Revolutionary War Project: West Point General George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, the Continental Army commander, and later the first president of the United States of America during the American Revolution declared West Point, as “the most important military position in America”[i]. West Point is located in New York, along the Hudson River and 50miles from New York City. West Point was a very strategic point during the American Revolution, due to its location near the Hudson River and its geographical conditions for its defense, which therefore was caused the Continental Army to fortify its defense there. Thus afterwards a military academy was founded at West Point, in which played …show more content…

Kosciuszko being confident about the fortification further quotes “if the enemy let us alone two weeks longer, we shall have reason to rejoice at their moving this way”[xi] The cost of the
“Great Chain” being “5,945 pounds”[xii] further showed, despite its expense was regarded as a necessary need for the defense of the Hudson and its importance. The effectiveness of the chain however was never challenged by the British. Whether the “Great Chain” defense will have worked or not, it most definitely was the convincing factor in which the British threw away any hopes of taking over West Point by force. The only attempt taken by the British was none other than the infamous treason of Benedict Arnold. Despite Arnold’s treason and failed attempt of the British acquiring West Point shows and emphasizes once again of how important the control of Hudson River and West Point’s “Great Chain” defense was. West Point remained under the Continental Army’s control throughout the American Revolution. The relic of the “Great Chain can still be seen today at West Point. Its location is at a spot which is called Trophy Point. The Figure no.1, in which the picture was taken, shows thirteen of what is left. Each of the chain represented a colony/state that fought the tyranny against the