LEGISLATION TO CREATE THE WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL IS NOW BEFORE CONGRESS.
THERE IS A MAJOR OMISSION IN THAT LEGISLATION
The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society (Dobbs Ferry, NY) enthusiastically calls for passage of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail legislation now before the Senate and the House of Representatives (S. 686 and H.R. 1286). At the same time, the Historical Society calls upon Congress to improve that legislation by correcting a major omission, the absence of any reference to the starting point of Washington’s 1781 march from New York to Virginia– Dobbs Ferry, New York.
The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society gave testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks in support of Dobbs Ferry’s petition on April 26, 2007. That testimony included an abundance of primary source historical evidence, summarized in a 14-page document, which had previously been submitted to the NPS (on December 2, 2006).
In June, 2007, after the testimony was given, Dobbs Ferry gained the support of Senator Lieberman (the main Senate sponsor of S. 686), Senator Clinton, and Senators Akaka and Thomas, chairman and ranking minority member on the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. But that support has not translated into recognition of Dobbs Ferry’s historic role by the NPS.
At the present time the educational material of the NPS, including the main legislative map for S. 686 and H.R. 1286, does not acknowledge Dobbs Ferry’s historical significance on the proposed Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.
We are very appreciative that two of the most renowned historians in the United States, David Hackett Fischer, University Professor and Warren Professor of History at Brandeis University, and Thomas Fleming, President of the Society of American Historians, have taken the time to look through our historical material and have kindly expressed a willingness to be of assistance.
Dr. Fischer, a distinguished scholar who has written acclaimed books about the Revolutionary War, and who won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2003 work, Washington’s Crossing, advised us to emphasize the convergence of Continental troop movements in Dobbs Ferry on August 19, 1781, and to present that convergence in pictorial form. The map of the ‘Parade for the March,’ which can be found on www.VillageHistorian.org , and which shows that convergence, in the immediate vicinity of the main intersection of Dobbs Ferry (the Gateway intersection), was prepared in response to Dr. Fischer’s suggestions. In February, 2008, Dr. Fischer reviewed the historical content of www.VillageHistorian.org , stated that the website represents his judgment accurately, and wished Dobbs Ferry success in its campaign.
Thomas Fleming, a highly regarded expert on the Revolutionary War and author of many books which deal with the Revolutionary War period, including most recently, The Perils of Peace, America’s Struggle for Survival after Yorktown, recipient of the Burack Award from Boston University in 2002, praising his lifetime’s work, the Abraham Lincoln Award from the Union League Club of New York in 2003 for his contribution to American literature, and numerous other awards, has written a compelling letter of support letter of support for Dobbbs Ferry. The letter was sent to many staff professionals in the Senate and House on January 6, 2008.
Mr. Fleming’s letter, which can be found in full on www.VillageHistorian.org , confirms the historical accuracy of the 14-page document of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society and strongly advocates recognition of Dobbs Ferry’s historic significance as a key site on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.
Here is an excerpt from the statement he wrote about Dobbs Ferry:
"This is a serious matter in our era of growing historical tourism. The proposed Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is likely to become a very popular attraction for hundreds of thousands of people.
"The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society submitted a 14 page comment to the NPS on December 2, 2006, with ample evidence that the town was the actual starting point for the march. My investigation confirms the validity of their maps and citations."
Mr. Fleming’s statement reminds us of the importance of official recognition by the National Park Service, and he reminds us that the stakes are very high.
After almost two years of e-mail correspondence, telephone communication, appeals, petitions, faxes, official Historical Society resolutions, official Village of Dobbs Ferry resolutions, and U.S. Senate testimony, this much has become clear: Recognition of Dobbs Ferry’s significance as a key site on the Washington-Rochambeau Trail is not controversial at all from the historical point of view.
Dobbs Ferry is entitled to historically accurate recognition. To be consistent with its mission and purpose, the NPS should not be placing obstacles in the way of our village, but should, instead, be assisting us in celebrating our history.
Because Dobbs Ferry will persist in its efforts, there is every reason to expect that our village will, in the end, gain full recognition for its actual historic role — a key site on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail —- the locality where the Continental troops were paraded for the march and took the first steps of "the largest and perhaps boldest movement of the war." *
Richard Borkow, M.D.
Village Historian of Dobbs Ferry
Trustee, Dobbs Ferry Historical Society
* Historian Benson Bobrick