Clues for the lesson plan activity:

Fortress West Point: The important Fort from the American Revolution that General Washington referred to as “the key to America,” where the United States Military Academy was founded in 1802.
  • Located on a point* on the west shore of the Hudson River

  • Almost halfway between Albany and Manhattan

  • Located on a narrow bend in the River where the Patriots had blocked the River by stretching an iron chain across it.

  • Protected by mountains
    *point: a small piece of land that sticks out into a body of water.


Saratoga: A large battlefield along the upper Hudson River, where two separate battles were fought; often referred to as the “turning point of the American Revolution.”

  • North of Albany
  • South of Fort George
  • · Located on the west side of the river, on a low flat plain near a bend in the river


White Plains: A Large battle fought from Harlem Heights to the Village of White Plains. British, and Hessian, forces were victorious, but suffered heavy casualties.

  • Located on the east side of the River, about half way between the Hudson River and the Connecticut state border. It is south of the Hudson Highlands and north of the Long Island Sound.


Stony Point: Located at King’s Ferry across from Verplank’s point, it was one of the few ferry crossing on the Hudson River; this was part of a major route for moving troops from one side of the river to the other.

  • South of West Point
  • A small point located on the west shore of the Hudson River, across from another, larger point on the east shore.
  • It is at the north end of the widest portion of the river.


Kingston: First capitol of New York, burned by the British in 1777.

  • Located on the Hudson River halfway between New York and Albany at the northeastern end of the Shawangunk Ridge, southeast of the Catskills.


Newburgh/New Windsor: Known as the “last Encampment,” George Washington and the Continental Army camped here at the “Northern Gate to the Hudson Highlands” during 1782-1783 in order to observe the British Army in New York City.

  • Located immediately North of the Hudson Highlands, on the west shore of the Hudson River