Fort McDowell (1): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:49, 4 September 2009

Fort McDowell 600 Man Barracks and Temporary Quarters

Fort McDowell (1) (1863-1946) - Established 12 Sep 1863 during the U.S. Civil War under the supervision of Col. Rene De Russey, U.S. Army Engineers as Camp Reynolds named after Maj. Gen. John Reynolds. Name was changed to Fort McDowell in 1900 after Gen. Irvin McDowell in 1900. Abandoned by the Army in 1946.

Fort McDowell (1) History

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.

U.S. Civil War

Camp Reynolds was established on Angel Island in 1863 during the U.S. Civil War to defend San Francisco harbor. The initial survey of the island recommended three temporary earthen batteries at Point Knox, Point Stuart and Point Blunt. Construction began in September 1863 on the batteries and was accompanied by the posting of Company B, 3rd U.S. Artillery to the island on 21 Sep 1863. The company commander, 2nd Lt. John L. Tiernon, named the new post Camp Reynolds after Maj. Gen. John Reynolds who was killed by a sniper at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1862.

Construction also began on the Camp buildings in 1863 but the majority were not completed until 1864.

Construction on Battery Point Knox and Battery Point Stuart was completed in the summer of 1864 and the guns were mounted in both by the end of August 1864. Battery Point Blunt was plagued by difficulties that caused it to be abandoned in May 1865 and the guns removed in 1866.

With the end of the U.S. Civil War Camp Reynolds became a recruit and replacement depot furnishing units and replacements for operations throughout the west including the Indian wars.

**Camp Reynolds U.S. Civil War Battery** (edit list)
Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Notes
Battery Point Stewart	1 3	10" Columbiad 32 Pounders	Wooden Wooden	1864-187?	Smoothbore
Battery Point Knox	2 1 7	10" Rodman 8" Rodman 32 Pounders	Wooden Wooden Wooden	1864-18??	Smoothbore
Battery Point Blunt	7	?	Wooden	1865-1866	Smoothbore
Source: CDSG

Endicott Period

In 1898 Battery Knox Point (1898-1900) was established as a temporary battery. In 1900 Fort McDowell was established on the east side of Angel Island and three Endicott batteries were accepted for service.

**Fort McDowell (1) Endicott Period Battery** (edit list)
Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Battery Cost	Notes
Battery Drew	1	8"	Barbette	1898-1898-1900-1917	$ 34,837
Battery Wallace (1)	1	8"	Disappearing Carriage	1899-1900-1900-1917	$ 40,420
Battery Ledyard	2	5"	Barbette	1900-1900-1900-1916	$ 20,045	Guns & Carriages to Battery Call, Fort Miley
Source: CDSG

World War II

During World War II three Anti Motor Torpedo Boat (AMTB) batteries were contemplated but were deferred as the outcome of the war became clear.

**Fort McDowell World War II Battery** (edit list)
Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years
Battery AMTB Blunt	2	90mm	AMTB	Deferred
Battery AMTB Knox	2	40mm	AMTB	Deferred
Battery AMTB Cove	2	40mm	AMTB	Deferred
Source: CDSG

Current Status

The island was declared a California State Park in 1963 and was opened to the public. Historic buildings at Camp Reynolds and Fort McDowell still stand and a restored officer's quarters is open to the public.

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Location: Angel Island, San Francisco, California

Maps & Images

Lat: 37.86278 Long: -122.42167

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 33'

Sources:

Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 32-33
Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 25-26
Coast Defense Study Group, Press, Digital Library, Forums
Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 126

Links:

Visited: 29 Aug 2009

Fort McDowell (1) Picture Gallery

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Fort McDowell Officer's Quarters

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 Construction also began on the Camp buildings in 1863 but the majority were not completed until 1864.
-Construction on Battery Point Knox and Battery Point Stuart was completed in the summer of 1864 and the guns were mounted in both by the end of August 1864. Battery Point Blunt was plagued by difficulties that caused it to be abandoned in May 1865 without becoming operational.
+Construction on [[Battery Point Knox]] and [[Battery Point Stuart]] was completed in the summer of 1864 and the guns were mounted in both by the end of August 1864. [[Battery Point Blunt]] was plagued by difficulties that caused it to be abandoned in May 1865 and the guns removed in 1866.
+With the end of the [[U.S. Civil War]] Camp Reynolds became a recruit and replacement depot furnishing units and replacements for operations throughout the west including the Indian wars.
 {{CampReynoldsUSCivilWar}}