U.S. Secretary of War described the fort in December 1811 as masonry, 12 guns and brick barracks for 40 men. On the western edge of the island was a circular battery mounting ten guns.
Fort Winthrop was originally named Fort Warren after Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren, but that name was transferred to the new fortification constructed on George's Island.
In 1846, the United States government got the rest of the island then began construction of a Third System Fortification. It was a three-story citadel, 16 gun battery star fort.
Today it is part of Boston's Logan Airport.
--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 Governors Island Batteries Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Governors Island Batteries Boston. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Friday, June 2, 2017
Fort Winthrop, Boston Harbor-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Fort Winthrop was started in 1808 and named Fort Warren originally until 1834 when it was renamed Fort Winthrop for John Winthrop, an early governor and leader of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony.
It was built on Governors Island which the Winthrop family owned from 1632 to 1808. In 1808, as relations with England worsened, the U.S. government acquired land in the center of it to build a fort.
Construction on the fort took place between 1808 to 1812. It was an earthen fort in the form of an eight-pointed star. Sylvanus Thayer, later a famous West Point (USMA) superintendent, was in charge of the fort's construction.
--Brock-Perry
Fort Winthrop was started in 1808 and named Fort Warren originally until 1834 when it was renamed Fort Winthrop for John Winthrop, an early governor and leader of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony.
It was built on Governors Island which the Winthrop family owned from 1632 to 1808. In 1808, as relations with England worsened, the U.S. government acquired land in the center of it to build a fort.
Construction on the fort took place between 1808 to 1812. It was an earthen fort in the form of an eight-pointed star. Sylvanus Thayer, later a famous West Point (USMA) superintendent, was in charge of the fort's construction.
--Brock-Perry
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Sea Fencibles-- Part 1: The British Had Them Also At One Time
From Wikipedia.
In yesterday's post, I mentioned that the fortifications on Governors Island in Boston Harbor known as Fort Warren at the time, were manned some of the time by a group called the Sea-Fencibles. I'd never heard of them before.
The Sea Fencibles were a naval militia established to provide a close-in line of defense and to obstruct the operations of enemy shipping and were used mostly during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
The British had their own Sea Fencibles during this time, but the Admiralty disbanded its Sea Fencibles in 1810.
The United States adopted a similar concept during the War of 1812 and the Civil War.
--Brock-Perry
In yesterday's post, I mentioned that the fortifications on Governors Island in Boston Harbor known as Fort Warren at the time, were manned some of the time by a group called the Sea-Fencibles. I'd never heard of them before.
The Sea Fencibles were a naval militia established to provide a close-in line of defense and to obstruct the operations of enemy shipping and were used mostly during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
The British had their own Sea Fencibles during this time, but the Admiralty disbanded its Sea Fencibles in 1810.
The United States adopted a similar concept during the War of 1812 and the Civil War.
--Brock-Perry
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Fortifying Governor's Island, Boston-- Part 2: Fort Warren became Fort Winthrop
In the War of 1812, the Sea-Fencibles were stationed at Fort Warren. Mortars were added to the fort's armament and furnaces built to heat the shot (not a goof thing for a wooden ship).
The last fort to be built on Governors Island was constructed some years before the Civil War, under the direction of General Sylvanus Thayer.
The name Fort Warren was transferred to the modern fort built on George's Island in Boston Harbor and the one on Governors Island became Fort Winthrop, named for a Puritan leader.
By 1861, the new fort had received no armament, but by 1863 mounted 25 large Rodman cannons and 11 other cannons of varying calibers.
Various companies of state militia and volunteers manned the fort during the Civil War.
--Brock-Perry
The last fort to be built on Governors Island was constructed some years before the Civil War, under the direction of General Sylvanus Thayer.
The name Fort Warren was transferred to the modern fort built on George's Island in Boston Harbor and the one on Governors Island became Fort Winthrop, named for a Puritan leader.
By 1861, the new fort had received no armament, but by 1863 mounted 25 large Rodman cannons and 11 other cannons of varying calibers.
Various companies of state militia and volunteers manned the fort during the Civil War.
--Brock-Perry
Fortifying Governors Island, Boston Harbor-- Part 1: Fort Warren
From the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands.
Fort Warren, a stone and brick star fort with brick barracks, officers' quarters, magazine and guard house, was built in 1808. The fort was on the highest part of the island.
During the War of 1812 it was garrisoned and General Dearborn considered it to be the key to Boston's harbor defense. He invited the men of Boston to come out and help strengthen the fortification.
The low battery on the southern part of the island was built several years before the war. This battery was brick and stone with a brick guard house and magazine. It mounted 15 cannons and could sweep the wide flats adjacent to the battery and fire point-blank into enemy ships passing through the channel.
--Brock-Perry
Fort Warren, a stone and brick star fort with brick barracks, officers' quarters, magazine and guard house, was built in 1808. The fort was on the highest part of the island.
During the War of 1812 it was garrisoned and General Dearborn considered it to be the key to Boston's harbor defense. He invited the men of Boston to come out and help strengthen the fortification.
The low battery on the southern part of the island was built several years before the war. This battery was brick and stone with a brick guard house and magazine. It mounted 15 cannons and could sweep the wide flats adjacent to the battery and fire point-blank into enemy ships passing through the channel.
--Brock-Perry
Friday, May 19, 2017
Governors Island, Boston
From Wikipedia
I came across Joseph Swift being superintending engineer at the Governors Island batteries at Boston Harbor. I had never heard of a Governors Island in Boston, but knew of the one in New York Harbor. I found out there was a Governors Island in Boston Harbor, but it essentially is no longer there.
According to Wikipedia, Governors Island was subsumed for the construction and extension of Boston's Logan International Airport. The island was the site of Fort Warren from 1808 to 1834 when the fort was renamed Fort Winthrop.
The island is buried in the area north and south of the airport's Runway 14/32.
--Brock-Perry
I came across Joseph Swift being superintending engineer at the Governors Island batteries at Boston Harbor. I had never heard of a Governors Island in Boston, but knew of the one in New York Harbor. I found out there was a Governors Island in Boston Harbor, but it essentially is no longer there.
According to Wikipedia, Governors Island was subsumed for the construction and extension of Boston's Logan International Airport. The island was the site of Fort Warren from 1808 to 1834 when the fort was renamed Fort Winthrop.
The island is buried in the area north and south of the airport's Runway 14/32.
--Brock-Perry
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Joseph G. Swift-- Part 2: Engineer For Many Coastal Installations
He was the Superintending Engineer for the erection of the Governors Island Batteries in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. From 1808-1809 he was general supervisor of the defenses of the New England coast.
Promoted to Major, Corps of Engineers on February 23, 1808.
From 1809 to 1812, he was Superintending Engineer of fortifications in the Carolinas Georgia harbors.
In 1812-1813 he was chief engineer and aide-de-camp to Major General Pinckney.
--Brock-Perry
Promoted to Major, Corps of Engineers on February 23, 1808.
From 1809 to 1812, he was Superintending Engineer of fortifications in the Carolinas Georgia harbors.
In 1812-1813 he was chief engineer and aide-de-camp to Major General Pinckney.
--Brock-Perry
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