The Hudson River remains an important artery of trade and commerce to this day. Back in the early 90s I took a 700+ foot cargo ship up around that point, to load grain at Albany. A very cool trip up and down. 145 miles from The Battery to Albany. Going around that bend, the river pilot talked about the chain across the river back in the day.
I got an impromptu tour of West Point from my grandson who was there for a summer hockey camp. I tried signing in at the visitor center, but there was so many bus tours ahead of me. He walked down to the visitor's center and using his ID we did drive onto the campus. When camp concluded I picked him up and took him up to Norwich Univ for another hockey camp. GPS sent me to a closed gate and I was lost trying to enter West Point , ended up entering through the town of Highland Falls.
Excited to see the dream team at it again! What a beautiful venue. Always such an amazing visit. So thrilled that I’ll have some more facts under my belt for the next time we visit!
Loved this, over the weekend I got to encounter and interact with many of the West Point and Annapolis cadets family and friends heading home after the Army Navy game.
I live near an active army base and here is you call they will put you on a “expected list” and can visit. Otherwise you have to answer a million questions and it takes forever to get on base
In 1830, David Crockett introduced a resolution to abolish the military academy at West Point, New York, which had opened in 1802. Crockett argued that those educated at West Point “receive their instruction at the public expense, and are generally the sons of the rich and influential.” His effort to close it drew on his constituents’ opposition to the military academy. Even if a poor student was accepted to the academy on the Hudson River, the cost of travel, Crockett explained, “would be at the risk of his ruin.” Crockett’s frontier personality came through in his declaration that the men educated at West Point were “too delicate, and could not rough it in the army like men differently raised.”
Aaron and Don’t underestimate Garry. Kris, Trophy point was obviously very important. They used a chain at Columbus KY. Just an awesome tour. Love the History of West Point.
Hudson also connected to the Eire Canal, which connected to the Great Lakes. Edit: The entrance to the Eire Canal on the Hudson River was at Albany, NY. There was essentially a "harbor" formed by an island that river boats could tie up to on the East side with the "harbor" on the West. In the "harbor" were locks to access the canal. There were dead end side canals near the entrance to load and unload cargo. Many of these side canals were for storing, loading and unloading lumber. It was called the lumber district, which was a big deal before and during the civil war, when a lot of lumber was cut in the North East. Google "Albany Lumber District". None of this exists any more. Not even the island.
Chris mentioned Patton in the list of graduates, I'm pretty sure he wasn't a west pointer, he was a vmi graduate, which is a reason why he wasn't accepted by the other west pointers!
You all missed the highlight of the Sedgewick Statue!!! My good friend (WP Class of '86) said that legend among the cadets was that if you were nervous about passing an exam, you had to go out the night before the test and spin General Sedgewick's spurs, and you were guaranteed to pass. (Which is why, ladies and gentlemen, the General's spurs are polished to a high glow)
Chris - Not sure I'd call the lower Hudson valley "back woods"? And you neglected to mention the Hudson's connection to points west via the Mohawk River.
Are there revolutionary war battle flags at west point?!Love civil war flags and there are MANY that survived...but the revolution and the continuation war of 1812 not so much that I have seen.
Is there an old Tavern down below on the banks of the Hudson called "Benny Havens"? If so can you comment on it's History?? Thank you! Awesome content!!! : )
Thank you for your informative video. I must, however, express my great disappointment with the inaccurate/dishonest? representation in the title. The video is not in fact about Trophies of War, but about West Point, its historical figures, and even about you tour guides. A book publisher wouldn't permit such inaccurate titling of a book on your content, interesting though your content was. I hesitate, now, to believe the titles of your other videos. My interest is specific, and my time is limited.
Yes, he was a hero of the Mexican War, but all the 'good' he ever did for the United States went down the drain when he became a traitor and forsaked his oath to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution against ALL enemies."
Love the ABT videos but I am shocked and saddened by Kris White calling Benjamin O. Davis Jr. "George". Even in death, Benjamin O. Davis continues to be disrespected at the U.S. Military Academy. I know that Kris blended Benjamin O. Davis Jr. and George Spanky Roberts (a noted Tuskegee Airmen Commander) names together, but the average individual wouldn't pick that up. That's the second mistake I've heard him make when it comes to minority military service. Please Kris, I know you mean well, but don't dive into the diversity field, that is not what you're there for. If you don't know just don't say anything because you are insulting all minority service members by messing or making it up. It is well documented that Benjamin O. Davis Jr. did not enjoy his time at West Point, most of it was wrought with discrimination and despair. Most cadets refused to speak to him during his attendance and the few who did, hurled slurs at him. Therefore no one would ask for, or even expect a reference to Benjamin O. Davis Jr. during your West Point videos. There was no need for that glaring faux pas.
