SIGNIFICANCE
On Crown Hill and overlooking Michie Stadium is Fort Putnam. Constructed in 1778 by Colonel Rufus Putnam’s 5th Massachusetts Regiment, Fort Putnam is one of West Point’s most important Revolutionary War defensive works. Major General Alexander McDougall, commander in the Highlands Department, instructed “The easternmost face of this work must be so constructed as to command the plain…and annoy the enemy if he should force the works now erecting by Colonel Meigs and Colonel Wylls’s regiments, as well as to command the northernmost and highest part of the ground last mentioned [Fort Webb].”
French Brigadier General Louis Duportail, Chief Engineer to the Continental Army, advised that “Fort Putnam, which is as it were, the key to all others may be rendered impregnable.” Major General Benedict Arnold described Fort Putnam in the documents found on Major John Andre in 1780 as “Stone wanting great repairs” with “two Bomm [Bomb] proofs and a Provision Magazine in the Fort, & a Slight wooden Barrack.”
Oh Shame! Most Crying Shame!
For such a major edifice at Fortress West Point, little is known of the specific structures of Fort Putnam because many documents were destroyed just previous to Major Delafield becoming superintendent in 1838. At that time, Secretary of War Calhoun decided to sell off, or burn, all Revolutionary documents stored at West Point. Augustus Pleasanton, West Point Class of 1826 wrote this in his diary:
“…an order was sent from Washington [Dept of War] to sell at auction all the revolutionary relics, excepting a small piece of the large chain (about thirty feet of it)…Among this large collection…were many barrels …filled with papers, reports…and other valuable information…of our Revolutionary struggle particularly the …forts at West Point, all of which were sold by the barrel or lot for waste paper. Thousands of letters, orders…and reports in the handwriting of …Washington, Lafayette…Knox, Arnold…this sold to cheesemongers and greengrocers. Oh shame! Most crying shame!
RESTORATIONS
Many restorations have taken place at Fort Putnam. In 1797, Fort Putnam was briefly recommissioned during the conflict with France and then fell to ruin. The first restoration took place in 1794 and was documented by Major David Niven in a letter to the Secretary of War. A major appropriation from Congress in 1905 resulted in another preservation effort with some of the parapets being covered over with new stone because of the terrible condition of the existing walls.
In 1976 another restoration took place as one of West Point’s projects to recognize America’s Bicentennial.
MAXIMIZING OUR HERITAGE
Fort Putnam is the only fortification restored at West Point and open to the general public. Currently, the view of Fort Putnam is almost entirely obstructed by an overgrowth of trees, therefore, what should be an large and imposing structure at West Point akin to the visual impact of the West Point Chapel, instead appears as a building that looks like a water treatment plant on the hill. Uncovering the view of Fort Putnam will create a sensational view of our Revolutionary history for everyone visiting West Point and will highlight for those sitting in Michie Stadium the importance of West Point in the founding of America. In addition, cannons at football games should be fired from Fort Putnam in view of all the attendees at the games.