About twelve acres of land were purchased at that point by the United States, in 1813, for arsenal purposes, and the group of buildings seen in the sketch was erected. The grounds comprised about one hundred acres, part covered with necessary buildings and a parade, and the remainder was under cultivation. About two hundred yards west of the highway, the Erie Canal passed through the grounds, and was spanned by a picturesque iron bridge near the oflicers' quarters. Along the river front was a double row of stately elm trees, whose branches form a leafy arch over the highway in summer. From these the

THE HUDSON.

green-sward bank slopes gently toward tlie river, and affords a delightful promenade on summer afternoons."'

The highway along the plain from West Albany is a fine macadamised

UMTED STAiKS AUol,:\AL

road, with the Erie Canal, the Hudson, and the amphitheatre of the Greenbush heights on the left. The hills on the right are" near, and

* I was indeb'.ed to the courtesj' of Lieutenant George T. Balcli, then stationed there, for the following facts : -- " As the necessity for greater manufacturing facilities arose, additional lands were ptirchased, and extensive shops,' storehouses, timber-sheds, magazines, barracks and quarters, were erected from time to time, until at the present (11J60), the real estate and the improvements are valued at 500,000 dollars, and the mUitaiy stores and supplies collected, in tlie various buildings, at 1,500,000. The principal operations carried on are the manufacture of lieavy artillery carnages for the sea-coast forts, with aU the requisite implements and equipments ; carnages for siege trains and field batteries, with their equipments and harness ; all machines used in transporting and repau-ing artillery ; ammunition of all kinds for sea-coast, siege, and field guns, and for small arms, and the repair and preseiTatioa of the large quantity of material of war in store.