

The Kosciuszko Monument can be seen in the background of the photo behind the marker.

The Great Chain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

5. The Great Chain

Thirteen links of the Great Chain mentioned on the marker are located about .2 miles north, at Trophy Point.

Site of the Great Chain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 5, 2009

6. Site of the Great Chain

This view of the Hudson River shows the location of the Great Chain during the Revolutionary War. Constitution Island can be seen on the right in the photo.

Fort Clinton Marker Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 27, 2009

7. Fort Clinton Marker Detail

Detail from marker showing the fortifications in and around Fort Clinton.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,970 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on February 5, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on September 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on September 22, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on September 27, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5, 6. submitted on September 8, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on September 27, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.