Instructor: Exactly. Control of the river was of extreme importance during the war. Because of this importance, the colonial force made a great effort later in the war, during the war to fortify West Point. Uh…Pam, what types of the fortifications did the colonists install at West Point during the Revolution?
Pam: Cannons(传说中的加农炮) were installed in the hill overlooking the Hudson in the area around West Point, and a number of forts were constructed.
Instructor: Yes, that’s true. The colonial forces installed cannons and built a number of forts. Uh, they also installed a very different type of protective device. Anybody? What was that?
Pam: Oh, um… in addition to the cannons and forts, they stretched a chain across the river between West Point and Constitution Island, close to the bend in the river.
Instructor: Uh…huh. And why was the chain stretched across the river, and why in that location?
Pam: Well…um…the chain was built to block the river, and the location between the point and Constitution
Island was ideal because I think it wasn’t visible to river traffic coming up the Hudson.
