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New Windsor Cantonment & Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Sites: 2011 Special Event Schedule

Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site     Palisades Interstate Park Commission New Windsor Cantonment and Knox's Headquarters State Historic Sites  2011 Special Events Schedule Saturday April 16 & Sunday April 17L: Brigade of the American Revolution Encampment at the New Windsor Cantonment. Revolutionary War historians, dressed in period clothing, perform military drill and battle demonstrations at 2:00 PM each day. Visit their encampments and learn about life during the Revolution. The program runs Saturday & Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sunday May 15: New York State Heritage Weekend, Resurrecting the Revolutionary War at the New Windsor Cantonment. At 2:00 PM see a special presentation on two soldiers, Oliver Cromwell, an African-American soldier in the New Jersey Line and Henry Kneeland, a Hessian deserter with the Massachusetts troops.  Saturday May 28: Knox’s Headquarters Opens for the Season. The headquarters of Generals Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox and Horatio Gates opens for another season of tours and special events. Please call (845) 561-1765 ext. 22 for tour times.  Monday May 30: Honor our Nation’s Fallen Soldiers at the New Windsor Cantonment. At 2:00 PM, Continental Army soldiers will perform an 18th century graveside mourning ceremony. Following the ceremony, balladeer Linda Russell will perform the songs that inspired and comforted the American people when our nation was at war.  Sunday June 19: Children’s Day at the New Windsor Cantonment. A fun-filled day of family entertainment on Father’s Day with the Two by Two petting zoo and a host of 18th century games. The program runs 1:00 to 4:00 PM.  Monday July 4: Independence Day at New Windsor Cantonment & Knox’s Headquarters. Celebrate the 4th at two sites hallowed by the soldiers who won our independence. At Knox’s Headquarters see a small cannon fired at 1:30 & 3:15 PM. At the New Windsor Cantonment see military firing demonstrations at 2:00 PM. Sunday July 24: Henry Knox’s Birthday at Knox’s Headquarters. From 7:00 to 9:00 PM watch the officers and soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd Continental Artillery Regiments completing the preparations for the move to Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. The performers will interact with visitors as if they from 1781. Saturday August 14, A Revolutionary Camp at Night at the historic huts. From 7:00 to 9:00 PM, at the huts, owned by The Town of New Windsor, on the west side of Route 300 and on the north side of Causeway Road, experience by candlelight, military drills, musket firings and other period activities done at the encampment at New Windsor.  Saturday October 29, “It was dark back then” at Knox’s Headquarters. From 8: 00 – 9:00 PM tour the grounds by night if you dare. Sunday November 13, “Your Excellency’s Dog kennel at Mount Vernon, is as good a Quarter as that I am now in” at the Edmonston House. From 2:00 to 3:00 PM visit this military headquarters and meet General Horatio Gates, who was none too happy about being billeted in this house.  Friday December 16 & Saturday, December 17, Christmas with the Ellisons at Knox’s Headquarters. From 5:00 to 8:00 PM tour by candlelight the elegant 1754 Ellison mansion decorated for the season in 18th century fashion. Enjoy period music throughout the evening. The house will have costumed staff in each room.  Monday, December 26, Tuesday, December 27 & Wednesday, December 28: Open House at Knox’s Headquarters. The Ellison mansion is open for tours at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM each day. Tour the elegant 1754 historic house decorated for the season in 18th century fashion. New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is located with the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300) in New Windsor, NY, just three miles south of the intersection of I-87 and I-84. The site is closed holidays except Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. Costumed living history demonstrations mid-April – end of October Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM & Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The visitor center is open except for the above mentioned holidays year round Monday – Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM. For more information, please call (845) 561-1765 Knox’s Headquarters is located at 289 Forge Hill Road at the intersection of Forge Hill Road and Blooming Grove Turnpike (Route 94) in Vails Gate, NY, just one mile from the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and New Windsor Cantonment.The site is open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day Wednesday to Saturday with tours starting promptly at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM & Sunday 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM. Tour, school and camp groups are welcome by advance reservation only. Dates, times, hours of operations and admission fees are subject to change. For more information, please call (845) 561-1765 ext. 22

 

lecture and special tour of Knox’s Headquarters this Saturday March 12 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM

Reenactors at Knox's Headquarters     Palisades Interstate Park Commission  Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site Lecture: Newburgh Addresses Saturday, March 12, 2011 1 PM The lecture portion will now take place at the Temple Building located at the New Windsor Cantonment. After the lecture, visitors will travel to Knox's Headquarters for the tour.  The New Windsor Cantonment is located with the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at 374 Temple Hill Road, Route 300, in the Town of New Windsor, four miles east of Stewart Airport and three miles from the intersection of I-87 and I-84 in Newburgh, New York. Join the staff of New Windsor Cantonment for a lecture and special tour of Knox’s Headquarters this Saturday March 12 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This event highlights the conspiracy to force Congress to redress longstanding army grievances. Written at the Ellison House in early March 1783, the two letters that came to be known as the Newburgh Addresses stirred passions within the Army. The author called for the officers of the Continental Army to threaten to march on Philadelphia and use military force to compel Congress to redress their longstanding grievances. Had the conspirators been able to make good on this threat, the United States, the beacon of freedom and democracy for the world might have developed quite differently. Whether this threat was real or just an elaborate bluff, the implications of the letter shocked Washington. Throughout its long troubled history, the officers had kept the Continental Army together despite dreadful conditions, bitter defeats and soldier mutinies. If the officer corps turned against the country who could prevent the military from dictating to its civilian masters. Washington countered the first letter by expressing his “disapprobation of such disorderly proceedings” and directed that the officers meet in the Temple Building on March 15th to hear the latest report of the Committee of the Army to Congress. In the second March 12th letter, the author argued that Washington, by not banning further meetings actually supported their tough rhetoric. They could not have been more wrong. Unexpectedly and certainly not welcomed by the conspirators, Washington appeared at the meeting and he addressed the esteemed gathering. The Commander-in-Chief poured out his heart to the officers, but so deep was their resentment that by in large, most of them were still unmoved. In a fit of desperation, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a letter from Congressman Joseph Jones, one of the Army’s staunchest supporters. He struggled to read it to them, but his eyesight was failing. His speech, in his own hand, was in large letters, but the Jones letter was written in smaller script, making it very difficult to read. He finally set the letter down and pulled from a pocket his new spectacles. Just a few at headquarters had ever seen him wearing them. This was his first use of them in public. Washington put on his spectacles and in a self-effacing manner said: Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country. Gone for that poignant moment was the iconic great captain on horseback and in his place was revealed a fellow sufferer, aged beyond his years. This humble admission of human frailty unleashed a tidal wave of emotion. Some openly wept. Others felt the burn as the feelings of shame increased the flow of blood to their faces. Overcome by this compassionate response, Washington quickly gathered his papers and left as unceremoniously as he arrived. Knox’s Headquarters is located at 289 Forge Hill Road at the intersection of Forge Hill Road and Blooming Grove Turnpike (Route 94) in Vails Gate, NY, just one mile from the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and New Windsor Cantonment. Call (845) 561-1765 ext. 22 to make reservations.

 

Knox's Headquarters: Newburgh Addresses, March 12, 2011

Reenactors at Knox's Headquarters     Palisades Interstate Park Commission  Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site Lecture: Newburgh Addresses Saturday, March 12, 2011 1 PM Join the staff of New Windsor Cantonment for a lecture and special tour of Knox’s Headquarters this Saturday March 12 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This event highlights the conspiracy to force Congress to redress longstanding army grievances.  Written at the Ellison House in early March 1783, the two letters that came to be known as the Newburgh Addresses stirred passions within the Army. The author called for the officers of the Continental Army to threaten to march on Philadelphia and use military force to compel Congress to redress their longstanding grievances. Had the conspirators been able to make good on this threat, the United States, the beacon of freedom and democracy for the world might have developed quite differently. Whether this threat was real or just an elaborate bluff, the implications of the letter shocked Washington. Throughout its long troubled history, the officers had kept the Continental Army together despite dreadful conditions, bitter defeats and soldier mutinies. If the officer corps turned against the country who could prevent the military from dictating to its civilian masters. Washington countered the first letter by expressing his “disapprobation of such disorderly proceedings” and directed that the officers meet in the Temple Building on March 15th to hear the latest report of the Committee of the Army to Congress. In the second March 12th letter, the author argued that Washington, by not banning further meetings actually supported their tough rhetoric. They could not have been more wrong. Unexpectedly and certainly not welcomed by the conspirators, Washington appeared at the meeting and he addressed the esteemed gathering. The Commander-in-Chief poured out his heart to the officers, but so deep was their resentment that by in large, most of them were still unmoved. In a fit of desperation, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a letter from Congressman Joseph Jones, one of the Army’s staunchest supporters. He struggled to read it to them, but his eyesight was failing. His speech, in his own hand, was in large letters, but the Jones letter was written in smaller script, making it very difficult to read. He finally set the letter down and pulled from a pocket his new spectacles. Just a few at headquarters had ever seen him wearing them. This was his first use of them in public. Washington put on his spectacles and in a self-effacing manner said: Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country. Gone for that poignant moment was the iconic great captain on horseback and in his place was revealed a fellow sufferer, aged beyond his years. This humble admission of human frailty unleashed a tidal wave of emotion. Some openly wept. Others felt the burn as the feelings of shame increased the flow of blood to their faces. Overcome by this compassionate response, Washington quickly gathered his papers and left as unceremoniously as he arrived. Knox’s Headquarters is located at 289 Forge Hill Road at the intersection of Forge Hill Road and Blooming Grove Turnpike (Route 94) in Vails Gate, NY, just one mile from the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and New Windsor Cantonment. Call (845) 561-1765 ext. 22 to make reservations.