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This past weekend I spent a day with friends at West Point, the campus of America’s foremost military academy since its founding in 1802. The campus architecture has stone masonry that is most attractive.

Because of the efforts of our team leader, the day was a lot of fun. That is, while we visited a number of sites on the campus, we also participated in various discussions. Five members of the group spoke about different subjects that embraced a broad spectrum of themes—sociology, history, art, and scandal-- during the course of the day, which kept up our interest. Moreover, we took at several times rest breaks—coffee, lunch, and several hours in the afternoon—that all combined to keep us happily going throughout the day which ended with dinner close to 10:30 PM. Our leader changed our itinerary because of gnats, the closing of Fort Putnam for restoration, and the afternoon heat, thereby keeping the day pleasant and enjoyable. 

 

First of all, let me comment on the physical beauty of West Point. Located on the Hudson, West Point commands a spectacular view. Because West Point overlooks a particularly narrow part of the Hudson River, this site played a critical part in helping the Americans prevent British navigation during our Revolutionary War. Because the Hudson River goes from New York City to Canada, it could have enabled the English an easy supply route of men and arms during the Revolution. Their failure to control the river meant that the English were confined to our urban cities—Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Charleston, and Savannah.  

I was the first speaker and discussed the American Revolution from the perspective of the outlooks of the British and the Americans. I made several comments that I wish to share. First of all, I commented that Britain and America had grown apart over the some 150 years of British colonization. Under British colonization, the Americans had enjoyed a large degree of self-government and were increasing frustrated by English laws both governmental and economic that constrained colonial independence. For example, the under the British mercantile system, England expected the colonies to supply raw materials to the mother country for the later to be the sole manufacturer. England forbade American trade with other countries. Also, England imposed a series of taxes upon the Colonials in order to help reimburse the costs of the French and Indian War (1756-1763) without any consultation with the colonies. Lastly, England forbade colonization west of the Appalachians, an irritant to the land hungry Americans.  I noted that Adam Smith in his famous book Wealth of Nations, published in 1776, (The starting year for the American Revolution) provided academic support for the colonial complaints. That is, while few Englishmen probably read the critical comments by this Scottish professor Smith encouraged competition, free trade, comparative economic advantage, and social mobility. Both in England and in the United States, there was recognition of the legitimate complaints of the colonists. Thus, while the impetuous government of King George III hastened the American Revolution, ultimately separation was inevitable. From 1830-1850 the second most popular political party in the United States was the Whig Party, named in honor of Englishmen who supported our Independence.

The next participant spoke about the role of the Battle of Saratoga. The British hoped the cut off New England from the Colonies by taking control of the Hudson River and Valley. Because of a series of British missteps and the great distances involved, the British were forced to surrender some 6000 men when they were surrounded by some 15,000 to 20,000 American volunteers and their provisions ran out. The defeat of the British led directly to French recognition of America’s independence. Ultimately, Spain and Holland also recognized American independence. Thus, the American rebellion took on much broader aspects. Moreover, French naval, military, and economic aide reduced significantly the British advantage.

 

We then took a lunch break where we had a picnic along the Hudson. While I had known several members of the group from previous historical excursions, this lunch break provided an opportunity to spend time with new members. Our groups consisted of men and women with broad vocational backgrounds—investment bankers, lawyers, teachers, public relation professionals, fundraisers, professional army personnel, and artists.

The next speaker discussed Dutch colonization under the aegis of the Dutch West India Company between 1624 and 1664.  The Dutch claim to this part of the New World stemmed from the explorations of Henry Hudson in 1609, which sought to find a northwest passage to India.  Numbering only a few thousand, they settled primarily in the lowlands that became the states of Delaware, New Jersey and New York, a regional entity that we call New Netherland. In 1626 Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan from the Indians for some 60 guilders worth of trinkets. He immediately stated the construction of Fort New Amsterdam (later called New York.). The intent of the West India Company was to make a profit for the investors who had purchased shares in the company. The primary focus of the Dutch was the Hudson River from Albany to New York City.

 

The settlers of New Netherland represented a range of European backgrounds that had been recruited by the West India Company from the Low Countries, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Other settlers came from France, England, Scotland and Ireland. Almost half of those who came to New Netherland before 1664 were not technically of Dutch ancestry, but all of them were transported across the Atlantic in support of Dutch commercial initiatives. These people had no particular attachments to Europe. They had a range of skills farmers, tradesmen, clerks, surgeons, ministers, and sailors. By 1664 the population had grown to some 9,000. These settlers felt that they could make a fortune in the New World, and they showed significant entrepreneurial spirit. However, because of the bulk of the profits from enterprises flowed into coffers in Amsterdam, New Netherlands was deprived of needed capital to develop a viable, colony-based merchant community.

As New Netherland prospered the British set their sights on the province, stating they had a claim to the land as part of John Cabot’s discoveries. The British and Dutch saw each other as direct competitors, leading to several wars. In 1664 Charles II formally annexed New Netherland and granted it to his brother James, Duke of York. The Duke successfully sent a fleet to seize the colony.

 

We then visited the West Point Cathedral and main cemetery. I found the gravesite of the former West Point football coach, Earl “Red” Blake most interesting, because the tombstone resembled a football.  Needless to say, many famous people are buried at West Point.

Because of the heat and incessant number of gnats, we decided to return to our hotel. Frankly, we all appreciated the interruption from our planned schedule because the conditions were just not hospitable to further touring and lecturing.

In the early evening we had our last two speakers. One of them a professional artist discussed four of the Hudson River School of Painters. Most of them painted in and around the Hudson River Valley and the nearby Catskill and Adirondack Mountains. The works of the Hudson River School are characterized by panoramic views rendered with precise detail. They tried to create elevated thoughts and feelings. The four artists that we discussed painted from approximately 1820 until the part of the twentieth century.

 

The last speaker focused on the notorious Benedict Arnold. Arnold had both exceptional gifts and faults. Although Arnold eventually achieved the rank of Brigadier General, his career was marred with countless bickering with other officers and the Continental Congress. Arnold fought heroically at the Batter of Saratoga, leading to a major victory over England. Arnold’s major downfall was his marriage to Peggy Shippen. The couple lived well beyond their means and Arnold entered into shady business dealings and the use of government supplies for his personal needs. He was court martialed and found guilty of two minor charges. At this time Arnold entered into secret negotiations with the British and was offered in excess of 10,000 pounds and a commission in the British military in exchange for West Point. Arnold’s intermediary was Major Andre, an intelligence chief of Sir Henry Clinton. When Andre was captured, the Americans found documents that incriminated Arnold. Arnold upon hearing of Andre’s arrest fled to Canada where he received significant financial reimbursement and a British military commission. After some business failures he ultimately moved to London where he died in virtual obscurity in 1801.

 

To complete our day of fun and learning we had a nice supper. Needless to say, we look forward to our next history retreat.