He was born in 1800 at the military outpost at Fort Wayne (Indiana) where his father, John Whistler, was commandant.
Appointed to the USMA at West Point, he graduated in 1819 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Corps of Artillery.
He served at topographical engineer at Fort Columbus in New York City from 1819-1821. This fort was originally called Fort Jay but the name was changed to Fort Columbus in 1806. During the Civil War, Confederate Major General W.H.C. Whiting died here, the highest Confederate officer to die in a northern prison. I have written about him a lot in my Civil War Naval Blog, Running the Blockade.
When the U.S. Army reorganized in 1821, he became second lieutenant in the First Artillery.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Fort Jay (Fort Columbus). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Jay (Fort Columbus). Show all posts
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Fort Jay (Fort Columbus) in New York City
From Wikipedia.
Continuing with the New York City seaward approach forts.
Fort Jay (Fort Columbus) was a coastal star fort on Governors Island and the oldest defense structure on the island.
It was an earthwork during the American Revolution and occupied for awhile by the Americans. On 12 July 1776, it engaged the British ships HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose. It was evacuated when the Americans left the city and then occupied by the British.
It had fallen into disrepair by 1794 and somewhat rebuilt. In 1797 Congress appropriated $30,117 for a major fort at the site. The earthworks were replaced with granite and brick walls and enlarged by Major Jonathan Williams and completed in 1808. At that time it was named for New York Governor John Jay, one of the nation's Founding Fathers.'
It saw no action during the War of 1812.
--Brock-Perry
Continuing with the New York City seaward approach forts.
Fort Jay (Fort Columbus) was a coastal star fort on Governors Island and the oldest defense structure on the island.
It was an earthwork during the American Revolution and occupied for awhile by the Americans. On 12 July 1776, it engaged the British ships HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose. It was evacuated when the Americans left the city and then occupied by the British.
It had fallen into disrepair by 1794 and somewhat rebuilt. In 1797 Congress appropriated $30,117 for a major fort at the site. The earthworks were replaced with granite and brick walls and enlarged by Major Jonathan Williams and completed in 1808. At that time it was named for New York Governor John Jay, one of the nation's Founding Fathers.'
It saw no action during the War of 1812.
--Brock-Perry
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