Military Advantages of each Fortification:

Fortress West Point:
Fortress West Point was actually a series of small fortifications on both the eastern and western shores of the Hudson River located on a narrow bend. They were designed in such a way that each one could defend the other and prevent ships from advancing further up the Hudson. The fortifications on the western shore were guarded well from land attack by rough, high mountains to the west and north, and they commanded lowlands to the south due to their position on a bluff top.

Saratoga:
The Battle of Saratoga was fought in two locations: Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights. ???<<<Neither were an intentional fortification as much as a crossroads>>!!!? The Farm provided woods to hide and fight in, and the heights were small hills that provided shelter by positioning troops behind them, as well as an elevated position to fight from that was easily defended.

White Plains:
This battle involved islands, redoubts, forts, batteries, naval fighting….

Stony Point:
Stony Point was fortified in an effort to protect King’s Ferry and Verplank’s point, an important ferry crossing on the Hudson River. At the time of the Revolution, this “point” was nearly an island. Fortifications were established on top of the hill overlooking the ferry landing, and were surrounded by fallen trees with sharpened branches facing outward called abatis.

Kingston:
Kingston was originally settled as a stockade, or walled village, by Dutch explorers before the British took control of the New World. By the time of the Revolution, it was a sprawling town and not a military fortification. However, the Patriot forces did fortify a small knoll on the Hudson River that was connected to the mainland by a corduroy road of wooden planks across a swamp. Columbus Point took advantage of natural high ground and its nearness to the channel as well as beaches where the British would come ashore. This was one of the only fortifications built in time to defend the Town against the British forces who quickly over-ran it and then marched through Kingston burning Patriots’ houses.