Fort Constitution (2): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:39, 18 June 2011

Fort Constitution (2) (1791-1948) - An Second System Coastal Fort first established in 1791 on New Castle Island, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Oficially named Fort Constitution in G.O. 6, 1937. Abandoned in 1948.

Early History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Initially established on the site of previous fortifications on 3.35 acres acquired from the State of New Hampshire in 1791 and 1807. The U.S. Army took control of the site in 1794. The existing Castle Fort was refurbished and garrisoned with an artillery company.

Second System (1808-1816)

The fort was renamed Fort Constitution and reconstructed as a Second System fort with higher walls and brick buildings. This upgrade was completed in 1808.

U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)

During the U.S. Civil War construction was begun on a massive three tiered Third System casemated fort. Advances in rifled armament during the U.S. Civil War made the Third System forts obsolete overnight and the upgrade of Fort Constitution was never completed. During the first year of the war the fort was armed with only 25 pieces of ordanance.

After1867 the fort was placed in caretaker status and remained that way until construction began on the Endicott Period gun batteries in 1897.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Construction on the two Endicott Period gun batteries slated for Fort Constitution began in 1897 and was completed in 1904. These batteries were separate from the old fort walls and each was self contained with gun emplacements and magazines protected by reinforced concrete. A mining casemate was built into the left flank of the unnamed 8 inch gun battery in 1901.

An additional purchase of 8.75 acres of land in 1902 expanded the post to 11.4 acres.

The 7 Dec 1903 Report of Completed Batteries shows the post garrisoned and the 8 inch gun battery completed, but unnamed It also shows four, 100-pounder Parrott guns still mounted in the old casemated work.

**Fort Constitution (2) Endicott Period Battery** (edit list)
Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Battery Cost	Notes
Battery Farnsworth	2	8"	Disappearing	1897-1899-1898-1917	$ 65,000
Battery Hackleman (1)	2 2	3" 3"	Pedestal Pedestal	1904-1904-1904-1942 1942-1945	$ 16,655	Guns to Battery Hackleman (2), replace by guns from Battery Hays
Source: CDSG

World War I (1917-1918)

The 8" guns of [[Battery Farnsworth were removed in 1917 for service abroad. The war ended before they could be shipped to the front but they were not returned or replaced in Battery Farnsworth, it remained unarmed.

World War II (1941-1945)

In 1942 the 3 inch guns and mounts of Battery Hackleman (1) were shipped to Battery Hackleman (2) at Fort H.G. Wright and they were replaced by 3 inch guns and mounts from Battery Hays at Fort Stark.

Cold War (1947-1991)

The fort was declared surplus in 1948 and part of it was turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. The remainder of the site became a New Hampshire State Historic Site in 1961 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on 2 Jul 1973.

Current Status

Part of Fort Constitution State Historical Site, New Castle Island, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Battery Hackleman (1) was destroyed and a Coast Guard building sits on the site. Battery Fransworth is still intact. No period guns or carriages in place.

{"selectable":false,"width":"500"}

Location: Fort Constitution State Historical Site, New Castle Island, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

Maps & Images

Lat: 43.0716667 Long: -70.7102778

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 0'

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 498-499
U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project, Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (CCA-P-PCC), 1945, CDSG

Links:

Visited: No

Fort Constitution (2) Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 == [[Endicott Period]] (1890-1910) ==
-Construction on the two [[Endicott Period]] gun batteries slated for Fort Constitution began in 1897 and was completed in 1904. These batteries were separate from the old fort walls and each was self contained with gun emplacements and magazines protected by reinforced concrete.
+Construction on the two [[Endicott Period]] gun batteries slated for Fort Constitution began in 1897 and was completed in 1904. These batteries were separate from the old fort walls and each was self contained with gun emplacements and magazines protected by reinforced concrete. A mining casemate was built into the left flank of the unnamed 8 inch gun battery in 1901.
 An additional purchase of 8.75 acres of land in 1902 expanded the post to 11.4 acres.
+The 7 Dec 1903 Report of Completed Batteries shows the post garrisoned and the 8 inch gun battery completed, but unnamed  It also shows four, 100-pounder Parrott guns still mounted in the old casemated work.
 {{Clr}}
 {{FtConstitution(2)EndicottPeriod}}