This is the third blog post in a series on the Newburgh/New Windsor, New York area historic sites from the Revolutionary War.
The New Windsor Cantonment was the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War. During the winter of 1782- 1783 over 7,000 soldiers and 500 civilians were encamped here at New Windsor, New York. On 19 April 1783 (8 years to the day after the Battles of Lexington and Concord) General George Washington issued the cease-fire orders here that ended the War of Independence for the Continental Army.
In the summer months this historic site has costumed re-enactors demonstrating musket drills, camp life, blacksmithing and other 18th century skills. It is located next door to The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. This museum explains the history of the Purple Heart, which originated with Washington's Badge of Military Merit, which was awarded to three men at the cantonment in 1783.
My ancestor Abner Poland was a member of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment, and stationed here at the New Windsor Cantonment. He had served in the Continental Army for over seven years, and saw action at Trenton, Saratoga and Yorktown. He was awarded the Badge of Merit by General George Washington in August 1783 (see below). The regiment was furloughed 12 June 1783 at West Point, and disbanded on 3 November 1783.
This historic military site is just a few miles from Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh, New York. General Washington was stationed there for over 16 months, the longest time at any of his headquarters during the Revolutionary War. Abner Poland's Badge of Merit certificate was awarded at the headquarters in Newburgh.
This historic area has a reconstruction of the log buildings built by the Continental Army at the cantonment, including the "Temple of Virtue" and barracks.
A small graveyard near the Temple of Virtue
It is a short walk to the Temple of Virtue
A transcription:
The name Temple of Virtue may have been derived from a 1757 sermon by David Fordyce called The Temple of Virtue: A Dream. "A pilgrim traveled to an eminence crowned by a "sacred mansion" of quadrangular form" whose whole fabric was simple and solemn..."
In part to keep the soldiers gainfully occupied during the long winter months, Army Chaplain Israel Evans proposed the construction of a meeting hall in December 1782. Unlike the soldier's huts, the building was handsomely finished with a vaulted ceiling and large, glazed windows. The building was used primarily for church services as well as military functions and occasional musical performances. Two rooms on one end were offices and a store for the quartermaster and commissary, and two on the other side were used for officer meetings and issuing general orders.
This reenactor spent a long time with me inside the Temple of Virtue, and we discussed the Badge of Merit, the Badge of Military Merit, and the Massachusetts 8th Regiment.
The certificate for the Badge of Merit awarded to Abner Poland
at Newburgh, NY by General George Washington
(click to enlarge)
For the truly curious:
A children's book The Medal With a Heart, by Karen Kulinski, 2018, M.T. Publishing Company, Evansville, Indiana (I bought my copy of this book at the Independence Museum in Exeter, NH).
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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War)", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 1, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/04/new-windsor-cantonment-state-historic.html: accessed [access date]).
