Cantonment relives Revolutionary War

By Lee Park
Poughkeepsie Journal

At the end of the Revolutionary War, New Windsor in Orange County was where the Continental Army waited to officially disband.

What remains is a plot of land divided by Route 300. On one side lies the New Windsor Cantonment, presenting elaborate demonstrations of military life during the earliest days of America. The other side offers a portion of the campground that housed the officers and enlisted men of the Continental Army during the winter of 1782 and '83.

The cantonment property offers several reconstructed buildings dedicated to recreating the experience for the revolutionary war buff.

''What we do during the height of our season is to demonstrate some of the typical activities you would see at the camp,'' said Mike McGurty, museum educator at the cantonment.

The basement of the center houses the artillery room, containing a collection of cannons that were either used by the Continentals or captured from the British. Visitors can get close-up views of the weaponry.

''They're all original weapons,'' said McGurty. ''A lot of these were on display at Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh. Odds are that every single piece in here has seen some use.''

John Reilly, a professor of history at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, was impressed by the amount and the condition of the weapons.

''It has one of the best collections of artillery pieces from the revolutionary period,'' he said.

Also in the visitor center is a display dedicated to the Purple Heart, an honor bestowed on soldiers wounded or killed. Plans exist for an extensive museum in New Windsor to honor those who sacrificed for their country.

''The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is going to honor recipients who have received the Purple Heart,'' said McGurty. ''The original Purple Heart was ordered by Gen. Washington at his headquarters. The board of officers he met with to decide who was going to receive the award met at the temple on this site.''

Trails lead visitors

The New Windsor Cantonment was the final home of George Washington's army.

As for the grounds, an easily navigated trail leads from the visitors center to the heart of the Cantonment. Here lies the Temple of Virtue where Washington met with his officers. He also made an inspirational speech here, convincing the army not to protest Congress over money owed them.

''The soldiers came here just when it was getting cold,'' said Heather Miller, a tour guide at the Last Encampment of the Continental Army. ''There were five states that were camped at the Cantonment: New York, New Jersey, Maryland, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.''

One of the residents at the encampment was Deborah Sampson, the first known American woman to impersonate a man so she could join the army.

''Of course, she was known as Robert Shurtleff,'' said Miller.

The New Windsor Cantonment and the Last Encampment offer re-enactments during the season, which concludes at the end of October. At the Last Encampment, arts and crafts fairs take place periodically and the entire grounds make a prime spot for picnics and nature walks.

''This is a place where people who went here when they were kids come back with their own kids,'' said McGurty. ''They have all the memories of watching the guys shoot the muskets. It was a historic site since the '60s, so it's multigenerational.''