West Point Visit

[Grant's Tomb]

Does any one know the location of Benny Havens? Sounds like a spot I would have visited if possible.

John

It was I believe located in the village of Highland Falls a little ways south of the Academy. It closed after the war and the structure must been torn years later but there is a Benny Havens Pub & Restaurant on Main Street in Highland Falls that is pretty much your typical sports bar. Cadets these days must be allowed to go there on the weekends if they are off-duty but not likely to get face disciplinary charges. Jefferson Davis was court-martialed for being caught there off duty. On another occasion he almost killed himself when he lost his footing as he was returning drunk to the Point and went rolling down a steep bank, breaking several bones. I don't suppose anyone sings Oh Benny Haven's these days

 

[Grant's Tomb]

My grandfather was in the class of 1903. He died when I was young so I didn't know him well at all but I do have his photo in uniform at an overlook at West Point. My mother said it was a well known location. Does anyone know the precise place, Trophy Point perhaps?

View attachment 419698

Wow he graduated in the same class as Douglas MacArthur and Ulysses S. Grant III.

 

[SJU]

Seastreak Ferries has a complete package to take you on a boat cruise from the Battery to West Point and includes tickets to Army games on certain Saturdays when the team is playing at Michie Stadium. Is Fort Putnam open for tours as well?

There is road construction on the approach road to Fort Putnam and the site was closed the last couple of times I visited. This time the gate was open and we were free to walk around. I'm not sure if it's officially open or closed but plenty of people were exploring the site.

 

[Cavalier]

@Grant's Tomb Thank you very much! I would like to get up there to visit West Point, and having a few libations at the namesake establishment will be a requirement of I make it.

To bad they tore the original down!!

John

 

[James N.]

My grandfather was in the class of 1903. He died when I was young so I didn't know him well at all but I do have his photo in uniform at an overlook at West Point. My mother said it was a well known location. Does anyone know the precise place, Trophy Point perhaps?

View attachment 419698

That's a fantastic photo! I'm pretty sure that was taken off Flirtation Walk either at Battery Cove or very near to it. Battery Cove is where the Great Chain was anchored on the west side of the Hudson during the Revolution. The Great Chain stretched across to Constitution Island blocking the river to the British.

Flirtation Walk runs along the banks of the Hudson below Trophy Point.

There is a well-known spot in that area that has a connection with Polish military engineer and American Revolutionary Patriot Tadeusz Kosciusko. He was chief engineer at West Point when it was the principal instillation protecting the Highlands from the British who occupied New York City, its harbor, and environs 1777 - 1783. In addition to the Great Chain and Fort Putnam various river batteries were erected overlooking the Hudson and on Constitution Island at the bend of the river and at least some were engineered by him. From Wikipedia:

In March 1778 Kościuszko arrived at West Point, New York, and spent more than two years[39]​ strengthening the fortifications and improving the stronghold's defences.[40]​[41]​ It was these defences that the American General Benedict Arnold subsequently attempted to surrender to the British when he defected.[42]​ Soon after Kościuszko finished fortifying West Point, in August 1780, General George Washington granted Kościuszko's request to transfer to combat duty with the Southern Army. Kościuszko's West Point fortifications were widely praised as innovative for the time.[43]​[44]​

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

There is a well-known spot in that area that has a connection with Polish military engineer and American Revolutionary Patriot Tadeusz Kosciusko. He was chief engineer at West Point when it was the principal instillation protecting the Highlands from the British who occupied New York City, its harbor, and environs 1777 - 1783. In addition to the Great Chain and Fort Putnam various river batteries were erected overlooking the Hudson and on Constitution Island at the bend of the river and at least some were engineered by him. From Wikipedia:

In March 1778 Kościuszko arrived at West Point, New York, and spent more than two years[39]​ strengthening the fortifications and improving the stronghold's defences.[40]​[41]​ It was these defences that the American General Benedict Arnold subsequently attempted to surrender to the British when he defected.[42]​ Soon after Kościuszko finished fortifying West Point, in August 1780, General George Washington granted Kościuszko's request to transfer to combat duty with the Southern Army. Kościuszko's West Point fortifications were widely praised as innovative for the time.[43]​[44]​

We have a Kosciusko Street in Manchester, NH and I believe a statue of him too.

 

[James N.]

I LOVE that name, "Flirtation Walk." What's the story behind it?

Hi Tina. Just looked it up and couldn't fine a definitive story. Just that it was a secluded trail where cadets could bring their dates and have some privacy.

It was the ONLY place on post where cadets were allowed to visit with dates, hence its popularity.

 

[James N.]

We have a Kosciusko Street in Manchester, NH and I believe a statue of him too.

I neglected to add that that particular spot is rumored to have been where he liked to sit overlooking the Hudson, hence its traditional association with him.

 

[SJU]

There is a well-known spot in that area that has a connection with Polish military engineer and American Revolutionary Patriot Tadeusz Kosciusko. He was chief engineer at West Point when it was the principal instillation protecting the Highlands from the British who occupied New York City, its harbor, and environs 1777 - 1783. In addition to the Great Chain and Fort Putnam various river batteries were erected overlooking the Hudson and on Constitution Island at the bend of the river and at least some were engineered by him. From Wikipedia:

In March 1778 Kościuszko arrived at West Point, New York, and spent more than two years[39]​ strengthening the fortifications and improving the stronghold's defences.[40]​[41]​ It was these defences that the American General Benedict Arnold subsequently attempted to surrender to the British when he defected.[42]​ Soon after Kościuszko finished fortifying West Point, in August 1780, General George Washington granted Kościuszko's request to transfer to combat duty with the Southern Army. Kościuszko's West Point fortifications were widely praised as innovative for the time.[43]​[44]​

There is a statue of Kosciusko on a high pedestal overlooking the Hudson at West Point. Actually it's just the pedestal now. The statue was removed temporarily for restoration. There are Revolutionary War fortifications sites scattered throughout the campus. I've still got to make it over to Constitution Island.

 

[SJU]

It was I believe located in the village of Highland Falls a little ways south of the Academy. It closed after the war and the structure must been torn years later but there is a Benny Havens Pub & Restaurant on Main Street in Highland Falls that is pretty much your typical sports bar. Cadets these days must be allowed to go there on the weekends if they are off-duty but not likely to get face disciplinary charges. Jefferson Davis was court-martialed for being caught there off duty. On another occasion he almost killed himself when he lost his footing as he was returning drunk to the Point and went rolling down a steep bank, breaking several bones. I don't suppose anyone sings Oh Benny Haven's these days

Grant's Tomb itself is a pretty cool spot.