Continued from last month.
In the years following the Civil War, with the introduction of much more modern and powerful armaments such as explosive shells and rapid-firing rifled cannon, the military importance of masonry fortifications like Fort Montgomery was rapidly drawing to a close.
Technology now existed which could allow an enemy force to quickly reduce a masonry fort's massive casemates and walls to piles of rubble.
The last decade of the 19th century saw the gradual removal of the old fort's guns, also long obsolete. By 1900, there were just 37 guns still present and by 1900, that number was down to just 20. It is thought that the larger guns were removed and taken down the lake by barge in 1909.
After being loaded onto railroad cars in Plattsburgh, many of the iron cannon met their end being melted down for scrap metal in Philadelphia.
Following that, the now gunless and empty fort was watched over by a caretaker, usually a retired soldier who loved in a nearby house and patrolled the grounds.
--Brock-Perry
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