Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website

By Healthitizer

February 17, 2022

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December 24 & 27, 2020 – Stony Level, NY

Problem: Simple

Size: Roughly 2 miles

Max elevation: 151 ft.– whole elevation acquire roughly 180 ft.

Route sort: Lollipop Loop

Free Internet Map: Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website Map – Stony Level Battlefield Interpretive Map

Trailhead parking: 44 Battlefield Rd, Stony Level, NY 10980

Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website is situated on a knobby promontory projecting into the Hudson River within the city of Stony Level, NY. It’s the solely preserved Revolutionary Battle battlefield in Rockland County. The location of a profitable midnight assault led by Brigadier Basic “Mad” Anthony Wayne towards a British Garrison on July 15-16, 1779. The location additionally hosts the oldest lighthouse (1826) within the Hudson Valley. The lighthouse shouldn’t be presently open for excursions, as repairs have to be made.

Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site

Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website

At present, a portion of the unique battlefield, the place Sir Henry Clinton positioned his earthworks and batteries, has been preserved as a New York State Park. Along with an historic lighthouse from the early nineteenth century and memorial arch, the park additionally features a museum devoted to the battle situated within the guests heart, and in addition hosts a number of instructional applications like guided excursions and historic reenactments, that may educate guests about navy and civilian life in Revolutionary America.

Admission to the location is free. Particular occasions might have a separate cost. Please name forward for data and seating reservations for particular occasions as wanted. The grounds are open each day from mid-April to the tip of October. From November to mid-April, the location grounds are open Monday to Friday and closed on weekends, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New 12 months’s Days. Name 845-786-2521 for data and hours of operation.

Please observe: As an historic web site, and a cemetery of Revolutionary Battle troopers, they don’t allow canines or bicycles past the Memorial Arch, and no leisure video games, or cooking fires are allowed.

Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website

There’s good birding all through the location year-round. Park within the car parking zone when the location is open and luxuriate in birding all through the grounds. You could park exterior the grounds in town’s Park Highway, and stroll into the location within the early morning, earlier than nightfall, or on weekends within the winter. Don’t park on the websites drive, Battlefield Highway, at any time as it’s a marked tow-away zone. There are various habitats for birds together with a freshwater swamp space on the entrance, woodlands, meadows, lawns and a small seashore on the Hudson River on the south facet of the peninsula. Throughout winter, Bald Eagles roost within the bushes close to the river’s edge.

Bald Eagle - Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site

Bald Eagle – Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website

Historical past:

Stony Level is a rocky prominence that extends a few 1/4-mile into the Hudson River. At excessive tide, Stony Level, surrounded by marshes, grew to become an island related to the mainland solely by a slim causeway. At its highest, the purpose is about 150 toes above sea degree, and steep.

When the British captured this rocky peninsula in Might 1779, they started to assemble an earthen fortress supposed to disrupt Washington’s Continental Military within the Hudson Highlands and block the King’s Ferry crossing under. Naturally defensible, Stony Level was additional improved by the addition of two rows of abatis (bushes laid branch-side in direction of the enemy), felled from the location. The primary abatis fashioned the “outer” works, and prolonged into the water south of the purpose. The second abatis was half means on the promontory and enclosed the “higher” works, or the “desk of the hill”.

Two months later, on July 16, George Washington and Brigadier Basic “Mad” Anthony Wayne launched a daring nighttime assault that shocked the garrison and allowed American forces to achieve management of the fort in beneath an hour.

George Washington gave Wayne orders to take Stony Level in a midnight bayonet cost. Wayne would command a pressure of about 1,300 Mild Soldiers. The Mild Infantry had been hand-picked males from varied Continental regiments that fashioned an elite corps of among the finest American troopers. Washington gave Wayne directions to ship the Mild Infantry in by three completely different factors “with mounted Bayonets and Muskets unloaded.”

Shortly after midnight on July 16, 1779, the three columns moved out. One column proceeded across the island and approached from the south throughout the marsh at low tide, the second and third columns crossed the causeway. The bigger second column superior alongside the northern shore of the island whereas the third column positioned themselves within the heart of the British defenses. As soon as in place, the third column fired photographs to divert the eye of British defenders because the north and south columns superior in direction of the center of the garrison.

As Wayne’s column started to cross the marsh, they slugged by water that got here as much as their chests. The boys pushed ahead into the darkness. As quickly as they got here to the opposite facet, they started to sprint up the steep slopes in direction of the primary line of British defenses. Inside a few half-hour, the heaviest combating had ended.

Lt. Colonel Francois de Fleury was the primary man into the internal works and pulled down the British flag flying there and exclaimed, “The fort’s our personal!” After extra bloody hand handy fight, it was clear that additional resistance by the British was futile, and Lt. Colonel Henry Johnson and the British troops surrendered. By 1:00am, Stony Level was in American fingers.

The battle resulted in 15 Individuals killed and 83 wounded. The British had misplaced 20 killed, 74 wounded and 472 captured.

For extra historical past of the Battle of Stony Level, see hyperlinks at backside of web page.

Battle of Stony Level

In 1826, the primary lighthouse on the Hudson River was constructed at historic Stony Level to mark the southern entrance to the Hudson Highlands. The completion of the Erie Canal the earlier yr, which linked New York Metropolis to America’s heartland, elevated site visitors on the Hudson River dramatically, and the necessity for navigational aids was paramount. The thirty-foot-tall octagonal Stony Level Lighthouse, constructed of blue break up stone, was constructed by Thomas Phillips of New York Metropolis, at a value of $3,350. There have been three keeper’s dwellings at Stony Level. The unique six-room stone dwelling was torn down in 1879 and changed by a dwelling on the flat land simply west of the lighthouse. The second home was razed and changed by one other construction, constructed nearer to the river in 1938.

The second lighthouse keeper’s house stood just a few steps under the octagonal lighthouse. The home was enclosed by a picket fence. On the base of the sunshine are just a few company or vacationers.

Stony Level lighthouse circa 1910

The Lighthouse guided mariners by the slim cross between Stony and Verplanck Factors till 1925. In its 99 years, just one vessel ran aground, with no reported fatalities, a testomony to the vigilance of the lightkeepers, notably Nancy Rose, who tended the sunshine for 47 years.

Stony Level Lighthouse

By way of the efforts of the Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website, the Palisades Park Interstate Fee, and New York State Workplace of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, restoration of the lighthouse started in 1986. The outside was repaired and painted, and the lantern was reglazed. On October 7, 1995, restoration was full, and the sunshine was activated for the primary time in seventy years. The automated mild, operated by solar energy, beams a flash of sunshine as soon as each 4 seconds.

Stony Level Lighthouse

The motion for the acquisition of Stony Level as a state park started in 1895. The property was acquired by the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society (ASHPS), which grew to become the trustees of the unique 35 acres of property. In 1898, the state started buying land related to the Battle of Stony Level, together with the oldest lighthouse constructed alongside the Hudson River, which dates to 1826 and belonged to the federal authorities. By 1978, the state had amassed 87 acres. After subsequent land acquisitions, the present web site is now comprised of 137 acres. The state historic web site opened to the general public in 1902 and the museum, that includes displays concerning the battle and the lighthouse, was inbuilt 1936. It was designated a Nationwide Historic Landmark in 1961.

The location is now operated as Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website and is a gorgeous mixture of woods and tended lawns, with commanding panoramic views of the Hudson River wanting north to the Hudson Highlands and south to Haverstraw Bay. The location encompasses a self-guided strolling path and a museum displaying artifacts uncovered throughout archaeological digs. Additionally on the grounds is the Stony Level Lighthouse, the Hudson River’s oldest, which protected the southern entrance to the Hudson Highlands from 1826 to 1925.

Kings Ferry Overlook

Museum - Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site

Museum – Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website

Stony Level lighthouse

Trails Overview:

Many of the trails are paved paths that lead guests all through the location. There are a number of grassy footpaths as properly. This State Historic Website is geared extra in direction of individuals which are searching for a leisurely stroll with Hudson River views and studying about American Historical past. On any given day in the course of the winter, one can spot Bald Eagles driving on rising columns of heat air referred to as thermals or perched within the bushes.

There’s additionally a self-guided strolling tour. This tour brings you from the fort’s outer works, across the southern crest of the purpose, as much as the lighthouse, across the north finish of the purpose and returns to the outer works, with illustrated interpretive indicators alongside the way in which describing the defensive positions, batteries, and accounts of the British troopers who manned them. On this path, guests cross the spot the place Wayne entered the fort, the place Lieutenant colonel de Fleury struck the British colours, and the place Colonel Febiger accepted the give up of Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, the Crown commander. Behind the museum, a spur path brings you out to the King’s Ferry Overlook and thru the world the place Colonel Butler’s column entered the fort.

Hike Overview:

Having been to this web site on quite a few events, I used to be searching for a straightforward stroll with some Hudson River views and this spot match the invoice. This can be a good place to only wander round, get pleasure from some contemporary air and hopefully spot some Bald Eagles or Hawks. I visited the Website on Christmas Eve day whereas there was some snow on the bottom and returned a number of days later after the rain washed away the snow. We parked within the lot on our first go to and on Park Highway after we returned on the twenty seventh. It’s a pleasant stroll up Battlefield Highway which follows the shore of the contemporary water wetlands.

Stony Level Battlefield State Historic Website

Factors of Curiosity:

Battlefield Highway ~ This paved park street winds its means alongside the contemporary water wetlands and makes for a nice stroll if parking your car on Park Highway.

Battlefield Highway

Recent Water Wetlands ~ There are various habitats for birds together with a freshwater swamp space on the entrance. Nice Blue Herons, Wooden Geese, Belted Kingfishers and Canadian Geese are just some of the birds that one can spot alongside this space.