Verplanck's Point facts for kids
Verplanck's Point is a small area located in Verplanck, a village in Cortlandt, New York. It's in the northwest part of Westchester County, New York. This place gets its name from the Verplanck family. They settled in New Amsterdam (which is now New York City) in the 1630s.
Verplanck's Point: A Place in History
Verplanck's Point is famous for its important role in the American Revolutionary War. It was a place where George Washington's Continental Army often camped. Soldiers would stay here when they crossed the Hudson River. The flat land made it easy to move soldiers and supplies. They used Kings Ferry, which was between Verplanck's Point and Montrose, and Stony Point on the other side of the river.
In 1776, General Washington was being chased by the British army. The British general was William Howe. Washington's army was heading towards Fort Lee, New Jersey. From there, they continued south to Yorktown, Virginia. At Yorktown, Washington received the surrender of General Cornwallis on October 19, 1781. This was a major victory for the Americans.
A Special Army Review
A year later, in September 1782, Verplanck's Point was again a camp for the Continental Army. It was a natural spot for soldiers to rest. Moving many men and supplies across the river was a slow and difficult task. On September 14, Washington held a special review of his troops. This was to honor the French commander, Comte de Rochambeau. Rochambeau and his army were leaving.
Washington wrote about this impressive event:
"The troops will be drawn out tomorrow to honor his Excellency the Count de Rochambeau. As he passes, the troops will show him the respect due to a commander in chief." He also added a specific detail: "For this occasion, the tallest men should be in the front row."
A Famous Painting of Washington
The artist John Trumbull painted a full-length portrait called Washington at Verplanck's Point. He gave this painting to Martha Washington. Because it was so popular, he created a much larger version. This bigger painting was almost four times the size of the first one. It was made for the City of New York and is called George Washington.
In the larger painting, Trumbull changed the background. Instead of Rochambeau's review, it shows Evacuation Day in New York City in 1783. This was the day British troops left New York City after the war.
