Fort Augusta (1)

Fort Augusta (1) (1756-1765, 1777-1782) - A Pennsylvania colonial militia fort established in 1756 during the French & Indian War by Colonel William Clapham in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Named for Princess Augusta, mother of British King George III. Continuously garrisoned until 1765. Re-garrisoned during the Revolutionary War finally abandoned as a fortification about 1782.

Fort Augusta (1) History

The fort was established in July 1756 by Colonel William Clapham at the strategic junction of the Susquehanna River and it's West Branch. Construction continued under Major James Burd. The fort was a a square design, 204' on a side, with bastions at each corner and a double palisade surrounding. The fort was designed to mount at least 12 cannons and two swivel guns and was continuously garrisoned until 13 Jun 1765 and re-garrisoned during the Revolutionary War.

The fort was finally abandoned as a fortification about 1782.

Current Status

State owned, administered by the Northumberland County Historical Society in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The original powder magazine and well still exist along with two cannons on display at the museum.

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Location: 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Maps & Images Lat: 40.8757 Long: -76.792 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

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 672-673

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Augusta
• Wikipedia - Fort Augusta

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