New York City II

Last Update: 17/NOVEMBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Early American Forts of New York City

Castle Clinton (National Monument)
(1809 - 1821), Manhattan *PHOTOS*
As part of Battery Park, Southwest Battery (aka West Battery (1) or City Battery) was originally located here in 1795, in ruins by 1806. The current structure was built in 1809, with 28 guns. During the War of 1812, this was the Army's New York Harbor headquarters. It was given its current name in 1817, and was abandoned in 1821. It was given to the city in 1823, and it was used for many different purposes in its civilian life, including a theater (Castle Garden) (1840's), an Immigrant Station (1855 - 1890), and the New York City Aquarium (1896 - 1941). Restored by NPS in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The fort was originally about 200 feet off of the mainland, connected by a causeway. Landfill operations in later years expanded Battery Park. Located just to the east was South Battery (1) (1810 - 1812) at the foot of Bridge Street.
(Not to be confused with Fort Clinton (5) in Central Park.)

Corlaer's Hook Fort
(1812 - 1815), Manhattan
Located on Corlaer's Hook near the Williamsburg Bridge. Previously at this location was the Patriot Crown Point Battery in 1776.

North Battery
(1809 - 1831), Manhattan
A 16-gun circular fort built of red sandstone, which gave it the popular name of Red Fort. Located about 200 feet off of the river bank, connected by a drawbridge. Also known as Hubert Street Battery, near which it was located.

Fort Gansevoort
(1808 - 1849), Manhattan
Located at the foot of Gansevoort Street on the Hudson River. It had over 20 guns. It was also known as White Fort because of its whitewashed exterior. It was demolished after abandonment, possibly lasting until 1854.

New York City Gun Houses
(1808), Manhattan
A Gun House, or Arsenal, was located somewhere in the lower city (Hubert Street ?), which stored 34 various sized guns on traveling carriages. Another Gun House and Laboratory was located three miles north of the city. Locations undetermined.

Fort Clinton (5) (Monument)
(1814 - 1815), Manhattan
It was once located in the northeast corner of Central Park. Previously located at this spot was British McGowan's Pass Redoubt from the American Revolution.
(Not to be confused with Castle Clinton in Battery Park.)

Also located nearby are monuments for Blockhouse #1 (aka Old Stone Tower) (1814) (at 7th Ave.) and Fort Fish (1814) (near East 107th Street).

Fort Laight
(1814 - 1815), Manhattan
A stone fort once located at Morningside Gardens, near La Salle Street and Broadway, probably similar to Fort Clinton (5) in Central Park. Earthworks were also located west through present Riverside Park.

Other 1814 blockhouses located in the vicinity included Blockhouse #2 (West 114th Street and Morningside Ave.), Blockhouse #3 (West 121st Street and Morningside Ave.), Blockhouse #4 (West 123rd Street and Amsterdam Ave.).

Fort Horn
(1814 - 1815), Manhattan
Located near Jefferson Park at the end of East 110th Street.

Benson's Point Redoubt (1814) was located south of here at the end of East 104th Street, at the pedestrian bridge to Ward's Island.

Fort Marcy
(1840's), Manhattan
Built somewhere in Manhattan during the Mexican-American War. Probably only a recruitment station or encampment.

Seventh Regiment Armory
(1877 - present), Manhattan
Located at 643 Park Ave., near East 66th Street. The prototype "medievel fortress" style national guard armory that was copied around the country in the late 19th-century and early 20th-century. Still in use today. Designated a New York City Historic Landmark.

Kingsbridge Armory
(1912 - present ?), Bronx
Located at 29 West Kingsbridge Road. Originally known as the Eighth Coastal Artillery Armory, later the Eighth Regiment Armory. At the time it was built it boasted the world's largest Drill Hall at 300-by-600 feet. Designated a New York City Historic Landmark.

Camp Riker
(1860's), Rikers Island
A Civil War training camp, later a POW camp. Also known as Camp Astor.

Fort Stevens
(1814 - 1815), Queens
A temporary 12-gun fort on Hallet's Point at Hell Gate.

Southeast of here on Lawrence Hill was Castle Bogardus (1813 - 1815), a six-sided stone tower. Mill Rock Blockhouse (1812 - 1815) was constructed nearby on Mill Rock Island in the East River. It burned down in 1821.

Fort Swift
(1812 - 1815), Brooklyn
Built near the site of the Patriot Fort Corkscrew from 1776, at Atlantic Ave. and Boerum Place.

Fort Greene (2) (Park)
(1812 - 1815), Brooklyn
A Federal fort built on the ruins of Patriot Fort Putnam (1) from 1776. It was abandoned after the war. The site was sold in 1826, and became a city park in 1847.
(Not to be confused with the Patriot Fort Greene, later American Fort Masonic)

Fort Cummings (2)
(1814 - 1815), Brooklyn
Built on the site of Patriot Oblong Redoubt from 1776.

Fort Masonic
(1814 - 1815), Brooklyn
Built on the ruins of Patriot Fort Greene (1) (British Fort Sutherland) from 1776.

Fort Fireman
(1814 - 1815), Brooklyn
Built on or near the site of Patriot Fort Box from 1776.

Fort Lawrence
(1814 - 1815), Brooklyn
A temporary battery, located at DeGraw and Bond Streets.

Fort Jay
(1794 - 1904/1966), Governor's Island *PHOTOS*
The first Fort Jay was continuously modified until 1806 when it was almost completely rebuilt into 60-gun Fort Columbus. Enlarged in 1836. Fort Columbus was renamed back to Fort Jay in 1904. Also located on the island were New York Arsenal (1833 - 1920) with seven surviving structures, and South Battery (2) (1812) which guarded the Buttermilk Channel. The 27-gun West Battery (2) was built to the west of the fort in 1871, but was never completed. It was completely removed before 1930. Located in Nolan Park are the Commanding Officer's Quarters (1893), the Governor's House (Guardhouse) (1805), and the Post Hospital (1839). During WWII the post was the headquarters of the Eastern Defense Command. The southern tip of the island was greatly expanded with fill from the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Until it was closed in 1996, the entire island was the New York Coast Guard Support Center.

Previously located on the island was Dutch Nooten Eylandt Fort (1624 - 1625), and a colonial-era quarantine station in 1710. The first British troops were not garrisoned on the island until 1755. Patriot forces built earthworks around the island in 1776, but were abandoned to the British. The island saw little action during the remainder of the war.
"Tribute to Governors Island"

Castle Williams
(1807 - 1870/1966), Governor's Island *PHOTOS*
This was a 78-gun four-story circular casemated fort, the first multi-tiered fort in the U.S. Completed in 1811. From 1812 - 1870 it was used as a military prison. Held Confederate POWs in 1862 - 1865.

Fort Wood
(Statue of Liberty National Monument and World Heritage Site)
(1794, 1810 - 1877, 1886 - 1937), Liberty Island
A 24-gun 11-pointed star fort, with a brick arsenal, built on the site of a 1794 battery. Rebuilt in 1841. Used for overflow of CSA POW's from Castle Williams during the Civil War, then transferred to Fort Warren in Boston, MA. The Water Battery was rebuilt in 1871 - 1873 as a 12-gun barbette battery with five traverse magazines, but guns were not emplaced until the late 1880's or 1890's. The old fort's parade was filled-in beginning in 1884, becoming the foundation for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty (dedicated 1886). The military post was re-garrisoned in 1886, and became a subpost of Fort Columbus/Jay in 1894. New barracks and quarters were built around the old fort. The Lighthouse Board reserved one acre at the north end of the island to support the light in Liberty's torch. A Signal Corps depot was established here in 1904. An explosion at a Jersey City wharf in 1916 caused heavy damage to the post, but the statue was unharmed. The National Park Service took control of the statue in 1933. The island itself remained an active military post until 1937. The remaining military buildings were removed by 1950. The name of the island was originally Bedloe's Island until 1956. Although the island lies within New Jersey's territorial waters, the island itself, above the mean low water mark, belongs to New York City per an 1834 agreement.

Fort Gibson
(1795, 1809 - 1861/1890), Ellis Island
A 14-gun circular battery with a magazine and barracks was located on what was then known as Oyster Island, originally named Crown Fort until 1812. It replaced an earlier 1795 battery. Renamed Battery Gibson in the 1840's. It was dismantled in 1861 and replaced by a U.S. Navy ammunition depot during the Civil War. An Immigration Station was built beginning in 1892. The present structure was built in 1897. A U.S. Coast Guard training station was here 1939 - 1946. The island is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. A section of the fort's wall was uncovered during the renovation of the Immigration Station, and is on display. Although the island lies within New Jersey's territorial waters, the island itself, above the mean low water mark, belongs to New York City per an 1834 agreement.

Fort Lafayette (2)
(1812 - 1868/1946), Brooklyn
A small brick casemated 70-gun fort once located on Hendrick's Reef about 200 yards offshore from Fort Hamilton. It was originally called Fort Diamond until 1823. Fort Lafayette was used to house POWs during the Civil War. A major fire occurred in 1868. After the fort was abandoned it was used as a U.S. Naval magazine from 1898 - 1946. A Marine Barracks was also located here during WWII. The post was transferred to the city in 1948. No remains. The site in now under the east tower of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, which was built in 1960.

Princess Bay Blockhouse
(1814), Staten Island
Located at Princess Bay near Seguine Point. Possibly not built.

Staten Island Civil War Camps
(1860's), Staten Island
Camp McClellan (1861) later known as Camp Tompkinsville. Probably located at Tompkinsville.
Camp Sprague located at New Dorp.
Camp Scott located at Old Town.
Camp Arthur (1862) undetermined location.
Camp Low (1861) undetermined location.

¤ COAST DEFENSES of NEW YORK CITY (EAST RIVER)

¤ Fort Slocum
(1863 - 1928/1965), Davids Island
Located offshore from New Rochelle. Originally built as a military hospital complex and POW camp. Nearby Hart Island (Bronx) was also used for that purpose. First fortified in 1878. Batteries here were Battery Haskin (1897 - 1919), Battery Overton (1897 - 1919) partially destroyed, Battery Practice (1896 - 1899) (two M1888 8-inch BL guns on modified 15-inch Rodman carriages) partially buried, Battery Kinney (1904 - 1917) destroyed, and Battery Fraser (1901 - 1917) destroyed. Became Slocum Air Force Station from 1946 - 1950, and a NIKE Missile Base (NY-15) from 1955 - 1965 (missile launchers were on Hart Island), and also used for the Armed Forces Information School, an Army Chaplain School, and a training and recruitment center (1919 - 1946). The island was bought in 1968 for a nuclear power plant, but it was never built. The island now sits abandoned and overgrown as city property, but future plans call for redevelopment. A 15-inch Rodman cannon still lies by the wharf. Hart Island is now a Bronx city cemetery and private development.

¤ Fort Schuyler (5)
(1833 - 1935), Bronx
Located on the grounds of SUNY Maritime College at Throg's Neck (1937). It is now also home to the Maritime Industry Museum. The fort was first armed in 1845, but was not garrisoned until 1856. Construction continued during the 1860's into the 1870's. A small Redoubt was located northwest of the fort. Modifications to the barbette gun tier and outer crownwork were done in 1866 - 1876. A mine casemate was built in 1875 in the southwest corner of the fort, reused for the Endicott period. It still exists. The Ten-Gun Battery was built to the northwest in 1873 - 1876, but was not fully completed. It was later destroyed along with all the other exterior batteries in the 1950's. Endicott batteries here were Battery Gansevoort (1899 - 1935) partially destroyed and buried, Battery Hazzard (1898 - 1930) destroyed, Battery Bell (1900 - 1917) destroyed, and Battery Beecher (1900 - 1920) destroyed. The BC station for Battery Hazzard was built on the parados of the Ten-Gun Battery. During the 1930's the old fort was renovated for the college, removing the outer crownwork and barbette tier batteries.

¤ Fort Totten
(1862 - 1948/1994), Queens
Located across the East River from Fort Schuyler, guarding New York City's "backdoor". It was originally known as Fort at Willet's Point until 1898. The one-story wood-frame Officers' Club was built in 1870, enlarged in 1887. The uncompleted Third System casemates (aka Water Battery) still exist near the water line. A mine casemate was built in 1876. It still exists, but is inaccessible. It was replaced in the 1890's with a new mine casemate on the western-side of the post, which also still exists. Portions of the 1871-76 27-Gun Battery line also still exist among the later-built Batteries Stuart and Burnes. The 16-gun Mortar Battery was built in 1872 - 1876, later modified and renamed Battery King. Four 13-inch seacoast mortars had been mounted in 1876. Endicott batteries here are Battery King (1900 - 1935) destroyed/buried, Battery Mahan (1900 - 1918), Battery Graham (1897 - 1918), Battery Sumner (1899 - 1918), Battery Stuart (1899 - 1917), Battery Baker (1900 - 1940's), and Battery Burnes (1904 - 1946). A 270-foot long tunnel was built in 1871 from the bluff batteries to the water battery, still exists. An underground Grand Magazine was built behind the water battery in 1871, also still exists. The Army's School of Submarine Mine Defense was originally located here until 1907. During WWII the post was the Anti-Aircraft Defense headquarters of the Eastern Defense Command. From 1954 to 1974, this was the HQ 1st Region ARADCOM for the NIKE missile defense of New York and New England. Until the post closed, from 1968 it was the largest Army Reserve Command in the U.S. Another website at preserve.org. Another website at Queens, NYC.

¤¤ COAST and HARBOR DEFENSES of NEW YORK CITY (NEW YORK HARBOR) (see also Sandy Hook, NJ)

¤¤ Fort Tilden
(Gateway National Recreation Area)
(1917 - 1948/1974), Queens
Located in Roxbury on Rockaway Peninsula. Originally named Camp Rockaway Beach in 1917. Batteries here are Battery Harris (1924 - 1948), Battery West (1917 - 1947) (renamed Kessler in 1939, rebuilt in 1941), Battery 220 (1942 - 1946) partially buried, Battery East (1917 - 1942) (renamed Fergusson in 1939) buried. Located offpost nearby on Rockaway Point was AMTB Battery 20 (1942 - 1946), and AMTB Battery 21 (1943 - 1946). Located at the former Rockaway NAS (1917 - 1930) (now Jacob Riis Park) was an unnamed mortar battery (1917 - 1919). Battery 117 was to be built on a point of land at nearby JFK Airport, but it was considered to be too close to the airport. That site is now under a taxiway. From 1955 - 1974 this was a NIKE missile base (NY-49). Additional WWII fire-control towers were once located eastward at Seaside, Arverne, Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Short Beach, and Zach's Bay.

Located near here in 1814 was American Decatur Blockhouse. It was once located at the then tip of the peninsula, but the land has since moved westward. Site is probably near 137th Street.

¤¤ Norton Point Military Reservation
(1942 - 1946), Coney Island
Located here were New Battery Catlin (AMTB 18) (1942 - 1946) buried, and AMTB Battery 19 (1943 - 1946) buried. Other structures and towers that were here no longer exist.

¤¤ Fort Hamilton (2) (U.S. Army Reservation)
(Harbor Defense Museum)
(1826 - 1948/present), Brooklyn *PHOTOS*
Fort Hamilton was used as a POW camp during the Civil War. An exterior battery (New Battery) was built in 1863, rebuilt in 1874 - 1876. The eight-gun Water Battery (aka Battery No. 1) was built in 1871 - 1874. A 15-gun Mortar Battery was built behind the New Battery in 1872 - 1876, but was never finished or armed. The New Battery was replaced by Batteries Gillmore and Spear. Battery Griffin was later built on the Water Battery. Endicott batteries here were Battery Piper (1901 - 1942), Battery Brown (1902 - ?), Battery Doubleday (1900 - 1943), Battery Neary (1900 - 1937), the combined Battery Gillmore (1899 - 1942) and Battery Spear (1898 - 1917), Battery Burke (1903 - 1917), Battery Livingston (1905 - 1948), Battery Johnston (1902 - 1943), Battery Mendenhall (1905 - 1917), Battery Griffin (1899 - 1946), and a WWII AA battery. All coastal batteries and fire-control towers were destroyed or buried from 1954 - 1963 to make way for the Verrazano Narrows Bridge (I-278) and the Belt Parkway. The original fort was altered in 1937 as the present Officers' Club, Whiting Quadrangle. A 20-inch Rodman is located outside of the north gate, and a 12-inch naval gun is inside the gate. Another website

A Patriot work known as The Narrows Fort was originally here on Denyse Point. The British captured and destroyed the fort in 1776, but rebuilt it and held it throughout the war. American Fort Lewis (2) was built here in 1814. It was a blockhouse with earthworks (30 guns), garrisoned by 100 men. It may also have been known as Denyse's Heights Blockhouse. Other blockhouses in the area from the War of 1812 period include Bath Beach Blockhouse (located near Bensonhurst Park, but may not have been built), and Utrecht Bay Blockhouse (same area, and also may not have been built).

¤¤ Fort Wadsworth
(Gateway National Recreation Area)
(1807 - 1946/1994), Staten Island *PHOTOS*
This site, known as Signal Hill, was fortified as early as 1636 by the Dutch, who built the 20-square foot Signal Hill Blockhouse here after several settlements were destroyed by Indians. The British took it over in 1664. A Patriot garrison, Flagstaff Fort, was here in 1776 before being overrun by the British.

Historic portions of the current reservation contain Fort Tompkins (1) (1807, rebuilt 1847), and Fort Richmond (2) (1847), which was originally the Water Battery (1807) for Fort Tompkins. Both were still under construction until 1861. Fort Richmond was renamed Fort Wadsworth in 1865, and renamed again in 1902 to Battery Weed, after the entire reservation became known as Fort Wadsworth. The south portion of the reservation was briefly named Fort Newton. Two of the oldest batteries were (Fort) Battery Hudson and (Fort) Battery Morton, both from 1811. Smith's Cantonment (2) (1860's) was located within the reservation during the Civil War. Shortly before and during the Civil War were built North Cliff Battery and South Cliff Battery flanking Fort Richmond, both rebuilt 1872 - 1876. Adjacent to Fort Tompkins were built Glacis Gun Battery (five guns) (rebuilt 1873, still exists) and Two Gun Battery (1866, rebuilt 1873). The Glacis Mortar Battery (ten guns) was built west of Fort Tompkins from 1871 to 1873, but was never armed. A mine casemate was built in the northwest bastion of Fort Richmond in 1875, later reused for the Endicott period. It still exists. Battery Hudson was extensively rebuilt and extended from 1872 - 1876 for 22 guns, including a position for a King's Depressing Carriage gun. The old lighthouse here was removed in 1873. The old Battery Hudson was mostly replaced later with New Battery Hudson and Battery Mills, but many gun platforms and magazines still exist. In 1898 two emplacements were armed with M1888 8-inch BL guns on modified 15-inch Rodman carriages. Battery Catlin was built over most of North Cliff Battery, and Batteries Barbour, Turnbull, and Bacon were built on South Cliff Battery. Many magazines and old gun platforms still exist however. The Glacis Mortar Battery and Two Gun Battery were destroyed in the early 1960's for the Verrazano Narrows Bridge (I-278) approach.
Endicott batteries include: Battery Ayres (ex Miramar Battery) (1901 - 1942) partially buried, Battery Dix (1902 - 1944), New Battery Hudson (1899 - 1944) partially buried, Battery Richmond (1899 - 1942) partially buried, Battery Barry (ex Clifton) (1899 - 1918), Battery Upton (ex Ravenna Battery) (1899 - 1925), Battery Duane (1897 - 1915) mostly destroyed, Battery Barbour (1898 - 1920) partially buried, Battery Mills (1900 - 1943) partially buried, Battery Catlin (1904 - 1942), Battery Bacon (1899 - 1918), and Battery Turnbull (1903 - 1944) mostly buried. Later batteries include Battery 218 (1943), and New Battery Turnbull (AMTB 14) (1942 - 1946) covered. Battery 115 was never built. The post became headquarters of all NYC area NIKE missile defenses (NY-HQ) from 1955 - 1974. The short-lived New York Naval Station was here from 1990 to 1994.

To the south near New Dorp, at Miller Field (1917), was AMTB Battery 11 (1943 - 1946) and a fire-control tower. On Swinburne Island was AMTB Battery 12 (1943 - 1946). A fire-control tower was also on Hoffman Island, which was also used as the Coast Guard's Maritime Service Training Station in 1938. Both Swinburne and Hoffman Islands are now part of Gateway NRA.

¤¤ Princess Bay Battery
(1898), Staten Island
An unnamed temporary battery at Seguine Point.

¤¤ Ward Point Battery
(1898), Staten Island
A temporary battery site now located in the surf.

Special thanks to Col. Michael Stenzel, NY NG, for information from the New York's Forts website.

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