Newport, Rhode Island's Fort Adams

From Wikipedia.

While doing my Civil War Navy blog about the U.S. Naval Academy's move to Newport, Rhode Island, for safety during the war, I came across the name of Fort Adams, which protected the town.  I found that it did have a War of 1812 connection so will write about it here.

The Fort Adams that was in place (there were two of them at the site) was built in 1799 and named after the incumbent president at the time, John Adams.  It was a First System Fort and designed by Major Louis de Tousard and mounted 17 cannons.

Its first commander was Captain John Henry who the article mentioned was instrumental in starting the War of 1812.  Looks like I have something to research for tomorrow's post.

During the War of 1812 it was manned by Wood's State Corps of the Rhode Island militia.

After the war, it was decided to replace the original Fort Adams with a larger and newer fort.  It became what was called the most complex fortification in the Western Hemisphere.

--Brock-Perry