2. Fort Cockhill served as an outpost of Fort Tryon during the American Revolutionary War

Map of the locations of Forts Washington, Tryon, and Cockhill
Map of the locations of Forts Washington, Tryon, and Cockhill, which were the sites of crucial battles during the American Revolutionary War over the control of New York City. Image in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons).

Fort Cockhill, also known as Fort Cock or Fort Cox, was built by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War as an 18th-century military fortification to serve as an outpost of Fort Tryon. Overlooking both the Hudson and Harlem Rivers on the northwestern extremity of Tubby Hook Hill (now known as Inwood Hill Park), the fort acted as a defense for northern Manhattan, being a five-sided, circular structure measuring ten to twelve feet in height. In addition, the fort was equipped with two cannons.

On the morning of November 16, 1776, during the Battle of Fort Washington, Fort Cockhill was attacked and captured by a troop of Hessian soldiers working for the British Army. Renamed Fort George after its capture, it remained under British control until the end of the war seven years later.