Program

Lafayette Trail

Subject

Event, People, Site

Location

28 Selke Dr, Watervliet, NY 12189, USA

Lat/Long

42.729887, -73.69848

Grant Recipient

The Lafayette Trail, Inc.

General Lafayette, accompanied by the Governor of New York and the Mayor of Albany, arrived from Albany aboard the packet board Schenectady. The cannon at the U.S. Arsenal in Gibbsonville (now Watervliet) announced his arrival. The General’s boat was met by a committee representing Troy. The Schenectady was then taken down through the locks into the Hudson River where eight sloops, each flying the American flag, were waiting to tow it across the river to Troy. Rowed by four oarsmen and guided by the sloop masters, the boats were arranged in a line and connected by hawsers, or strong, thick ropes. Aboard the Schenectady, a band played patriotic music. The sight was said to be a “strikingly beautiful spectacle”. (New York Stateman, 18 Sept 1824)