PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT NEW JERSEY HISTORY

 

Dear NJHM:

I have a question about the city of Fort Lee, New Jersey. I know that it was a fort during the revolution opposite Fort Washington in New York, but I do not know for whom it was named. Perhaps there is a point of interest or story as to how and for whom it was named?

Marvin

 

Dear Marvin:

You are correct that Fort Lee is named for an actual fort built during the revolution. It was constructed on the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River at the direction of George Washington, opposite Fort Washington on the New York side of the river. These forts were used to prevent British ships from travelling unopposed up and down the Hudson River. The river was strategically important, because the British felt they could split the colonies in half if they controlled it. The fort was originally named Fort Constitution, but was renamed Fort Lee in 1776 by Major General Nathaniel Greene (a close confident of Washington) for the visiting General Charles Lee, who was in command of the American forces in New Jersey. On November 16, 1776, Fort Washington fell to the British, and Washington ordered Fort Lee to be abandoned.

The ironic thing about the name of Fort Lee is that its namesake was later court martialed by Washington after the Battle of Monmouth. Charles Lee had always despised Washington, and felt that he should have been placed at the head of the Continental Army. His conduct before and during the Battle was judged incompetent and insubordinate at best, and traitorous at worst. Despite this, it appears no one objected to the name of Fort Lee when the borough was officially incorporated in 1904. Fort Lee later became known as "The Hollywood on the Hudson," as many early silent films were made there, and, of course, as the home of Palisades Amusement Park. Hope this helps!

 

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