Eastern Point Fort: Difference between revisions
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In June 1863, [[Confederate States Navy|Confederate]] [[Commerce raiding|commerce raiders]] attacked Gloucester-based fishing boats on [[Georges Bank]], a rich [[fishing ground]] east of [[Cape Cod]].<ref name=Man32>Manuel, pp. 32–37</ref> Also that year, [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|US Army engineers]] realized that attacking vessels could be well inside Gloucester's harbor before being engaged by the existing forts, [[Stage Fort Park|Stage Fort]] and [[Fort Defiance (Massachusetts)|Fort Defiance]]. The Eastern Point fort, never formally named, was sited to be able to engage any enemy approaching from seaward. It was built near the end of the peninsula forming the eastern side of Gloucester's harbor, on the "high land of the farm of Thomas Niles". Construction was supervised by Major Charles E. Blunt. Eastern Point was the only Civil War fort on the [[North Shore (Massachusetts)|north shore]] of Massachusetts Bay not on the site of a previous fortification.<ref name=Rob400/><ref name=Man32/> |
In June 1863, [[Confederate States Navy|Confederate]] [[Commerce raiding|commerce raiders]] attacked Gloucester-based fishing boats on [[Georges Bank]], a rich [[fishing ground]] east of [[Cape Cod]].<ref name=Man32>Manuel, pp. 32–37</ref> Also that year, [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|US Army engineers]] realized that attacking vessels could be well inside Gloucester's harbor before being engaged by the existing forts, [[Stage Fort Park|Stage Fort]] and [[Fort Defiance (Massachusetts)|Fort Defiance]]. The Eastern Point fort, never formally named, was sited to be able to engage any enemy approaching from seaward. It was built near the end of the peninsula forming the eastern side of Gloucester's harbor, on the "high land of the farm of Thomas Niles". Construction was supervised by Major Charles E. Blunt. Eastern Point was the only Civil War fort on the [[North Shore (Massachusetts)|north shore]] of Massachusetts Bay not on the site of a previous fortification.<ref name=Rob400/><ref name=Man32/> |
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The fort was an [[earthworks (fortification)|earthwork]] that could accommodate seven guns, with three [[magazine (artillery)|magazines]] and a [[bomb shelter|bombproof shelter]], along with a barracks and hospital outside the fort.<ref name=Man32/><ref name=AFN1>{{cite web |title=Massachusetts |url=http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/ma.html#eastern |publisher=American Forts Network |accessdate=13 June 2020}}</ref> However, an armament report dated January 31, 1865 shows ten [[cannon|guns]] were on hand, including three 32-pounder [[James rifle|rifled guns]], four 32-pounder [[smoothbore]] guns, and three 24-pounder rifled guns. An author has examined a period photograph and determined that the 24-pounders could have been in the bombproof, which was sited for landward defense.<ref name=Man32/> The fort was abandoned in 1867 and the buildings demolished at some point, though the earthworks remain.<ref name=AFN1/> |
The fort was an [[earthworks (fortification)|earthwork]] that could accommodate seven guns, with three [[magazine (artillery)|magazines]] and a [[bomb shelter|bombproof shelter]], along with a barracks and hospital outside the fort.<ref name=Man32/><ref name=AFN1>{{cite web |title=Massachusetts |url=http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/ma.html#eastern |publisher=American Forts Network |accessdate=13 June 2020}}</ref> However, an armament report dated January 31, 1865 shows ten [[cannon|guns]] were on hand, including three 32-pounder [[James rifle|rifled guns]], four 32-pounder [[smoothbore]] guns, and three 24-pounder rifled guns. An author has examined a period photograph and determined that the 24-pounders could have been in the bombproof, which was sited with [[embrasure]]s for landward defense.<ref name=Man32/> The fort was abandoned in 1867 and the buildings demolished at some point, though the earthworks remain.<ref name=AFN1/> |
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In the 1920s a resort hotel or manor house named the "Ramparts" was built inside the fort, featuring two stone towers. The main building was razed in 1950, though the towers remain. Today, a private residence exists within the former earthworks of the fort, incorporating one of the towers.<ref name=AFN1/> |
In the 1920s a resort hotel or manor house named the "Ramparts" was built inside the fort, featuring two stone towers. The main building was razed in 1950, though the towers remain. Today, a private residence exists within the former earthworks of the fort, incorporating one of the towers.<ref name=AFN1/> |
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Revision as of 07:31, 13 June 2020
| Eastern Point Fort | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Point, Gloucester, Massachusetts | |
  Eastern Point Fort Location in Massachusetts  Eastern Point Fort Eastern Point Fort (the United States) | |
| Coordinates | 42°35′8.32″N 70°39′30.93″W / 42.5856444°N 70.6585917°W |
| Type | Coastal defense |
| Site information | |
| Owner | private |
| Open to the public | no |
| Condition | earthworks remain |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1863 |
| Built by | Major Charles E. Blunt, US Army |
| In use | 1863–1867 |
| Materials | earthworks |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Eastern Point Fort was a fort that existed from 1863 to 1867 on Eastern Point in Gloucester, Massachusetts, built for the American Civil War. References indicate the name has also been erroneously used to refer to the Stage Fort across the harbor.[1][2]
In June 1863, Confederate commerce raiders attacked Gloucester-based fishing boats on Georges Bank, a rich fishing ground east of Cape Cod.[3] Also that year, US Army engineers realized that attacking vessels could be well inside Gloucester's harbor before being engaged by the existing forts, Stage Fort and Fort Defiance. The Eastern Point fort, never formally named, was sited to be able to engage any enemy approaching from seaward. It was built near the end of the peninsula forming the eastern side of Gloucester's harbor, on the "high land of the farm of Thomas Niles". Construction was supervised by Major Charles E. Blunt. Eastern Point was the only Civil War fort on the north shore of Massachusetts Bay not on the site of a previous fortification.[2][3]
The fort was an earthwork that could accommodate seven guns, with three magazines and a bombproof shelter, along with a barracks and hospital outside the fort.[3][4] However, an armament report dated January 31, 1865 shows ten guns were on hand, including three 32-pounder rifled guns, four 32-pounder smoothbore guns, and three 24-pounder rifled guns. An author has examined a period photograph and determined that the 24-pounders could have been in the bombproof, which was sited with embrasures for landward defense.[3] The fort was abandoned in 1867 and the buildings demolished at some point, though the earthworks remain.[4]
In the 1920s a resort hotel or manor house named the "Ramparts" was built inside the fort, featuring two stone towers. The main building was razed in 1950, though the towers remain. Today, a private residence exists within the former earthworks of the fort, incorporating one of the towers.[4]
See also
- Stage Fort Park
- Fort Defiance (Massachusetts)
- Seacoast defense in the United States
- List of coastal fortifications of the United States
References
- Manuel, Dale A. (Summer 2019). "Massachusetts North Shore Civil War Forts". Coast Defense Journal. Vol. 33, no. 3. Mclean, Virginia: CDSG Press.
- Roberts, Robert B. (1988). Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-926880-X.
External links
- Big guns over Gloucester in the Civil War
- History of Eastern Point (dead link 12 June 2020)
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