Fort George (11)

Fort George (11) (1779-1784, 1814-1819) - A British Revolutionary War fort established in 1779 in present day Chastine, Hancock County, Maine. Abandoned by the British in 1784 and burned down. Reoccupied and rebuilt by British forces during the War of 1812 in 1814. Finally abandoned by the British in 1815 and destroyed by the town in 1819. Also known as Fort Penobscot or Fort Castine.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

The present day town of Chastine was seized by British forces on 17 Jun 1779 during the Revolutionary War. The British began construction of Fort George on 2 Jul 1779 on a rise above the small town. On 24 Jul 1779 a Patriot force of 45 ships and some 2000 men attempted to retake the peninsula but were driven off when British reinforcements arrived. The British remained at the fort and improved it to include two brick magazines, barracks and officers quarters. In January 1784 the British abandoned the fort and burned down the structures.

As built and improved by the British, the fort was a 200 foot square earthworks with timber revettements and four corner blockhouses all surrounded by a deep ditch.

War of 1812 (1812-1814)

In 1814, during the last year of the War of 1812, British forces again occupied the old fort site and rebuilt the ramparts. The British abandoned the fort in 1815 and the town destroyed the remains in 1819.

Current Status

Earthworks and one one of the brick magazines have been reconstructed. Part of Fort George State Memorial, Chastine, Hancock County, Maine

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Location: Fort George State Memorial on Wadsworth Cove Road, Chastine, Hancock County, Maine. Maps & Images Lat: 44.39112 Long: -68.80559 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 363-364

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort George

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