Fort Totten (3): Difference between revisions
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The original purpose of Fort Totten was to protect the East River approach to New York Harbor, along with [[Fort Schuyler]], located on Throgs Neck, directly across the river. | The original purpose of Fort Totten was to protect the East River approach to New York Harbor, along with [[Fort Schuyler]], located on Throgs Neck, directly across the river. | ||
The original [[ | The original [[Third System]] fortifications included an incomplete Water Battery. The Water Battery was started in 1862 during the [[U.S. Civil War]] but work was halted in 1864 when it became clear that the new rifled artillery could easily destroy the battery. Two batteries were built during the 1870's, the 16 gun Mortar Battery and the 27 Gun Battery. | ||
== [[Endicott Period]] == | == [[Endicott Period]] == | ||
{{HDEasternNewYork}} | {{HDEasternNewYork}} | ||
Revision as of 09:46, 22 August 2010
Fort Totten (3) (1862-1995) - A Third System coastal defense fort originally funded by Congress in 1857. Construction began in 1862 during the U.S. Civil War under the supervision of Col. William P. Trowbridge. Originally known as the Fort at Willet's Point (1857-1861) then as Camp Morgan (1861-1898) and finally as Fort Totten (1898-Present). Named in G.O. 106, 1898, for Maj. Gen. Joseph G. Totten, Chief Engineer of the U.S. Army. Congress approved the closing of Fort Totten in 1995.
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Fort Totten History
The original purpose of Fort Totten was to protect the East River approach to New York Harbor, along with Fort Schuyler, located on Throgs Neck, directly across the river.
The original Third System fortifications included an incomplete Water Battery. The Water Battery was started in 1862 during the U.S. Civil War but work was halted in 1864 when it became clear that the new rifled artillery could easily destroy the battery. Two batteries were built during the 1870's, the 16 gun Mortar Battery and the 27 Gun Battery.
Endicott Period
Part of the Harbor Defense of Eastern New York.
Construction of the Endicott period main gun line at Fort Totten began in 1896 and was completed in 1899. The three batteries that constituted the main gun line, Battery Mahan, Battery Sumner and Battery Graham, were constructed as one battery and not named as separate batteries until G.O. 78, 25 May 1903. The separate 12" Mortar battery, Battery King, was built between 1898 and 1900. Three separate smaller caliber batteries were all completed by 1904. By the end of 1904, all seven Endicott Period gun batteries were complete and accepted for service. A mining casemate was completed and accepted for service in 1899 and an electric plant for the batteries was complete and accepted for service in 1900.
The Endicott Period post construction program began even before the battery construction began and three 133 man barracks were completed by 1894. Endicott Period construction continued for about fifteen years, building out the support structures and Officer and NCO housing.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Battery Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery King | 8 | 12" | Mortar | 1898-1900-1900-1935 | $ 19,329 | Buried |
| Battery Mahan | 2 | 12" | Disappearing | 1898-1900-1900-1918 | $ 88,535 | |
| Battery Graham | 2 | 10" | Disappearing | 1896-1897-1897-1918 | $ 218,037 | |
| Battery Sumner | 2 | 8" | Disappearing | 1897-1899-1899-1917 | $ 45,000 | |
| Battery Stuart | 2 | 5" | Balanced Pillar | 1899-1900-1899-1917 | $ 9,300 | |
| Battery Baker | 2 2 |
3" 3" |
Masking Parapet Pedestal |
1897-1900-1900-1920 190?-190?-1904-1945 |
$ 18,150 | |
| Battery Burnes | 2 | 3" | Pedestal | 1903-1904-1904-1945 | $ 10,000 | |
| Source: CDSG | ||||||
World War I
The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. Fort Totten was especially hard hit by the World War I redistribution. Four batteries, Battery Mahan, Battery Graham, Battery Summer and Battery Stuart had their gun tubes dismounted and readied for service abroad and none of them were ever rearmed. The loss of these four batteries removed all of the large caliber rifles from Fort Totten and left only the 12" mortars of battery King for large caliber defense. Battery King was deactivated in 1935 leaving the Fort without any large caliber defense.
World War II
The fort had various support missions during World War II and, from 1954 to 1974, served as the Headquarters for 1st Region NIKE missile defense system for New York and New England.
Current Status
In 1995 Congress approved the closing of Fort Totten. In 2004, 49.5 acres was turned over to the NYC Parks Department by the National Parks Service and U.S. Defense Department. In 2005 Fort Totten Park opened to the public.
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Location: Willet's Point, Queens, New York Maps & Images Lat: 40.796351 Long: -73.779252 |
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 586
Links:
Visited: 21 Aug 2010
Fort Totten (3) Picture Gallery
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