THE
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REVOLUTION
Dutchess County's great importance in the Revolution was not as a fi.eld
of battle, but rather as a strategi.c location, as was true, of course, for New York
State ill general.
The Hudson Hi.
hlands to the south offered a buffer zone from
the later occupation of New York City.
York to the Peekski.11 Bay unsafe.
This occupation made the Hudson from New
Dutchess County. which at that time included
Putnam, was just north.
The County was rich in farm lands and good farm buildings -just what
the Continental Army needed when the Northern Department Quartermaster and
Commissary Departments were located in Dutchess in 1776.
The transportation system in Dutchess was for that tine fairly well
developed.
Several of the main east-west roads and the main conn'ecting north-
south highways of America passed through Dutchess.
The County had three ferries -
Rhinebeck, Barnegat and Fishkill Landing. all of whi.ch were safe from Bri.tish
arrogance and yet far enough south to provide good safe access to New England or
the Mi.ddle and Southern Colonies.
All of these conditions cout>ined to make Dutchess an important link in
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the overall defense of the colonies.