Columbia Mid-Hudson Valley Sons of the American Revolution

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

Anyone planning on attending the chapter meeting on September 19th please RSVP ASAP. We need to get numbers in to the venue. If you deleted the email with the announcement, please reach out.

08/23/2026

Chapter and Empire State Eagle Scout Committee Chairman Donald C***s attended and presented Eagle Scout Brayden S. (16) of Scouting America Troop 2752- Hillsdale, NY a Certificate of Recognition at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

Brayden’s Eagle Project was the construction of a bird blind at the Mud Creek Conservation Area in West Ghent, NY.

Congratulations Brayden!

08/23/2026

This weekend the Stone House of Brooklyn is hosting reenactments of the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island that occurred on August 26 1776.

Needless to say, it was a debacle for General Washington. When all assembled through the summer, the British force numbered 32,000 soldiers, 10,000 sailors, 2,000 marines and 400 transports.
The Continentals totaled 10,000 plus a flexible number of militia perhaps 14,000.

The British outflanked the Patriots by marching thru the unguarded Jamaica Pass. Fierce fighting ensued as the Americans were literally trapped on 3 sides. The only escape route was thru the swamps near the Old Stone House which was vigorously defended by the British. Time and time again, the brave Marylanders attached the house, holding the British while their copatriots could escape thru the swamp. These Marylanders are called "Washington's Immortals" and the "Maryland 400".

John and I visited this house and the battlefield. We laid flowers on the plaque at the American Legion where they claim the Marylanders are buried in an unmarked grave. We also took a tour at Prospect Park where a lot of the fighting occurred.

This is a very interesting and worthwhile site to visit in Brooklyn. As Washington exclaimed as he watched the fighting: "Good God, what brave fellows I must lose".

08/22/2026

Member John (Bishop) and I recently went on a tour of Rev War sites of the Philadelphia campaign led by 2 wonderful historians Michael Harris and Gary Ecelbarger and presented by the & Gray Education Society. We visited many locations associated with the Campaign including Germantown.

This post is just a brief overview of the Battle of Germantown fought on October 4, 1777 between the Continental Army of George Washington and the British and Hessians under General Howe. Focus in this post is the Chew House or Cliveden which played a key role in the Battle.

It was a highly choreographed patriot attack with 4 separate assault groups each approaching along a different path but all scheduled to attack their specific targets at the same time. Surprisingly, they pulled it off and attacked at approximately 6:00am. The Continentals drove off the British pickets and proceeded to attack the main body of the British at Market Square. On their path, they met strong British resistance anchored at the Chew House home of the staunch Loyalist justice Benjamin Chew. Instead of just leaving a regiment to guard the house and constrain the British, the Americans attempted to drive them from the highly fortified stone house. Confounded by heavy fog, this resulted in friendly fire and mass confusion. As a result, the Americans retreated, but this battle showed their mettle and determination. Even the French were impressed which helped them to lend their support to the war.

It is ironic that Colonel John Eager Howard, a much admired patriot Rev War hero and later governor of Maryland, married one of the Chew daughters, Margaret "Peggy" Chew, at Cliveden in 1787. George Washington attended their wedding.

These pictures are of the Chew House and show the American bullet holes shot into the walls of the House.

08/17/2026

Chapter members, check your email. President Carpentier has sent out the Chapter Meeting flyer/RSVP for our upcoming Chapter meeting on Saturday, September 19th. We will be having Germantown Historian and Prospective Member Thomas Shannon giving a talk about the Livingston Manor’s role in the Revolution. If you didn’t see the email, check your spam and/or reach out to get the details.

07/22/2026

Photo taken at this years National of the Empire State members who attended.

07/11/2026

July 11/2026 Pomeroy Sign Dedication & Grave Marking Honoring Revolutionary War Patriot Benjamin Carpenter

Private Benjamin Carpenter served in the NY militia during the Revolutionary War and is interred in the Carpenter Cemetery in Stamfordville.

Presented by the -Mid Hudson Valley Chapter of the SAR and the ESSSAR in conjunction with the Stamford Historical Society.

Thank you to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and to their help in celebrating the history of our country. Please refer to https://www.wgpfoundation.org for further information about this wonderful nonprofit.

07/11/2026

Better late than never! The Columbia Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter- SAR had a table at RevCon 250 at the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park, NY back on June 13.

Here is a quote from Chapter President John Carpentier: “We had an excellent location and the event was extremely well attended and our booth was busy. We had more than a few potential new compatriots as well as several SAR compatriots from other states speak with us. Our Chapter members present were ESSSAR State President Tim Middlebrook, Chapter President John Carpentier, Chapter Secretary Jack Burke, compatriots Roger Burke and Rich Valentine.”