Rhode Island Forts

American Forts: East

RHODE ISLAND

Last Update: 01/JUNE/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Woonsocket Armory
(unknown), Woonsocket
The RI National Guard Armory had a "dummy" training battery used for coast artillery practice. In 1922 it was officially named Battery Flynn.

Camp Arnold
(1861 - 1862), Pawtucket
A Civil War training camp located in Riding Park that replaced Camp Hallett in Cranston.

Pawtucket Armory
(unknown), Pawtucket
The RI National Guard Armory had a "dummy" training battery used for coast artillery practice. In 1922 it was officially named Battery Gatchell.

Prospect Hill Fort (2)
(1777 - unknown), Providence
A large Patriot fort located near the present-day Roger Williams Memorial on Beacon Hill. Also known as College Hill Fort. It was 300-by-150 feet, with four bastions, moated, mounting 58 guns.

Fox Hill Fort
(1775 - unknown), Providence
A Patriot ten-gun fort. Located near Fox Point on Brooke Street between Wickenden and India Streets. No longer exists. Nearby were the two circular Patriot Ferry Lane Redoubts.

Fort Sullivan
(1778 - 1780's), Providence
A Patriot fort located at Chestnut and Friendship Streets, near present-day Johnson and Wales University.

Fort Independence
(1775 - 1810's), Providence
Originally Robin Hill Fort, located on Robin Hill, and was once connected by earthworks to Sassafras Hill Fort (1775 - 1810's) on Sassafras Point near the present-day Municipal Wharf. The fort has been restored and is now a park near Vermont and Michigan Aves.

Fort William Henry
(1812 - 1815), Providence
Located at Fields Point. It was once connected by earthworks to Fort Independence and Sassafras Hill Fort. No longer exists.

Old State Arsenal
(1840 - unknown), Providence
A state militia armory located at 176 Benefit Street.

Camp Burnside
(1861), Providence
A Civil War training camp located at the old Dexter Parade Grounds at present-day Dexter, Parade, and Cranston Streets. The Providence Armory is now on the site.

Providence Armory
(unknown), Providence
The RI National Guard Armory on Cranston Street had two "dummy" training batteries used for coast artillery practice. In 1922 they were officially named Battery Crocker (10-inch DC) and Battery Babcock (12-inch mortar).

Newman Garrison
(1674 - 1676), Rumford
A fortified parsonage, once located on the north side of Newman Ave. near Meeting House Pond. It was destroyed during King Philip's War. Rumford was considered part of Massachusetts until 1862.

Old Rehoboth Garrisons
(1674 - 1676), East Providence
Several garrison houses were once here, including Seekonk Garrison. All were destroyed during King Philip's War in 1676, except Seekonk. East Providence Township was once known as Rehoboth, and was part of Massachusetts until 1862.

Hog Pen Point Fort
(1775 - 1815 ?), East Providence
A Patriot work located on Fort Hill at Bold Point, formerly known as Hog Pen Point. Some earthworks still remain.

Kettle Point Batteries
(1775), East Providence
Several Patriot earthwork batteries were once located here.

Bullock's Point Fort
(1776), Riverside
A large Patriot work at Bullock Point.

Camp Hallett
(1861), Cranston
A Civil War training camp used before Camp Arnold was built in Providence.

Pawtuxet Neck Fort
(1774 - 1780 ?, 1798 - 1800, 1812 - 1815), Pawtuxet Neck
A Patriot earthwork fort with a blockhouse, armed with two 12-pounder guns, later with two 6-pounders. Garrisoned by the Pawtuxet Rangers. Abandoned after the American Revolution. Reactivated during the French - American War. Rebuilt as a stone fort in 1812. Abandoned after the war. Many of the stones and timber were later used to build private homes in the area.
(website and info courtesy of Capt. Ken Gilbert, Pawtuxet Rangers, R.I. State Militia)

Warwick Neck Fort
(Rocky Point Park)
(1776 - 1780's), Warwick
A strong Patriot fort built at Rocky Point to prevent the British from landing to make a land advance against Providence.

Pumham's Fort
(1644 - 1676), Warwick
A Narragansett Indian fort built by the colonial militia for mutual protection. The site is located near the eastern arm of Greenwich Bay on Paine and Fort Streets, overgrown.

Fort Daniel
(1770's), East Greenwich
A Patriot nine-gun fort built by the Kentish Guards to prevent the British fleet from entering Greenwich Cove. Exact location undetermined.

East Greenwich Armory
(unknown), East Greenwich
The RI National Guard Armory had a "dummy" training battery used for coast artillery practice. In 1922 it was officially named Battery Mosher.

Nayatt Point Fort
(1776 - 1780's), Nayatt
A Patriot fort or battery was here. Another Patriot fort was located nearby in Barrington, or this may be the same fort.

Burr's Hill Fort
(1778 - 1781), Warren
A Patriot work erected on Burr Hill after the British attacked the town in 1778.

King Philip's Fort
(1660's - 1675), Mount Hope, Bristol
The main village of the Pokanoket Indians, serving as Metacom's (King Philip's) stronghold. The colonials drove out the Indians in 1675, and built a temporary fort, Mount Hope Fort, which lasted only about one month. (There is a Fort Hill on the north side of town.)

Popasquash Point Fort
(1776 - 1780's), Bristol
A Patriot six-gun battery was located here on the western side of Bristol Harbor.

Fort Leverett
(1675), North Tiverton (or Fall River, MA)
Built by the colonial militia near Pocasset Swamp. Exact location undetermined.
(see also MASSACHUSETTS page 3)

Fort Barton
(1776 - 1781), Tiverton
A Patriot redoubt that still exists near Highland Road. Originally named Tiverton Heights Fort. Staging area for the August 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. An observation tower and several markers are located at the site.

Bristol Mud Battery
(1776), Bristol
A Patriot breastwork that protected the ferry. Located near Hope and Church Streets.

Bristol Gun House
(1808), Bristol
A Federal/state armory may have been built to store 10 cannon on traveling carriages for use in times of crisis. If built, location undetermined.

(see page 2 for colonial defenses of Newport - Narragansett Bay)

(see page 3 for modern defenses of Newport - Narragansett Bay)

Quidnessett Fort
(1776 - 1780's), North Quidnessett
A Patriot fort was here.

Camp Dyer
(1898), North Kingstown
A Spanish-American War state muster camp at Quonset Point. This site was already in use as the state's National Guard summer encampment. The site was later incorporated into the Quonset Point Naval Air Station established in 1941. The Quonset Aviation Museum is here, a working museum inside the last remaining brick hangar on the East Coast. This is also the location where the "Quonset Hut" was invented in WWII.

Camp Beeckman
(1917), North Kingstown
A National Guard mobilization center, probably at Quonset Point.

Smith's Castle
(1660's - 1676), Cocumscussoc
A garrison and trading post built just north of Roger Williams' original trading post. This was the base of operations for colonial troops against the Narragansett and Wampanoag Indians during "The Great Swamp Fight" of 1675. It was destroyed in 1676, and rebuilt in 1678. The much altered house is now a museum, located on Richard Smith Drive. It was fully restored in 1996.

Roger Williams' Trading Post
(1636 - 1651), Wickford
Roger Williams' first trading post established in the colony. He sold out in 1651 to Richard Smith. The blockhouse was destroyed during King Philip's War in 1676. Located on the west-side of US 1 just south of Smith's Castle.

Wickford Fort
(1776 - 1780's), Wickford
A Patriot fort was located here.

Bonnet Point Fort
(1776 ?, 1777 - 1860's, intermittent), Bonnet Shores
Also known as Bonnet Point Battery, this elliptical work was used during the American Revolution by both Patriots and British. It may have also been known as Boston Neck Fort, a Patriot fort located here, or nearby (?) in 1776. Bonnet Point Battery was rebuilt during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. It still exists. A WWII observation tower is also still here.

Queen's Fort
(1675), Exeter
Indian survivors of "The Great Swamp Fight", which was near West Kingston, took refuge here. This was a stronghold of the Narragansett Indians. The ruins of the semi-circular bastion consist of a low wall of rocks on a hilltop. The site was never discovered by the colonial militia during King Philip's War.

Canonchet's Fort
(Great Swamp Wildlife Preserve)
(1675), West Kingston
A Narraganset Indian fortified village in the Great Swamp. Somewhere between 100 and 340 Indians were massacred here. The monument for the fort and battle is located about two miles (north ?) from the actual site on Great Neck.
(NOTE: There is a Stony Fort Road on the northern side of Kingston.)

Jireh Bull Garrison
(1675), South Kingstown
A stone house once located on Tower Hill on the west-side of Middle Bridge Road, along Pettaquamscutt Cove. It was destroyed during King Philip's War, and was rebuilt in 1684. The site was excavated in 1918. Surrounded by private property.

Point Judith Fort
(1775 - unknown), Point Judith
A Patriot fort was here along with the first lighthouse. In 1818 it was a six-gun fort. It was abandoned by the 1850's.

Fort Ninigret (park)
(mid 17th-century), Charlestown
Used by the Niantic Indians, possibly as a defense against settlers or Pequot Indians. Also known as Fort Neck Lot. Originally this was a Dutch fort as evidenced by its military architecture. A park since 1883.

Westerly Armory
(unknown), Westerly
The RI National Guard Armory had a "dummy" training battery used for coast artillery practice. In 1922 it was officially named Battery Merrill (6-inch DC).

Noyes' Neck Fort
(1776 - 1780's), Weekapaug
A Patriot fort or battery was here.

Watch Hill Fort
(1776 - 1780's), Watch Hill
A Patriot fort or battery was here.

¤ COAST and HARBOR DEFENSES of EASTERN LONG ISLAND SOUND (partial)
View Long Island Sound Map

¤ Fort Mansfield
(1898 - 1917), Watch Hill
Located on Napatree Point. It was a subpost of Fort H.G. Wright on Fishers Island, NY. Batteries here are Battery Wooster (1901 - 1917), Battery Crawford (1901 - 1917), and Battery Connell (1901 - 1917), which is submerged in the surf due to a hurricane in 1938. It is visible at low tides. A fire-control tower no longer remains.

¤ Oaks Inn Military Reservation
(1940's), near Avondale
Site of a four-gun 155mm gun battery on Panama mounts, three mounts remain, one is still buried. Battery 114 was to be built here. The Officers' quarters still remain here.

¤ ALSO: Additional fire-control towers in Rhode Island associated with HD Long Island were located at Block Island (three remain), Green Hill (gone), Charlestown (one remains), and at Weekapaug Point (gone).
(websites courtesy of Chris Wiles)

NEED MORE INFO: Blockhouse Lane in Little Compton, near Brown Point; Fort Hill in Bristol.

Information on the forts and garrison houses during King Philip's War was gathered from "King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotton Conflict" by Eric Schultz and Michael Tougias, 1999 The Countryman Press.

Colonial Narragansett Bay - page 2 | Modern Narragansett Bay - page 3