New Windsor Cantonment and National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, NY

By the end of 1782, the British army’s last stronghold in America was New York City. To be nearby, the Continental Army set up its quarters for the winter of 1782-3 in New Windsor, 60 miles north on the Hudson River. The officers were billeted in nearby homes, while the soldiers constructed cabins aligned in rows that stretched over 1,600 acres. The men (and some of their wives and children) remained here until April 1783, when a peace treaty was secured.

At the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, there is a cabin that may contain logs from one of the original huts built by the soldiers, as well as a reconstruction of the large Temple of Virtue, which originally served as a meeting place for the men. Uniformed interpreters offer displays on blacksmithing, camp life, and military drills, while two museum buildings contain artifacts uncovered during archaeological digs, dioramas, and a large exhibit of artillery.