Fort Stevens (5)

Fort Stevens (5) (1814-1815) - A War of 1812 coastal fort established in 1814 at Hallett's Point, Queens County, New York. Named Fort Stevens after General Ebenezer Stevens. Abandoned as a fortification at the end of the war in 1815. Fort Stevens and the Mill Rock Blockhouse History of Fort Stevens Hallett's Point Tower Established in 1814 during the War of 1812 at Hallett's Point guarding Hell Gate and the channels of the East River. Fort Stevens was an extensive work with stone walls enclosing a battery with 12 pieces of heavy artillery and a barracks. This fortification was at the waters edge and vulnerable to landing parties. The fort was protected from the rear by a large stone tower known as Halletts Point Tower on Lawrence Hill commanding a wide section of land and water. The drawing above was probably as viewed from that tower. On the water side, in front of Fort Stevens, was a very strong blockhouse and battery on Mill Rock (a small island in front of the fort). Other fortifications ringed this stretch of water, a fort at Horn's Hook and redoubts at Rhinelander Point and the mouth of Harlem Creek. Some of these locations were also fortified during the Revolutionary War. New York City Fortifications 1814 (click twice for full resolution) This fortification was one of a line running diagonally across the northern end of Manhattan Island from Fort Laight in the north to the Halletts Point Tower in the south. Included in the line from north to south were Fort Laight, NYC Blockhouse No. 3, NYC Blockhouse No. 2, NYC Blockhouse No. 1, Fort Fish, Fort Clinton (4), Mill Rock Fort, Fort Stevens (5) and the Halletts Point Tower. These fortifications were located on line of bluffs in the north that overlooked the landside approaches and the major roads into New York City. The southern end of the line guarded McGowans Pass along the Old Post Road and the back door water approach to New York City via a treacherous stretch of water known as Hell Gate. In addition to these major fortifications, a number of gun batteries and smaller redoubts were located at strategic points to reinforce and protect specific areas. Often these fortifications were connected by earth works and trenches. Abandoned as a fortification at the end of the war in 1815. Current Status Located on Hallets Point, Queens, New York. Location: Queens, Queens County, New York. Maps & Images Lat: 40.77798 Long: -73.93426 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: ......' See Also: New York City Forts Sources: Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 582. Mines, John Flavel, A tour around New York, and My summer acre; being the recreations of Mr. Felix Oldboy, New York, Harper & brothers, 1893, 550 pages, Pdf, page 398. Links: North American Forts - Fort Stevens New York State Military Museum - Fort Stevens Visited: No