among the colonists in the Hudson Valley (French, pg 45). From 1768 until the end of the war, the Sons of Liberty remained in active correspondence with each colony. They organized the people into effectively resist the unfair British taxation and financial strangulation of the Hudson Valley. Groups like this one pushed the colonies into merging with each other. Once together as a whole, the colonists were able to develop their own individuality and defeat the British Army for their independence. Cities in the Hudson Valley region saw a great deal combat and political change during the Revolution. In 1777 Kingston was selected as the first capital of New York State, and during the same year it was the scene of the adoption of the first state constitution, the initial meeting of the state legislature and supreme court, and the inauguration of George Clinton as New York's first governor. In October 1777, the British sacked and burned the town, and the state capital subsequently was moved to Poughkeepsie (Hickey, pg 67). Another city burned by the British troops was Peekskill; this city was burned because it was an important patriot post. In Poughkeepsie the Constitution was ratified in 1788, during the time it was established as the temporary capital. Another city that saw the wrath of the Revolution was Newburg, during the Revolution it was the Continental Armys last encampment. The house where George Washington had the troops stay is open to the public today as a museum (Fried, pg 88). Tarrytown is south if Newburg was the site of the capture of British spy, Major John Andre (Boylan, pg 96). During this period in time the city developed into a river port. Another city that was used, as a shipping point was Ossining, shipping ports were essential to the wining of the war because without supplies the Continental Army would not have succeeded in wining any battles in the Hudson Valley. Stony Point is the site of the Treason...
