Thursday, August 22 (7:30pm)-Saturday, August 24 (5pm)
Led by William Welsch & Bruce Venter
Tour Registration: $325.00
Benedict Arnold’s plot to sell West Point to the British in 1780 is undoubtedly the most famous story associated with the Revolutionary War in New York’s lower Hudson River Valley region. But many other events occurred during the period 1777 thru 1783. These environs teemed with Patriots, Redcoats and Tories who played the part of heroes, spies and scoundrels during the war.
On Friday morning our first stop will be Fort Montgomery, the site of British General Sir Henry Clinton’s successful attack on American forces in 1777. This stop will complete the story of the British campaign of 1777 for those who have been with us on the Saratoga and Mohawk Valley tours. From Fort Montgomery, we will travel to the Stony Point battlefield, where General “Mad Anthony” Wayne staged his surprise nighttime attack on an unsuspecting British garrison in July 1779.
Lunch will be at the historic ’76 House in Tappan, where British Major John Andre, Arnold’s youthful co-conspirator, was held prisoner before being hanged on orders from General George Washington. After lunch you’ll see the Dutch church where Andre’s trial was held and the site of his execution.
On Saturday our first stop will be Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, where the general spent over sixteen months between 1782 and 1783 after defeating Cornwallis at Yorktown. The Hasbrouck House was the first publicly operated historic site in the United States, opening 1850. It was here that the first Purple Heart, the Badge of Military Merit was awarded. Next, we’ll visit the fieldstone headquarters of Washington’s beloved artillerist, Henry Knox at Vails Gate, which retains much of its wartime appearance. Nearby Knox’s headquarters is the New Windsor Cantonment, our next stop. It was the final encampment of the American army before it was disbanded after the Treaty of Paris. A recreation of army life in 1782-83 is captured on the gentle hillsides of New Windsor. It was here that Washington withstood a mutinous attempt by some disgruntled officers known as the Newburgh Conspiracy. A graying, bespectacled general also offered his moving Newburgh Address in the Temple of Virtue at New Windsor, an action which further exemplified his leadership as the father of our country.
Adjacent to the New Windsor Cantonment is the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, a unique, state-of-the art facility we will include in our tour. The Purple Heart Hall of Honor preserves the extraordinary stories of ordinary Americans who sacrificed in blood for our nation and is a must-see museum.
Registration Fee: $325.00
What’s included: motor coach transportation, two lunches, beverage and snack breaks, a map and materials package, all admissions and gratuities, and the services of two experienced tour guides. Tour participants are responsible for transportation to the headquarters hotel, and securing a room reservation, if necessary. Dinner is on your own. Tour goes out rain or shine. Please see our policy page for information about cancellations.
Hotel:
We have arranged with the headquarters hotel for a group rate of $119.00 per night plus tax (double or single occupancy) which includes a hot and cold buffet breakfast. Please call the Hampton Inn, 1292 Route 300, Newburgh, NY 12550 at 845-567-9100 and ask for the America’s History LLC group rate. This rate is guaranteed until July 29, 2013. Please make your reservations soon.
Our Tour Guides/Historians:
William M. Welsch is a frequent speaker on the American Revolution and an experienced tour leader of Revolutionary War sites. He is a founding member and president of the American Revolution Round Table of Richmond, VA. His article “Washington’s Indispensable, Yet Unknown Lieutenants” appeared in American Revolution magazine.
Dr. Bruce M. Venter, president of America’s History, LLC, is an experienced Revolutionary War tour leader. He led a similar tour of these sites in 2006. He is first vice president of the American Revolution Round Table of Richmond. His article, “Behind Enemy Lines: Americans Attack Burgoyne’s Supply Line” appeared in Patriots of the American Revolution magazine.
Register Online:
Register by phone, e-mail or postal mail:
- Toll-free: 1-855-OUR-HISTORY (687-4478)
- Email us at: info@AmericasHistoryLLC.com
- Postal mail: America’s History LLC, P. O. Box 1076, Goochland, VA 23063
Visa, Master Card and Discover accepted. We take checks too!
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