NORTH REDOUBT

Designed and constructed under Chief Engineer Kosciuszko’s management, North Redoubt is located on the east side of the Hudson River and was very similar in construction to Forts Wyllys and Redoubts #1, #2, and #3. There were no re-entrant angles and all the guns were placed in external batteries.The three batteries were all typical of batteries at West Point and protected Nelson’s Point on the Garrison side and protected the fortification from attack from the Garrison Plain. Battery #3 on the south side would protect the battery from attack from South Redoubt should it be overthrown by the enemy. On the day Benedict Arnold’s treason was discovered, General Washington had spent the previous night at the Van Wyck Estate at the Fishkill Supply Depot and then travelled with Hamilton and Lafayette to North Redoubt and South Redoubt. Those two officers went ahead of Washington to Arnold’s residence where “the treason of the blackest dye,” was discovered. General Washington entered the Robinson House just a short time after Arnold fled and was devastated when he learned of the treachery of one of his most trusted commanders.

North Redoubt is under the ownership of the State of New York. There is significant interest on the Putnam County side for preserving the North Redoubt and the access to the redoubt. Friends of the American Revolution at West Point, Inc., (FAR) is working with interested parties on the Garrison side to ensure the preservation of the Fortress West Point redoubts located there.