Sloops Clearwater and Providence
Re-enact the "Burning of Kingston"
October 18-20, 2002

Clearwater and Providence to land British troops
10:00 to 11:00 am, Kingston Point Park
Saturday, October 19

225 years ago, the British under the command of General John Vaughan, burned Kingston to the ground. His October 16, 1777 attack on Kingston gave Vaughan some satisfaction to take over what he called “…a Nursery for almost every villain in the Country.” Thirty British vessels sailed up the Hudson the evening of October 15 and attacked the few rebels who stood to defend the town, attacking batteries and destroying guns and cannon. Patriots fired from their houses and Vaughan’s response was to burn the town to the ground. This year, the Sloops Clearwater and Providence will be in Kingston to re-enact the role of British war ships landing troops at Kingston Point. .

British Marines preparing to land at Kingston Point

Sloop Clearwater	Clearwater is a 106-foot wooden sailing sloop designed after the famous Hudson River sloops of the 19th century. Launched in 1969, Clearwater is the only authentic sloop actively sailing on the Hudson River. Clearwater serves as a moveable classroom, laboratory, stage, and forum about the Hudson River. Each year, Clearwater accommodates nearly 13,000 children and adults for education sails that teach history, biology, and environmental science and navigation along the Hudson River, New York Harbor and Long Island Sound.
The Clearwater will be docked at the Hudson River Maritime Museum after Saturday's re-enactment at Kingston Point. Saturday, October 19 12:30 to 2:30   Boat Open for Tours 3 pm to 5 pm   Public Sail Public sails are $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 12 and under. Reservations for the public sail may be made by calling the Clearwater Sail Coordinator at 845-454-7673. If available, tickets may also be purchased at the dock.
Sloop Providence Click picture for larger pcitures	The Continental Sloop Providence, a 110' fully rigged sailing vessel, is a faithful replica of John Paul Jones' first command. During her distinguished Naval career in the Revolutionary War, the 12-gun Providence sank or captured 40 British ships! The mission of the Providence replica is to provide a stage to teach history, the skills of square rig sailing, and teamwork. As part of the Classroom under Sail Program, students are taken out for two and half hour sail and taught how to sail, navigate, teamwork and history. The Providence is the flagship of the State of Rhode Island and has won the "Best Dressed Vessel" award from the Sailing Ambassador.
School Tours available on the Providence, October 16, 17 & 18 The Sloop Providence will be docked at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and available for school tours on October 16, 17 and 18. Thirty minute tours for groups of up to 30 students are available from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Call the Museum for more information and reservations at 845-338-0071. Public Tours and Sail on the Providence, Oct. 19 & 20 Saturday, October 19 1 to 5 PM  Dockside tours of the Providence Sunday, October 20 1 to 4 pm  Public Sail Public sails are $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 5-14. To make reservations, call the Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation at 401-274-7447.

Continental Sloop Providence Tours the Hudson River, Oct. 5 to 20
225^th Anniversary of the American Revolution in the Hudson Valley

Burning of Kingston Re-enactment complete schedule October 18 - 20, 2002
For more information, call the Kingston's visitors center 1-800-331-1518 or 845-331-7517.

The Burning of Kingston is hosted by Mayor James M. Sottile and the City of Kingston with participation from:

1st Ulster County Militia

16th Queen’s Light Dragoons

3rd Ulster County Militia

Burning of the Valley Military Association

After the British takeover of New York City in June 1776, a strategic plan was devised to advance the King's forces up the Hudson River to Albany. There they were to join General John Burgoyne's army which was marching southward from Canada. This would effectively cut the Province of New York in half and thereby divide the colonies.

The first phase of operations was to take control of the American fortifications north of Manhattan. Once this objective was achieved, the Royal Navy would transport troops northward to the vicinity of Peekskill. After securing their position, the British would then sail past Bear Mountain where the Americans had placed their best hopes for defense.

American defenses were formidable. A chain and spiked timber barricade was constructed across the river at Bear Mountain. An armed sloop, several row galleys, and two twenty-gun frigates, which had taken two and half years to build in Poughkeepsie, were positioned behind the chain. The Americans were also relying on the two forts at Popolopen Creek, Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, to assist their ships in stopping the British.

The Americans resisted fiercely, but could not prevent the onslaught. Hundreds of men were killed and wounded in a vain effort to stop the English. In the end, the forts were taken, the chain was breached, and the Americans in retreat were forced to burn their ships. The river was left defenseless as the British sailed on to the capital at Kingston and burned the city.

Miraculously, in October 1777, at the Battle of Saratoga, General Horatio Gates of the Continental Army and his brilliant subordinate, Benedict Arnold, stopped Burgoyne. Once the news of the victory reached Kingston, the Royal Navy withdrew to New York and the tide of the Revolutionary War shifted to the Americans.