Historic Fort Scammell-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Yesterday I wrote about part of House Island in Portland Harbor coming up for sale.  The island contains Fort Scammell, a work dating to before the War of 1812.  It was the only American fort in what is today Maine, to exchange gunfire with British forces during the War of 1812.

It was built by Henry A.S. Dearborn, an officer in the Massachusetts militia and future general in 1808 as part of the national second system of fortifications.  The fort received its name from Alexander Scammell, adjutant-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution who was killed at the Battle of Yorktown.

Fort Scammel was designed for the defense of Portland Harbor as was nearby Fort Preble.

The spelling of the name of the fort can vary by source.

Of interest, the S. in the fort's builder's name was Scammell.

--Brock-Perry