Fort No. 1 - NYC

Fort No. 1 - NYC (1776-1779) - A Patriot Revolutionary War fortification established in 1776 in present day New York City, Bronx County, New York. Captured by the British in 1776 and held by them until 1779. Destroyed and abandoned by the British in 1779.

• 
  Revolutionary War Fortifications North of New York City, circa 1777. Fort No. 1 in Upper Left Corner

History of Fort Number One - NYC

A Patriot Revolutionary War fortification established in late summer of 1776 in present day New York City, Bronx County, New York. Located on the southwest slope of Spuyten Duyvil Hill just across the river from Manhattan Island. Built by Colonel James Swartwout and elements of the Dutchess County minutemen as a small, square, fort anchoring the northwest end of the outer defense line.

Captured by the British without opposition in late 1776 during the invasion of New York City and held by them until 1779. Initially garrisoned by Hessians who were replaced by regular British troops in November 1778. In 1779 the British constricted their outer defense line to shift manpower to other locations and many of the outposts were destroyed and abandoned. Fort Number One was abandoned and destroyed by the British in 1779 as a part of this consolidation.

Current Status

No remains. Said to be located at present day West 230th Street and Sycamore Avenue in the Bronx. Sycamore Avenue does not seem to intersect West 230th any longer so the site map point is approximate.

Context

Location: New York City, Bronx County, New York. The site map point is approximate.
Lat: 40.883° Long: -73.919° Bing, Google, OldMapsOnline, USGS, OHM

Loading map...

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 602.
• Lossing, Benson J., Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution Vol. II, New York, Harper and Brothers, 1859, Internet Archive, page 593.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Number One - NYC
• New York State Military Museum - Fort Number One - NYC

Related:
New York City Forts, Revolutionary War,