Mohawk River Valley

Last Update: 14/NOVEMBER/2010

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2010 American Forts Network

Oneida Castle (2)
(1760's ?, 1770's ?, 1780's ?), Oneida Castle
The Oneida Indians relocated here after the French and Indian War. Allies to the Patriots during the American Revolution. Of interest here is the Oneida Nation Shako-wi Cultural Center at 5 Territory Road.

¤ Forts of the Oneida Portage

¤ Royal Blockhouse (2)
(1759 - 1764), Sylvan Beach
A British two-story blockhouse with earthworks at the mouth of Wood Creek. A British post may have been built here as early as 1722 according to one source.

¤ Fort Rickey
(1759 - 1760), Siefert Corners
An outpost of Fort Stanwix for 50 men located at the Wood Creek dam, opposite the mouth of West Canada Creek. In ruins by 1776. Reconstructed. The Fort Rickey Children's Zoo/Game Farm is near the actual site.

¤ Fort Bull
(1755 - 1756), Rome
A stockaded star-shaped earthwork at the upper landing on Wood Creek, one mile west of Fort Newport. It was burned by the French in March 1756 (Fort Bull Massacre). It was rebuilt adjacent to first work in May-August 1756 and renamed Wood Creek Fort, a palisaded four-bastioned moated earthwork. Destroyed by the British in August 1756 as they retreated before the French advance from Oswego. Trace remnants extant at Erie Canal Village (admission fee) on New London Road.

¤ Fort Newport
(1756), Rome
A wooden stockade with two bastions protecting the Wood Creek Landing. It was destroyed by the fleeing British in August 1756. Marker located on present Calvert Street between Arsenal Street and Brewer Alley.

¤ Fort Williams (1)
(1755 - 1756), Rome
A log stockade with two blockhouses located at the upper landing on the Mohawk River, about one-quarter mile downstream from the future site of Fort Stanwix. It was destroyed by the fleeing British in August 1756. Marker located on Bouck Street between East Whitesboro and East Dominick Streets.

¤ Fort Craven
(1756), Rome
A partially completed pentagon-shaped earthwork built just south of Fort Williams. Also known as Fort Pentagon. It was destroyed by the fleeing British in August 1756. Marker located on East Whitesboro Street between Bouck and Mill Streets.

¤ Fort Stanwix (National Monument)
(1758 - 1760, 1777 - 1783), Rome
A French fort was located here in 1689. The first British fort here was built in 1728. After the destruction and abandonment of the earlier forts, the British built a new fort here, but it never saw action and was soon abandoned in 1760. Patriots garrisoned Fort Stanwix in 1777 and renamed it Fort Schuyler (4). Attacked by the British in August 1777. Patriot reinforcements were ambushed at Oriskany (see also Oriskany Battlefield SHS). In May 1781 the fort was destroyed by fire and flood. It was rebuilt, and renamed back to its original name. A blockhouse (1794 - 1815) was built by the New York state militia on the old parade ground, and the rest of the fort was leveled by 1830. The site was excavated in 1970, and became a National Park in 1977. The current structure is a reconstruction of the 1777 fort. Admission fee.

Rome Arsenal (1)
(unknown - 1822), Rome
A state arsenal built sometime before 1810, located at the present location of St. Peter's Church. Burned down in 1822.

Rome Arsenal (2)
(1813 - 1873), Rome
A three-acre Federal arsenal with magazines, workshops, Officers' quarters, hospital, and barracks. The Commandant's House has been restored, located at 514 West Dominick Street. The rest of the site is commercial development.

(Old) Fort Schuyler (3) (park)
(1758 - 1760), Utica
A British timber and earthwork fort no longer in use by the time of the American Revolution. May have also been known as Fort Desolation by Patriots in the 1770's. Site located on Genesee Street. The town was incorporated and named in 1798.

Mohawk River Valley Forts
*1757 MAP link* || *Modern Historical MAP link*

Herkimer County:

New Petersburgh Fort
(1764 - 1770's), East Schuyler
Three log houses within a common palisade. The German settlement was abandoned during the American Revolution, later resettled. Marker on NY 5.

Burnet's Field Blockhouses
(1757), German Flatts Township
A series of five colonial militia blockhouses in the German Flatts area. All were destroyed by the French in November 1757, along with 60 settler homes.

(Old) Fort Herkimer
(1740 - 1783), Mohawk
Located about two miles east of town, this was a fortified two-story stone house originally used as a trading post by Johann Yost Herscheimer. Indians called it Fort Kouari. It was surrounded by an earthwork and palisaded ditch 30 feet away, with four bastions, and a barracks adjacent to the house. In 1756 the fort was dismantled and rebuilt nearby around the stone Herkimer Dutch Reformed Church (1740), and renamed Herkimer Church Fort, as the British built a new wooden blockouse on the north side of the river, naming that work Fort Herkimer also (see Fort Dayton below). It was abandoned after 1760. The Church Fort was refortified by the Patriots in 1775 with a palisade and earthworks. The church was enlarged in 1812. The house and earthworks of the first fort were destroyed in 1825 during construction of the Erie Canal. The earthworks of the Church Fort were destroyed in 1918 upon the construction of the new Erie Barge Canal, the replacement for the old Erie Canal.
Of interest nearby is Herkimer Home State Historic Site.

Fort Dayton
(1776 - 1783), Herkimer
Built on the site of New Fort Herkimer, a British wooden blockhouse from 1756 - 1760. Fort Dayton had a stockade, blockhouse, bastions, barracks, and artillery park. It was from here that Patriot troops went to relieve the garrison at Fort Stanwix, only to be ambushed by the British at the Battle of Oriskany in August 1777. The fort was strengthened in May 1781 after Fort Stanwix was burned. The Herkimer County Historical Society (1884) now occupies the site.

John Schell's Blockhouse
(1775 - 1783), Schell's Bush
John Christian Schell's two-story blockhouse five miles north of Herkimer. Attacked by the British in August 1781.

Oneida Castle (1)
(1756 - 1760 ?), Little Falls
A 120-foot square palisade with two 24-foot square blockhouses, built by the British for the Oneida Indians. See also Indian Castle Church (built 1769)

Henry Rheimensnyder's Fort
(1777 - 1780's), Dolgeville
A settlers' blockhouse. It was attacked by the British in April 1780. The structure burned down a few years after the war. Dolgeville was called Snyder's Bush during the war.

Fort Hendrick
(1755 - 1760), Indian Castle
A square stockade for 25 men, it was built on the site of Fort Canajoharie (Cannatchoeari and various other spellings) (1747), which was a 150-foot square stockade with two blockhouses. Both forts were to protect the Mohawks from the French-allied Hurons.

The Upper Mohawk Castle was first established here in 1710.

Montgomery County:

Fort Harrison
(1750 - unknown), St. Johnsville
A wooden blockhouse west of Caroga Creek. Possibly built as early as 1736.

Fort House
(1750's - 1783), St. Johnsville
A fortified stone house built by Christian Haus for George Klock. It still exists. Also known as Fort Hill, and Fort Klock (b) (not to be confused with Fort Klock (a) listed below).

Fort Klock (a)
(Fort Klock Restoration)
(1750 - 1783), St. Johnsville
A fortified stone house built by Johannes Klock. It was used as a trading post and includes the restoration of a blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, Dutch barn, and gardens. Admission fee. The Battle of Klock's Field (October 1780) was fought here, the Patriot garrison being defeated by the British. See also MORE INFO from Fort Klock.com || Info and Photos from Dolgeville.info

Fort Nellis
(1777 - 1783), St. Johnsville
A fortified farm house (1723) built by Christian Nellis.

Fort Walrath
(1777 - 1780), St. Johnsville
A small blockhouse located on Henry Walrath's land. It was burned in the October 1780 British attack of the area. It was ungarrisoned at the time.

Fort Willett
(1781 - 1783), St. Johnsville
A palisaded enclosure with two blockhouses at opposite corners, built by the local militia. It was dismantled after the war.

Fort Zimmerman
(1777 - 1783), St. Johnsville
A fortified farm house with a palisade. Built by brothers Conrad and David Zimmerman near their gristmill on Zimmerman Creek.

Fort Windecker
(1777 - 1783), Mindenville
A fortified and palisaded farm house with a blockhouse, located on the old river road. Built by Johannes Windecker. It was dismantled after the war.

Fort Hess
(1776), Palatine Church (Nelliston)
A small fortified stone house built by John Hess.

Fort Fox
(1780), Nelliston
A fortified stone house built by Philip Fox at Fox's Mills.

Fort Wagner
(1777 - 1783), Nelliston
A fortified and palisaded two-story stone farm house (1750), built by Johan Peter Wagner II. A blockhouse was inside the stockade. Attacked in October 1780 but held. The house still exists, but modified.

Fort Plain (museum)
(1776 - 1783), Fort Plain
Originally named Fort Rensselaer (1) until 1780. This was a stockaded fort with a small blockhouse and barracks. It was rebuilt in 1780, and renamed by the townspeople, who disliked General Rensselaer. Briefly renamed Fort McKean in October 1781. A new three-story square blockhouse and a nearby earthen redoubt were constructed in 1782. The fort was dismantled in 1786 and used for material to rebuild local houses, many of which still exist.

Fort Plank
(1777 - 1783), Fort Plain
Frederick Plank's farm house that was palisaded with four blockhouses. The house no longer exists.

Mohawk Castle (1)
(1580 - 1625), near Hallsville
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village, also known as Ots-tun-go. Marker located on NY 80 about two miles east of town.

Fort Clyde
(1777 - 1783), Freysbush
A large palisade with a blockhouse in the center, located two miles southwest of Fort Plain. Built by the local militia. Dismantled in 1785.

Fort Ehle
(1777 - 1783), Canajoharie
A fortified and palisaded stone house (1729) built by Rev. John Ehle. Originally one-story, the second-story was added in 1752 by son Peter. A pile of stones marks the probable site off of Mapletown Road just south of the Fort Rensselaer Club.

Fort Failing
(1777 - 1783), Canajoharie
A fortified stone house built in the 1750's by Nicolas Failing, later fortified by his son Henry. After the war it became the property of Col. Henry Frey, a Tory and brother to John. It burned down in 1833.

Fort Rensselaer (2)
(1777 - 1783), Canajoharie
A fortified log and stone house, originally built in 1738. Also known as Fort Van Alstyne, after first owner and builder Marte Janse Van Alstyne. Philip Van Alstyne owned the house during the American Revolution. At this time the house functioned as a tavern and became a frequent meeting place in 1776 for the Tryon County Committee of Safety. General Nicholas Herkimer received his commission here to command the Tryon County Militia in 1775. Later, Colonel Samuel Clyde, who commanded at Fort Plain/Fort Rensselaer, is known to have moved his family there after the Cherry Valley Massacre. This may have contributed to the building erroneously being called Fort Rensselaer in some historical texts. There is no evidence of the house being palisaded during the war. The house (rebuilt in 1760's) still exists at 4 Moyer Street, refurbished by the Van Alstyne Society and the Fort Rensselaer Club, which owns and operates it.

Fort Frey
(1750's - 1760), Stone Arabia
A trading post built by Heinrich Frey was originally here in 1689 (at foot of hill), and was palisaded by the British in Queen Anne's War from 1702 - 1713. The present stone house was built in 1739 by son Hendrick, and was used by the British in the 1750's. Hendrick's son John lived here at that time. It was minimally fortified (loopholed), but it is not known if the house was palisaded, nor if it was used by Patriot forces in the American Revolution. John Frey was later a major in the Patriot army. The house still exists today in fine condition. The town was originally named Stoneraby, later corrupted.

Fort Keyser
(1776 - 1777), Stone Arabia
A fortified stone house (1740's) built by Johannes Keyser. It was abandoned as a fort after Fort Paris was built. The house was torn down in the 1840's.

Fort Paris
(1777 - 1781), Stone Arabia
A fortified farm house and trading post (1737) built by Isaac Paris. A barracks for 100 men and a blockhouse were also inside the palisade. Attacked in October 1780 (Battle of Stone Arabia).

Mohawk Castle (2)
(1625 - 1666), Root Township
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village, also known as Ti-on-non-to-gen (1). Destroyed by the French in 1666.

Fort Lewis (1)
(1777 - 1783), Currytown
A fortified settlers' house 11 miles southeast of Fort Plain. It withstood a British attack in 1781.

Lower Mohawk Castle (3)
(1667 - 1693), Mohawk Township
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village, also known as Caughnawagoe. Destroyed by the French in 1693.

Mohawk Castle (3)
(1666 - 1693), Mohawk Township
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village, also known as Can-a-gor-ha. Burned by the French in 1693.

Fort Caughnawaga
(1779 - 1783), Fonda
According to local tradition a small settlers' blockhouse was at "Sandy Flats", just west of town. The village was destroyed by the British in a spring 1780 raid, no mention of a blockhouse in British reports.

Camp Mohawk
(1862), Fonda
A Civil War training camp. Marker located on NY 148 one-half mile north of town.

Middle Mohawk Castle
(1642 - 1666), Glen Township
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village. Destroyed by the French in 1666. Marker located on NY 5 (South) about two miles west of Fultonville.

Glen Blockhouse
(1781 - 1783), Fultonville
A Patriot blockhouse. Fultonville was once a part of the town of Glen.

Lower Mohawk Castle (2)
(1659 - 1666), Glen Township
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village. Destroyed by the French in 1666. Marker located on NY 5 (South) about 0.75 mile west of Auriesville.

Lower Mohawk Castle (1)
(1642 - 1659), Glen Township
A Mohawk Indian palisaded village, also known as Ossernenon. Marker located on NY 5 (South) near Route 288.

Fort Hunter (1)
(Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site)
(1711 - 1780's), Fort Hunter
This was the first British fort built in the Five Nations Confederacy, at the Lower Mohawk Castle (4), aka Ti-on-non-to-gen (2) or I-dan-de-ro-ga (1700 - 1775). It was a 150-foot square log fort with a 12-foot high palisade surrounding 30 cabins. A two-story 24-foot square blockhouse was at each corner. In the center of the fort was a one-story 24-foot square stone chapel (Queen Anne Chapel), built in 1741, the log-lined basement being used as a powder magazine. It was torn down in 1826. Improvements to the fort were made in 1755. Troops were also posted at the Mohawk Indian village nearby. A two-story stone parsonage was built in 1734 one mile away from the original fort site, which was also palisaded by the Patriots during the American Revolution. The old fort was partially rebuilt after a fire in 1773 destroyed portions of it. It was finally torn down for the construction of the Erie Canal in 1820. The chapel itself was not torn down until 1822. Stone from the chapel was used for the Schoharie Creek "Guard Lock" of the Erie Canal. The nearby parsonage still exists. Stone foundations of the Queen Anne Chapel are located buried underneath the Schoharie Crossing SHS visitor center parking lot. The Mohawk Castle here was the last settled Mohawk Indian village in the valley.

Old Fort Johnson (1)
(1749 - 1758), Fort Johnson
Sir William Johnson's restored fortified house (his second house in the area). A palisade and two blockhouses were built in 1755. During the American Revolution, Patriots melted down the lead roof to make bullets. Admission fee.

Fulton County:

Rector's Fort
(1768), Ephratah
A wooden blockhouse.

Fort Johnstown
(1776 - 1783), Johnstown
Originally built as the Tryon County jail in 1772. In 1776 the stone structure was palisaded with bastions and lookout towers at diagonal corners. The defensive works were removed in 1783. The jail still exists today as the Fulton County Gaol on South Perry Street. The Battle of Johnstown (October 1781) was fought nearby, northeast of Johnson Hall, several days after the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia.

Fort William Johnson (2)
(Johnson Hall State Historic Site)
(1763 - 1776), Johnstown
Sir William Johnson's third house. Also known as Old Stone Fort at Johnson Hall. It had two stone blockhouses to either side of the Georgian mansion. The eastern blockhouse burned in 1868. Johnson died in July 1774, the estate passing to his son John, who then fled to Canada in 1776. Johnson Hall was confiscated in 1779 by the State of New York as Loyalist property and was subsequently sold at auction. The house remained a private residence until 1906, when the state acquired it as a historic site.

Sacandaga Blockhouse
(1777 - 1778 or 1780), Mayfield, Fulton County
A Patriot blockhouse, also referred to as Mayfield Fort by 19th-century historians. Either attacked and destroyed in June 1778, or attacked but not destroyed in April 1780. Site located off of Van Den Burgh Road along the southwest shore of Great Sacandaga Lake.

Fort Ballston
(1775 - 1783), near Ballston Center, Saratoga County
A stockaded log church or meetinghouse (built 1771) used by Patriots. Also spelled Balls Town. Known as the Red Meetinghouse in 1780. The Ballston Academy was built here in 1804. Site may have been on Front Street in Ballston Spa (marker removed). New marker is located at Charlton Road (NY 51) and NY 50.

Capt. Teunis Swart's Fort
(1776 - unknown), near Hutchinson
A Patriot palisaded brick blockhouse, located about three miles west of Scotia on Tinker Hill, near the river bank. Armed with only one swivel gun.

Schenectady Stockade
(1661 - 1783), Schenectady
Corlaer's Fort was first located here in 1661. It was the northernmost Dutch outpost at the time. The town itself was founded by the Dutch in 1672, and was surrounded by a palisade. The town was divided into four sectors, with the north gate at the end of Church Street, and the south gate leading out to Albany Road. It originally had one blockhouse, with a second built in the opposite corner just before the village was destroyed by the French in February 1690. The main fort was located at present-day Washington and Front Streets. The town had about 80 houses at that time. The town was immediately rebuilt and surrounded by a triple stockade with four blockhouses in each corner. The Royal or Queen's Fort (2) was built in 1704 at the northeast corner of the stockade (where the "Lawrence the Indian" statue stands today) at present-day Front, Ferry, and Green Streets, and in 1735 it was rebuilt with heavy timbers over a 100-foot square stone foundation, with six guns. The town stockade was also replaced in 1735, with five new blockhouses. The main fort was renamed Fort Cosby in 1755. Later renamed by the Patriots in 1775 as Fort Schenectady, with troop barracks outside the stockade. The town stockade encompassed about 500 houses by this time. The fort, blockhouses and stockade were all dismantled in 1783. The Schenectady Stockade Historic District encompasses the general area of the colonial palisaded village.

Schenectady Army Depot
(1918 - 1950's ?), Rotterdam
An Army general supply depot built in WWI. In 1933 became a supply depot for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Northeast. Expanded in 1941 as a motor supply depot for the Army's New York Ports of Embarkation. Expanded again in 1951 for the Korean War. Closed before the Vietnam War.

Fort Niskayuna
(1691 - 1712 ?), Niskayuna
A stockade located on the west side of Mill Creek at "Fort's Ferry" (1698). It was in ruins by 1702. A stone redoubt was built nearby in 1704. Also known as Fort Canastaginone, Canastagone, and/or Nistigone. The site was destroyed in 1911 for the Erie Barge Canal.

Fort Hunter (2)
(unknown dates), Fort Hunter
No data. A small settlement located in Albany County, south of Rotterdam, along the I-90 corridor.

Berne Indian Stockade
(pre-contact ?), Berne Center, Albany County
An Indian stockade was once located in the vicinity, according to a state marker on NY 443.

Schoharie Valley Forts
(Schoharie History Network)
(1778 - 1783), Schoharie County
Schoharie Blockhouse, a settlers' defense built in 1781. Marker located at junction of NY 7 and NY 30, near Barton Hill in Schoharie Township, at the Schenectady County line.
Old Stone Fort (2), Schoharie, built in 1772 as the Reformed Dutch Church. It was stockaded with two blockhouses in 1777-78. It was also known as Lower Fort. Attacked by the British in October 1780, but held. The stockade was removed in 1785 and the building continued service as a church until 1844 when it was replaced by the present Reformed Church. In 1857 the former fort was sold to the state for $800. Through the Civil War and until 1873, it was used as a local armory. Then it was given to the county for historical use. Admission fee to the museum.
Middle Fort, Middleburgh, a stockade similar to the fort in Schoharie, enclosing a settlers' (Becker) stone house and barn, and troop barracks. Built in August 1777, the first of the three. It became the Patriot headquarters of the Schoharie District. Also known as Fort Defiance. Attacked by the British in October 1780. Located north of town.
Upper Fort, near Watsonville, a stockaded settlers' (Johannes Feeck) house and barn with two blockhouses, troop barracks, and defensive earthworks, built in 1777. The strongest fort of the three, it was never attacked. Located northeast of Fultonham.

Fort Castel
(Iroquois Indian Museum)
(1757), Howes Cave
An Iroquois (Mohawk) fort (also possibly named Fort Schoharie) has been excavated at the museum grounds. Admission fee to museum.

Fort Dubois (2)
(1779), Cobleskill
A Patriot palisaded and moated blockhouse enclosing three acres, located on Main Street. It was burned by British-allied Onondaga Indians in May 1779 shortly after it was built.

Cedar Swamp Camp
(1781), near Sharon Center
A Tory (Loyalist) and Indian campsite during the summer of 1781. The Battle of Sharon (July 1781) took place in the vicinity, a Patriot victory.

Cherry Valley Stockade
(1756), Cherry Valley
The town was palisaded, but destroyed by the French and Indians.

Fort Alden
(1778 - 1780), Cherry Valley
A Patriot palisaded work enclosing two blockhouses. The town was burned by the British in November 1778, with only this fort and the nearby stockaded church surviving. The fort was garrisoned through 1779, when the troops were ordered away for General Sullivan's Expedition. The town was attacked again and burned in April 1780. Monument in Cherry Valley Cemetery.

Fort Campbell
(1777 - 1778), Cherry Valley
Major Samuel Campbell's fortified home, with a blockhouse and an earthen breastwork. Destroyed by the British in November 1778. Replaced by Fort Alden as the main work in town.

Hyde Bay Camp
(1779), Springfield Center
A temporary Patriot fortified encampment at Otsego Lake during the Sullivan Expedition.

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

QUESTIONS ? Please send any corrections and/or additions to this list to:
Updates @ NorthAmericanForts.com