Anthony's Nose on October 6, 1777

Anthony's Nose is the name given to the rock formation opposite Forts Clinton and Montgomery.  This is not a recent name or a nickname.  This hill was known by this name even before the British attacked the two Forts at this location on October 6, 1777.

The base of this hill base supports the east end of the Bear Mountain bridge.

Self Portrait from atop Anthony's Nose looking west.

A "nose-like"protrusion from the hill gave it its name.  When options for obstructing British ships were being discussed during the Revolutionary War, one off-the-wall idea was to blast this protrusion into the river.

I have also seen maps of the period that give the name "Anthony's Nose" to the entire ridge, not just the peak close to the river (which seems to be its common usage).  Whether the name refers to the peak, the ridge, or a feature sticking out of the hill may be irrelevant when we think of how people referred to locations (and still do).  Is Times Square a square? does it have an address?  or does it refer to an area?  or all of the above.

Anthony's Nose from former Fort Clinton.  The chain was anchored to the left of the current bridge.

There is one other odd reference to Anthony's Nose.  When General Clinton was ordered to lead the New York State Levies and march immediately to Kingsbridge in August of 1776, he was to leave 200 men "at the pass of Anthony's Nose."  Perhaps this is referring to the gap that the Hudson River flows through?  Or was it referring to some mountain pass further down the ridge?

You can see from the picture above why this spot is a favorite hiking destination.  It towers over the river and over the locations of the forts on the opposite shore.  However in 1777 the Americans had not thought of fortifying this position.  A British cannon on this spot could cause considerable mischief to the forts on the opposite side.  [The Americans would eventually learn this lesson and erect numerous redoubts on the high spots surrounding West Point.]

Anthony's Nose had not been totally neglected.  In August of 1776, General Clinton wrote from his headquarters at Fort Montgomery that an "Advanced Guard on the extreme point in view of the battery [is] properly prepared to kindle up a large light fire there." The "extreme point" that is directly in view of the grand battery at Fort Montgomery is Anthony's Nose.  It was apparently a location of one of the series of alarm beacons along the Hudson River.

View from the Grand Battery at Fort Montgomery. Anthony's Nose is obscured by the tree on the left.  There were no trees in 1777.

On the 6th of October, 1777 the commander of the Forts Clinton and Montgomery received an incorrect report that the British had landed on the opposite site of the river near Peekskill and that Fort Independence had fallen.  Fort Independence was a minor fortification located just south of Anthony's Nose, now part of the US Army reservation of Camp Smith.  To defend an attack from that direction Governor George Clinton ordered 60 militia men to Anthony's Nose.

In the Court of Inquiry for the loss of Forts Clinton and Montgomery, Major Jacob Newkirk of the Ulster Second Regiment of Militia under Colonel James McClaughry stated that on the 6th he was ordered to send 50 men to Anthony's Nose to look out.  Jonathan, Levi, and Samuel Campbell (Joel's brothers)  were all in the Second Regiment.  Even though the entire regiment was called out to march to Fort Montgomery, many did not show up or did not show up in time.  If the Campbells did show, could they have been in this detail on Anthony's Nose?

Oliver Humphrey, who was a private in the Second Regiment, stated in his deposition for a pension that he was present at Fort Montgomery on the day of the battle.  His detachment had been ordered by Captain [Abraham] Cuddeback to guard the chain on the other side of the river (Anthony's Nose) "where they remained in sight of the whole action until the fort was taken."  Is this the same detachment ordered out by Major Newkirk?  Major Newkirk ordered the detachment to be a "lookout" while Humphrey understood they were to "guard the chain."  Perhaps they split up and did both?  One group could have climbed to the top of the mountain with a great view up and down the river.  The other group could have stayed close to the anchoring point for the chain and the boom.  Both positions would have given them an interesting view of the battle as it unfolded on land and in the river.

View from Anthony's Nose.  There were no trees in 1777.  Fort Clinton was located at the red pentagon at the western end of the bridge.  The pentagon above it was its outer redoubt manned by others in McClaughry's militia.  It fell after the main fort.  The pentagon on the right, across Popolopen Creek, is Fort Montgomery.  This is the view of Humphrey's detachment.

Humphrey was from New Windsor, while Cuddeback was from Peenpack (Deerpark).  Militia companies were community-based:  the Captain of the company was elected by his troops in the community.  In this case it appears the command structure had been modified based on who showed up to the battle.  With all of the shuffling of personnel it would not be far-fetched to say that there was a possibility that Jonathan, Levi, or Samuel Campbell (Joel's brothers) could have been in this detachment.

From the heights of Anthony's nose they would have heard the cannon fire in the afternoon from Doodletown and from the "Furnace Road" by Popolopen Torne.  With the land denuded of trees they could have actually seen the movement of soldiers until the smoke of black powder obscured the view.  They would have seen the British ships sailing up the river, exchanging firing with the forts.  They would have seen the American frigate Congress sitting above the chain, firing on the British who were flanking Fort Montgomery on the north.  As the sun set they would have seen the redcoats form their columns for a final charge which would carry them over the parapets.  The defenders of the forts fought "until the Enemy were within their walls and upon their backs.  Then everyone made his Escape in the best manner he could."

The detachment on Anthony's Nose gathered together in the dark and marched up to the Continental Ferry near Fishkill where they joined the rest of the survivors of McClaughry's regiment.