Fort Montgomery-- Part 10: Good Ol' Fort Blunder May Be Gone Soon

Fear of Fort Montgomery having a structural collapse stems from the removal of iron reinforcing rods which were likely cut out for their scrap value during wartime scrap drives of World War II.

These rods were initially devised to brace up and reinforce the massive fort's detached outer wall face, a defensive element of the fort's construction whichlater proved to be a structuarl flaw.

Previously, a third remaining  bastion on the northern side of the fort suffered a similar collapse and was completely destroyed in 1980, mostly falling into the moat.

In September2008, the Preservation League of New York State placed Fort Montgomery on their "Seven to Save" properties.  This listing effectively recognized the historical significance of the Fort Montgomery ruins.  It also identified the ruins as being in dire need of stabilization and preservation.

Save Fort Montgomery.  --Brock-Perry

Fort Montgomery on Lake Champlain-- Part 7: Decline

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

Fort Montgomery-- Part 6: Strength

Initially constructed to have a garrison of 800 troops, the fort never had that many and mainly had the role as a military deterrent along the border.  Many of the Third System  forts by design were never  fully garrisoned, ultimately they were to be ready for action as needed.

Contrary to local legend, however,the fort never fired a shot in anger, but this does not mean it didn't have some of its guns mounted.

According to War Department records in 1886, when Fort Montgomery was most heavily armed, it mounted 74 guns of its 125 capacity, including 8 and 10-inch Rodmans, some of the heaviest caliber cannons in the U.S. arsenal.

Most of these cannons were mounted facing Canada.  Although never mounted, two huge 15-inch Rodmans were on site on the parade ground for years.  They were to be mounted on top of the wall.

In 1880, commander of the U.S. Army, William Tecumseh Sherman, toured the fortification and was so im pressed that he wanted the garrison at nearby Plattsburgh Barracks to be stationed there, but public outcry kept that from happening.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Montgomery-- Part 4: Innovative Design

Fort Montgomery was also one of only nine forts constructed in the United States to have a moat (as was Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas).  This made the fort essentially surrounded on all sides by water and accessible only by drawbridge from the land side.  

Another interesting and innovative design also was a drawbridge which could be mechanically pivoted on a central balance point with one end raising to block the entrance to the fort and the other end dropping into a curved pit in the postern, or sally port, behind the doorway like a seesaw.

Raising the bridge would effectively cut the fort off from any entrance by land as the bottom of the fort's doorway stood a full fifteen feet above the water of the  moat or "wet ditch" below.  A similar entrance from the lakeside, known as the 'water gate", also utilized a drawbridge which accessed a dock extending from the fort to the lake.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Montgomery-- Part 3: A Magnificent Structure

Work on the fort continued almost continuously through 1870, with the peak of construction taking place during the Civil War, amidst rumors of possible British intervention  against the Union from Canada.  To assauge concern among area residents, a detachment of the 14th United States actually garrisoned the fort for three months in 1862.

These fears were actually realized during the St. Albans Raid, the northernmost action during the Civil War that took place in nearby Vermont.

Over the roughly 30 years of construction of the fort, no expense was spared and the work constituted some of the most advanced and cutting edge military technology of the day.  At  the peak point of construction, the labor force had around 400 stonecutters and masons plying their trade.

When its basic structure was completed, the fort boasted walls some 48 feet high and gun emplacements for 125 guns on three tiers.

--Brock-Perry

Talking About Old Fort Jackson-- Part 2: Getting a First-Hand Experience with the Past

Old Fort Jackson is considered to be the oldest standing brick fortification.  It even dates back to when it was earthen works in 1808.  President Thomas Jefferson developed his second line of defense, which was really needed during the War of 1812.

The fort has not one, but three on-site educators:  Ethan Baker,  Walter Reeves and Aaron Bradford.  Bradford is the head site interpreter.  Each was dressed in miserably  hot wool and homespun Union Army uniforms from the Republican Blues.  (When I visited the fort several years ago, I had a good talk with the interpreter at ten time who was portraying a USCT soldier.)

They were very knowledgeable about the fort's history when it had been occupied by both Confederate and Union forces during the "Great Unpleasantness" of the 1860s.  Today, they were busy leading a group of school children, maybe 6th or 7th graders,  through an interactive program called "Life  as a Member of the Militia.'  Among the things they were learning  was how to assemble for a charge with the  shortest people in the front line, how to fire a musket and how to march in unison.

--Brock-Perry

Southwest Georgia Played a Key Role in the War-- Part 2: The Blackshear Trail and Andrew Jackson

Much of the defense of Georgia's south border fell to General David Blackshear, who was instructed to construct a series of  fortifications for that purpose.  Blackshear, like many who fought in the War of 1812, had gained military experience during the American Revolution.  He had been at an early engagement of that war at Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina.

After the war, he became a surveyor, moving to Springfield in Laurens County, Georgia, settling on a land grant he received for his Revolution service. 

After war was declared in June 18, 1812, he returned to military service and was authorized to construct 11 forts along Georgia's southern and western borders.

The first clue to this effort he made can be found on a Georgia historical marker on Highway 300 in  Crisp County.  It reads:  "Blackshear Trail. made by General David Blackshear during the War of 1812, was used by General Andrew Jackson when he led  his troops from Fort Hawkins, near Macon,  through Hartford, now Hawkinsville, to Fort Early in 1818.

"The section was roadless except for this and a few Indian trails.  General Jackson used it in his campaign against the Seminole and Creek Indians.  The Battle of Skin Cypress Pond was fought on the Blackshear Trail.  During the battle, three  U.S. soldiers and a number if Indians were killed.

"They were buried at the site in unmarked graves."

--Brock-Perry

Fort Clark, Peoria in 1831

Charles Ballance described Fort Clark when he arrived at Peoria in 1831:

"When I came to the country in November 1831, there was no vestige of it remaining.  In fact, at that time there was so little to show that there had ever been a fortification there, except some burnt posts along the west side, and a square of some  10 or 12 feet at the south corner, and a ditch nearly filled up, on two sides of the square and  on the west side of the fort.

"The fort had been burnt down to the embankment of this square and on the west side,  after which the embankments had been mostly worn away by the rains and other means, until that part of the logs that was underground had become charred posts.

"Some of them, however, had become  entirely decayed and were gone.  On the other sides there was but little to be seen of logs and embankment"

***************************

Today, the site of Fort Clark, at the foot of Liberty Street on the shore of the Illinois River in downtown Peoria, is commemorated by a pavilion in Liberty Park.

But It Was Home Safe Home for Awhile.  --Brock-Perry

William Garner, Sr.-- Part 2: Ranger in the War and Helped Fortify Peoria

The Carthage Gazette says that the most amazing man living in Hancock County is William Garner, who is he age of 94 years,  now residing with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Overman at West Point.

Mr. Garner was born in North Carolina in 1794 removed to Kentucky with his parents in 1796, and went to Indiana in 1808, and thence to Morgan County, Illinois, in 1831, remaining there  two years, and from thence to Adams County, where he remained about ten years, since which he has lived in  Hancock.

He was a ranger  in the volunteer service in the War of 1812, stationed on the frontier.  He afterwards went to Peoria, and there, in the company of 1,000 men, helped to build forts.

He now draws a pension for his services in that war.  Mr. Garner has voted in eighteen presidential elections, and, if he lives until 6 November will vote for Gen. Harrison, having voted for his grandfather in 1836 and 1840.

The Quincy Daily Whig, October 21, 1888, page 12.

Fort Worth's Namesake-- Part 4: His Death and All Those Namesakes

Ten forts were planned  between Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande River and the Trinity River, though only seven were built, including Forts Graham, Duncan and Lincoln.

In the spring of 1849, as William Worth's career continued to ascend,  San Antonio was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic.  Worth contracted the disease and died at the age of 55.  General William Harney then ordered the last fort , near the Trinity River, be named in honor of the fallen hero, Fort Worth.

Worth  was later buried in a tomb in what is now Worth Square in New York City, where a street is also named for him.

Several other cities and counties across the nation are also named for him.  Lake Worth, a small suburb next to Fort Worth, Texas, is also named for the general.  It now has a population of 5,000.

William Worth's most famous  namesake, Fort Worth, is now the fifth largest city in Texas with more than 900,000 residents.

--Brock-Perry

New York City's Blockhouse No. 1 in Central Park-- Part 3: Completed Two Days Before Treaty of Ghent Signed

 The fort consists of a two-story bunker surrounding a small area, inside which, a wooden platform would have originally stood. The wooden platform was sunken with a revolving turret for a cannon (not quite sure what this means).

The sides of it held small gunports.  The structure was likely connected to the ground by a small staircase.

Construction on the tower was completed December 22, 1814, , two days before the Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the war.

The second phase of its history involved it being used as an ammunition and storage building.  During this time, the top two feet of stone-work was completed.  The fort/blockhouse is noticeably different in color, composition and stonework.

Later at the turn of the 20th century, the current entrance and staircase were added, as was the tall flagpole at the center of the fort.

In 1905, it was described as standing 19 feet tall at the western wall and  having a base of 34 feet square.

Blockhouse No. 1 stands in North Woods at the northwest corner of Central Park, at a location that is still rugged, high and difficult to reach.  It is located south of North Crive and north of Huddlestone Arch.  It overlooks Harlem Meer (lake) and the Lasker Rink to the east.

Interesting Site to Visit.  --Brock-Perry

Seven Things You Didn't Know About New York City's Central Park-- Part 3: The War of 1812 Blockhouse

4.  Another relic of the War of 1812, which never reached New York City or Manhattan, the Blockhouse is the second-oldest structure in the park, after Cleopatra's Needle (1450 BC).  The Blockhouse was built in 1814 to protect against a British attack (something that never came in the war or afterwards in case you count the Beatles).

At its strongest, it n consisted of a two-story bunker and could hold up to 2,000 militiamen.

When this northern part of area was added to the park's design in 1863, Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux decided  to leave the Blockhouse as a charming piece of history.

--Brock-Perry

Ohio's War of 1812 Forts-- Part 1: The Land and Rivers Were Different Back Then

Since I have been writing about Fort Stephenson and Meigs in Ohio during the war, I came across this on all of the state's forts during the war.

From the Touring Ohio site "Ohio's forts during the War of 1812."

When the war broke out and after the surrender of Hull at Detroit, Ohio's new commander, William Henry Harrison began preparing for the expected invasion of northwest Ohio by the British

At that time, northwest Ohio was often called the Black swamp.  It was a mucky ware-logged area that made travel by land very difficult.  Harrison decided to build a number of forts and supply depots along the rivers.

The rivers of northwestern Ohio back then were different than they are today.  They were mostly slow-moving, deep water rivers that retained their levels most of the year. thanks to the swampy land supplying them with water.

Even during hard rains the rivers would remain relatively level since the water had to flow through the swamps before entering the river.  Later, as the land was cleared and turned into farmland, came the wide fluctuations in water level we have today.

--Brock-Perry

Battery Hobart-- Part 3: An Endicott Period Fortification

From Fort Wiki.

Battery Hobart  (1900-1913).  Battery Hobart was a concrete reinforced, Endicott Period  6 inch  coastal gun battery on Fort Williams, Cumberland County, Maine.  It was named in G.O.78, 25 May 1903, after 1st Lt.  Henry A. Hobart (the 56th cadet to graduate West Point, U.S. Light Artillery, who was killed 27 May 1813, at Fort George, Upper Canada.

Battery construction started in 1898, was completed in 1898 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 6 January 1900 at a cost of $6,545.33.

Deactivated  in 1913.

More.  --Brock-Perry

Battery Hobart-- Part 2: Gun Sent to Pearl Harbor

Battery Hobart was no longer needed after the construction of Battery Keyes in 1905  which mounted more modern American-made guns.

When the U.S. Army afterwards determined that the defenses in the Pacific Ocean needed more guns, Battery Hobart's gun was removed in the summer of 1913 and sent to  protect the Navy and Army facilities at Pearl Harbor during World War I.

The battery's magazine continued to be used for the storage of ordnance supplies for Fort Williams until 1929.

--Brock-Perry

New York City's Fort Wood-- Part 1: Now At the Base of the Statue of Liberty

Today I wrote about the removal of the torch of the Statue of Liberty to a museum on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.  The base of the statue is the old Fort Wood which gives the base the pedestal sits on the many pointed star shape.

This is a fort dating to the War of 1812.

You can read about the torches removal in my Cooter's History Thing blog.  Just click on that site on the My Blogs area to the right of this.

--Brock-Perry

Benjamin Stephenson=-- Part 6: A Line of Blockhouses Across the Illinois Territory

From the Benjamin Stephenson House Site "The War of 1812 and Indian Threat."

In the early days of the Illinois Territory, Indians posed a definite threat to white settlement.  The fact that the British constantly meddled in Indian affairs trying to stir them up, made matters worse.

When Ninian Edwards, for whom Edwardsville is named, became territorial governor in 1809, he organized and strengthened the territory's militia.  Benjamin Stephenson was appointed brigade commander of the militia and later became adjutant.

One of the first things Stephenson did was to build a line of blockhouses across the state from east to west.  This line was anchored by Fort Russell, just north of Edwardsville.

--Brock-Perry

The Encampment Called Greene Ville-- Part 1: Largest Wooden Fortification Ever Built

From the Touring Ohio site.

Probably the reason I wasn't able to find out much about a Fort Greenville in Ohio was because it was called Greene Ville and was classified as an encampment.

It was built by General Anthony Wayne, 5 miles north of Fort Jefferson at what is now Greenville, Ohio.  It had ten feet high walls and enclosed about 50 acres.  It  is said that it was the largest wooden fortification ever built.

It was named for Wayne's friend, Nathaniel Greene and laid out like a city.

--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

Efforts to Save Portland, Maine's Fort Gorges Get a Boost

From the February 29, 2016, Portland (Maine) Press Herald by Eric Russel.

Fort Gorges is on an island in Casco Bay, only accessible by boat.  Portland preservationists and the Army Corps of Engineers are working with the Friends of Fort Gorges group.

Construction on the fort began after the War of 1812 and it was not completed until the Civil War and was already classified as obsolete at that time.  It was modeled after Charleston's Fort Sumter and never garrisoned.  The federal government gave the fort to Portland 100 years after it was built.

It has six granite walls and is named for Sir Ferdinando Gorges who in the early 1600s is credited with discovering what is today Maine.

During World War II, it was used for military storage.

After all these years it is badly in need of maintenance and repairs.

--Brock-Perry