Long Island

Last Update: 17/NOVEMBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - ฉ2007 American Forts Network

Camp Albert L. Mills
(1917 - 1919), Garden City
A Federalized National Guard cantonment training camp in 1917 for the 41st and 42nd Divisions. Became part of the New York Port of Embarkation in 1918. Became a demobilization center in 1919. Just to the west in Mineola was built Mitchel Army Air Field (aka Aviation Field #2) (1917 - 1961). In 1938 Mitchel Field expanded to include the site of Camp Mills. Site now a residential area bounded by Clinton Road, Westbury Blvd., and Roosevelt Road. A monument for the 42nd Division is located at Commercial and Clinton Road. Nassau Community College took over most of Mitchel Field.

Camp Hazelhurst
(1898, 1915 - 1917/1920), near Westbury
Originally the site of Camp Black, a Spanish-American War muster and training camp for state troops, bounded by Old Country Road, Clinton Road, and the Central Line Railroad. Site used again in 1915 - 1917 for state guard training. Renamed Camp Hazelhurst in 1917, associated with Hazelhurst Army Air Field (aka Aviation Field #1), adjacent to Mitchel Field to the south. Became a civilian site and renamed Curtis Field in 1920. Merged with Roosevelt Field to the north in 1929. Closed in 1951, now a commercially developed area.

Camp Winfield Scott
(1861), Westbury
A Civil War training camp.

Oyster Bay Encampment
(1778 - 1783), Oyster Bay
Headquarters for the Loyalist Queen's Rangers during the occupation of New York City. Raynham Hall was the Commanding Officer's quarters, located at 20 West Main Street. The Earle-Wightman House (museum) at 20 Summit Street was also used as barracks. The fort was a square redoubt with a blockhouse on the hill overlooking the town, located at Orchard and Prospect Streets.

Fort Franklin
(1778 - 1783), Lloyd Harbor
Located at Fort Point on Lloyd Neck between Oyster Bay and Huntington Bay. The Joseph Lloyd Manor House (1722/1767) was the Officers' quarters, located at 1 Lloyd Lane. The fort was square with a blockhouse in the center. Attacked by a Patriot force in September 1779, with the entire garrison taken prisoner. Attacked again in July 1781. Another website from LI History

Fort Golgotha
(1782 - 1783), Huntington
It was built in an old cemetery (Burying Hill near Main Street and Nassau Road) from the wood of a dismantled church, and the British troops' grim humor gave it its name. The tombstones were used for tables, fireplaces, and ovens. An earthwork wall surrounded the two-acre enclosure, with a barracks in the center. The cemetery was restored after the war.

Fort Slongo
(1778 ? - 1781), Fort Salonga
Located at Treadwell's Neck on private property, along NY 25A east of Bread and Cheese Hollow Road. An earthwork redoubt with a ditch and a seven-foot high wall, garrisoned by 100 men. Captured by Patriots in October 1781. The blockhouse and stores were destroyed, but most of the men escaped. The outline of the blockhouse can still be seen today, behind 46 Brookfield Road.
The town's name has been corrupted over the years. Another website from LI History

Fort Setauket
(1777 - 1778), Setauket
A fortified church on Strong's Neck Road. Sustained two Patriot raids in 1777 (August and December). Four swivel guns were mounted in the church's gallery windows, with the first floor used for stables. An earthwork wall surrounded the church, and was palisaded. The church was repaired after the war, but burned down. A new church was built in 1811. Another website from LI History

Fort Nonsense
(1813), Poquott
A one-gun local militia battery on Port Jefferson Harbor.

Camp Upton
(Brookhaven National Laboratory)
(1917 - 1919, 1941 - 1945/present), Upton
A National Army cantonment training camp for the 77th Division. Located five miles northeast of Yaphank. Became a demobilization center in 1919. Buildings sold off in 1921, some used as private homes, but the reservation was retained by the Army. A new camp was built on the same site in 1941 for WWII training. Became a convalescent hospital in 1944 for returning troops. Irving Berlin trained here in 1917, a possible source of his song "Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning". During WWII the camp was used for rehearsal space for Berlin's musical "This is the Army". Site became Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1947, used for nuclear research.

คค HARBOR DEFENSES of EASTERN LONG ISLAND SOUND (see also Fort Mansfield, RI)
World War II History of Long Island | View Long Island Sound Map

คค Fort H.G. Wright
(1899 - 1950), Fishers Island
This was the headquarters for the Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound. Originally located here was Camp Fishers Island from 1879 - 1888. It was also known as Camp Creedmore, Camp R. N. Scott, and Camp Stephen B. Luce. Batteries here are Battery Clinton (1902 - 1943) partially buried, Battery Butterfield (1901 - 1945) partially buried, Battery Barlow (1901 - 1943) partially buried, Battery Dutton (1901 - 1945) partially buried, Battery Hamilton (1905 - 1917), Battery Marcy (1906 - 1917), Battery 215 (1943 - 1946) at Race Point, Battery Dynamite (1901 - 1902) at Race Point, Battery Hoffman (1906 - 1946), Battery Hoppock (1905 - 1946), and AMTB Battery 913 (1943 - 1946), which is buried. A mobile 155mm gun battery was here before WWII. A three-gun AA battery (1930's) was located near the airfield. Several fire-control towers are still located at Race Point. A Balloon Hangar was built in 1920, demolished in 1962. Elizabeth Field was first built in 1931 at South Beach. The two paved runways were built in 1941. During WWII the Navy based G-1 airships here for sub patrol. The post became private property in 1958.

Located at the North Hill Military Reservation (1917 - 1950) are New Battery Hackleman (1944 - 1946), and an unnamed 5-inch gun battery (1917 - 1919) (probably not built ?).

Located at the Mount Prospect / Wilderness Point Military Reservation (1908/1943 - 1949/1960's) are Battery 111 (1944, never armed) on Mt. Prospect, Battery 214 (1944, never armed) (built on) at Wilderness Point, and the underground Harbor Defense Command Post / Harbor Entrance Control Post on Mt. Prospect. A two-gun AA battery (1918, armed in 1920, third gun added 1930's) was also located on Mt. Prospect. Four fire-control towers are still located on Mt. Prospect. The Navy took over this parcel in 1949 for the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory.

Located at East Point was AMTB Battery 916 (1943 - 1946) (probably not built ?), and four observation towers on nearby Hill 90.

History of Fishers Island from LI History || "Guardian of the Sound" book link

Additional fire-control towers associated with Fort Wright were located in Rhode Island at Green Hill (no remains), Charlestown (still here), Weekapaug Point (no remains), and Watch Hill Point (no remains).

คค Fort Michie
(1896 - 1948), Great Gull Island
Located between Plum Island and Fishers Island. Batteries here are Battery Davis (1923 - 1945), Battery Palmer (1900 - 1945), Battery North (1900 - 1918) destroyed to make way for Davis, Battery Benjamin (1908 - 1947), Battery Maitland (1908 - 1947), Battery Pasco (1905 - 1934), and AMTB Battery 912 (1943 - 1946). An AA battery (1920) was at Battery Palmer. There was a disappearing searchlight emplacement, and several observation towers remain. The entire island is owned by the American Museum of Natural History, New York City.

คค Fort Terry
(1898 - 1946), Plum Island
Batteries here are Battery Stoneman (1901 - 1943), Battery Steele (1900 - 1942), Battery Bradford (1901 - 1944), Battery Floyd (1906 - 1917), Battery Dimick (1905 - 1917), Battery 217 (1944, never armed), Battery Kelly (1898 - 1917) partially buried, Battery Hagner (1906 - 1932) mostly destroyed, Battery Eldridge (1906 - 1946), Battery Dalliba (1905 - 1946), Battery Greble (1905 - 1932), Battery Campbell (1905 - 1934) partially destroyed, AMTB Battery 911 (1943 - 1946) at Pine Point, and a four-gun 155mm battery (1942 - 1943) on top of Battery Steele. Two two-gun AA batteries (1920) were also here. Several observation towers remain. The fortifications were located mainly on the eastern end of the island. The entire island has been used by the USDA since 1954 as an animal disease research lab. Access is restricted.

คค Fort Tyler
(1896 - 1915), Gardiners Point
Originally located on the northwest point of Gardiners Island, long since overwashed and now its own island. Battery Edmund Smith (1898 - 1915) is here. This fort was used for target practice by Navy aircraft during World War II. It was severely damaged from the aerial bombing. Now private property.

A WWII fire-control tower still remains on Whale Hill on the main island.

คค Camp Hero
(Montauk Point State Park)
(1929/1938 - 1948/1982), Montauk Point
Originally a U.S. Navy seaplane installation. Originally named Montauk Point Military Reservation until renamed in 1942. Batteries here are Battery Dunn / 113 (1944 - 1948), Battery 112 (1944 - 1948), and Battery 216 (1944 - 1947). All entrances are buried. A fire-control tower is by the lighthouse, another is in ruins in the surf. Others are located throughout the park. The western portion of the post became Montauk Air Force Station from 1957 - 1982. The lighthouse here was built in 1797. The Montauk Project | Another website on Geocities

Additional fire-control towers associated with Camp Hero were located at Shagwong Point (still here, private property), Ditch Plains (ruins), Hither Hills (two remain, private property), Amagansett (still here, private property), East Hampton (no remains), and at Block Island, RI (three left).

Some info for HD Long Island provided by Alex Holder of the Coast Defense Study Group.

Camp Wikoff
(1898, 1920's), Montauk
This was a Spanish-American War demobilization center, and the only national quarantine camp for troops returning from Cuba. Site was later used in the 1920's for NY NG summer training. Located along Fort Pond and Fort Pond Bay.

Sag Harbor Fort
(1776 - 1780, 1813 - 1814, 1850's ?), Sag Harbor
The British established a major supply depot and arsenal here during the American Revolution. Unknown if fortified. Raided by Patriots in May 1777. A new fort was built in 1813 with six guns. Possibly still active by 1861 as a four-gun fort with a 3000-man garrison. The Meigs Monument on Union St. is on the site of the American fort. Another website from LI History

A Gun House (1808) was located in town (unknown location).

Southampton Fort
(1777 - 1778), Southampton
A British fort. Site is in a park on Windmill Lane. Probably near Old Fort Pond (?).

Fort St. George
(1780), Mastic Beach
A British supply base located at Smith Point on the William Floyd Parkway. The Smith Manor (Manor of St. George Museum) was incorporated into the fort. It was a 96 square-foot triangular palisade with two fortified houses at two corners and a strong redoubt at the other corner, with bastions, a deep moat, and an abatis. Built for six guns, but only two were mounted. It was attacked by Patriots soon after it was built (November 1780) and was destroyed. No trace remains. Another website from LI History

Fort Neck
(1653), Massapequa
A Massapequa Indian fort that was captured by the British. It then became a temporary base camp used against the Indians. It was 30-square yards with a six-foot deep palisaded ditch. Site located at Merrick Road and Cedar Shore Drive, near the Harbor Green development. The fort was earlier described by Dutch explorers.

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

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