Washingtons Headquarters State Historic Site

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In 1778, General Washington had a large iron chain stretched across the Hudson River from West Point to Constitution Island to prevent British warships from sailing upriver. Supported on log floats, the chain was removed each winter to prevent damage from ice. The boom, made of heavy logs joined by iron links, was floated in front of the chain to absorb the shock of vessels attempting to ram and break the chain. When the boom was retired in 1781 sections broke off and sank in the river. The chain was used one more year and then retired in the fall of 1782. In 1855, this boom section was dredged from the river bottom near the West Point steamboat dock and brought to Washington's Headquarters for display

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In 1778, General Washington had a large iron chain stretched across the Hudson River from West Point to Constitution Island to prevent British warships from sailing upriver. Supported on log floats, the chain was removed each winter to prevent damage from ice. The boom, made of heavy logs joined by iron links, was floated in front of the chain to absorb the shock of vessels attempting to ram and break the chain. When the boom was retired in 1781 sections broke off and sank in the river. The chain was used one more year and then retired in the fall of 1782. In 1855, this boom section was dredged from the river bottom near the West Point steamboat dock and brought to Washington's Headquarters for display