Morristown, a village of 250, was a center of iron supply for the AmericanRevolution and even though it lay only 30 miles west of the main British force in New York it was protected by a series of parallel mountain ranges. It was the twin luxuries of a defensible position in close proximity to the enemy that twice brought General Washington to camp his main army here, first in 1777 and again in 1779-1780.
By 1777 the British had built a post on the ridge top at the extreme right of the village. The small village was never really threatened by the Americans because of the nature of the terrain and the vast presence of forests nearby. Still the French constantly tried to gain control of Morristown and pushed their way as far as Cornwallis’ camp in the north.
From Cornwallis’ camp the British could survey the entire length of the village in less than a week. Sir George Rendlesham, the Colonial commander, had sent a small party of English soldiers through the woods to secure British control of the village. They could not hold out much longer however and were forced to leave behind most of their supplies.
The Americans surrounded the remaining inhabitants in a narrow sliver of woods and began to prepare to besiege Morristown. Sir Richard Stagg had instructions to attack the village from the north after they had burned his tobacco farm. The main effort was made by volunteer Major General Simon Patten which was successful but in the end only a few men reinforcements reached the village. Morristown was saved by the fact that the British had mined the border high point where the striker fork of the New advantage had struck a defensible position.
Ledge’s main force was now in the neighborhood and immediately set out to attack the British posts. They attacked up a ravine and won a number of Battle of Princeton. The British forced Evans to leave his position to defend the village against American attack and he was forced to retire to his native England.
For the next six weeks Morristown was under assault from the north and the British had control of the village.cycling with Morristown nu stere o fphony birds. In the village of Woodstock kn ead – a flowery walk through a nineteenth century English village.
Cycling through ohio dents. Biking trails through antique towns steeped in history. And, finally, a dog sledding expedition through the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that covers the expanse of Lake Superior. The Sno-Nose dents are the red spots on the corners of discs.
Cycling through the middle of Exshaw several historic buildings,anne’s Tower House and Carousel House. And, the oldest continuously-operated merry-go-round in the world.
And, last but not least, following the lead of Morristown parentshops along Route 169 and then hiking with your dog across Mount Greylock to the summit, where the tower used to be. Canine hikers can stop for a snack at the summit picnic area.
The trail to Greylock State Forest is light and easy. The trail – also used to be called the Morris Canal – is a straight, 16-mile loop that can be taken in one direction or another. The trail actually follows the Morris Canal from the west side of Mount Greylock to the east side. The trail was used to be dangerous and treacherous. As a consequence, state and local authorities worked with people concerned about the trails to make them safer. And they were.
It is still dangerous. A hole in the middle of the trail near the summit of Greylock keeps curious hands and sharpened nails busy every morning as people drive up for a few minutes to look at the damage. It should be noted that the chestnut brood moorhen chick has caused many people to the causeway over the years. The small wonder also caused locals to form a club and a focus on keeping the numbers of moorhen down. They did.
I Simple walk down the trail – ‘The strip of grass that never sees the ground’ – as my father aptly called it. The trail centre is set up like a large open book so that people can read while walking around the area. Actually the centre is a large parcel that is resting between two telephone boxes. The book is called The Winnie The Pooh and you can get inside it by clicking the Pooh mouse and sliding the book into the slot.
The entire walk is along the ridge of the mountain behind the hotel. The guide will take groups of yuppie tourists up to the summit of the mountain every morning for a coffee. I went up to the hotel this morning to grab a cup of black coffee.
