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The Military City Beneath the Asphalt: The Fight for the Fishkill Supply Depot

If you drive along Route 9 in Fishkill, New York, you will see the typical landscape of modern America: a gas station, a shopping mall, and the roar of Interstate 84. But if you look closer, just behind that gas station, lies a hallowed ground that was almost lost to history.

This is the Fishkill Supply Depot. During the Revolutionary War, it was a bustling “military city” vital to George Washington’s victory. For decades, it was forgotten, its history paved over by commercial development. But thanks to a modern-day revolution led by local historians, the final resting place of hundreds of American soldiers is finally being protected.

The Logistics of Liberty

In 1776, General Washington faced a problem: he needed a secure place to store supplies that was safe from the British Navy (patrolling the Hudson River) but close enough to support the troops.

He chose Fishkill. Protected by the Hudson Highlands and located at a key intersection of the Albany Post Road, it was the perfect fortress.

From 1776 to 1783, this 70-acre complex was the logistical heart of the Continental Army. It wasn’t just a warehouse; it was a city. It contained:

• Barracks for 2,000 soldiers.
• A major military hospital.
• Blacksmith shops and armories.
• A prison for British captives.

Washington later admitted that without the Fishkill Supply Depot, the war might not have been won.

The Silent City

No major battles were fought at Fishkill, yet death was constant here. Wounded soldiers from battles like White Plains and Long Island were carted here. Others fell victim to the true killers of the 18th century: smallpox, dysentery, and hypothermia.

Hundreds of soldiers died at the Depot. They were buried in shallow graves just south of the headquarters, likely marked only by wooden crosses that rotted away long ago.

The Lost Graves: In 1897, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) placed a monument along Route 9 to mark the burial ground. However, in the mid-20th century, the road was widened. To “save” the monument, it was moved down the street to the Van Wyck Homestead. Tragically, by moving the marker, the community lost track of the actual graves.

For decades, the burial ground sat unprotected. A gas station was built on one corner. The Dutchess Mall was built across the street.

The Rediscovery and the Fight

In 2007, a developer proposed building a commercial complex on the remaining eight acres of open land. This sparked a crisis.

A group of local historians formed the Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot and demanded an archaeological review. The results were stunning. Ground-penetrating radar revealed rows of anomalies consistent with 18th-century burials.

• The Count: It is estimated that hundreds—potentially up to a thousand—soldiers lie in this field.
• The Significance: This is likely the largest Revolutionary War burial ground in the United States.

A Victory for Preservation: For years, the fate of the site hung in legal limbo. However, in a major update to this story, the Town of Fishkill eventually reached an agreement to acquire the property, saving it from development. The site is now on the path to becoming a preserved memorial park.

The Headquarters: The Van Wyck Homestead

While the barracks are gone, the command center survives. The Van Wyck Homestead (c. 1732) is the only intact structure remaining from the Depot.

During the war, this Dutch Colonial farmhouse served as the headquarters for the Depot and was frequented by Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, and John Jay.

The Spy Trial: The house’s parlor was the site of the mock trial of Enoch Crosby, a real-life American spy who infiltrated Loyalist groups. His exploits supposedly inspired James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Spy.

The Woman Who Stopped a Highway: The house itself was almost destroyed in the 1960s to build a cloverleaf for I-84. A local historian named Willa Skinner wasn’t having it. In a legendary act of defiance, she camped out on the property and refused to move until the state agreed to redesign the highway ramp. She won, and the house stands today as a museum.

If You Visit

• The Van Wyck Homestead Museum: Located at 504 U.S. 9, Fishkill, NY 12524. It is open seasonally for tours (typically weekends).
• The Burial Ground: Located just south of the Homestead (look for the flags and the sign near the gas station). While it is currently an open field, respectful visits to the perimeter are encouraged to pay respects to the “unknown” soldiers.

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For More Information

Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot (www.fishkillsupplydepot.org)

Fishkill Historical Society (www.fishkillhistoricalsociety.org)