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'''Links:'''  
'''Links:'''  
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/nh.html#ports North American Forts - Fort Constitution]
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/nh.html#ports North American Forts - Fort Constitution]
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/New_Hampshire/Fort_Constitution/history.html North American Forts - Fort Constitution History page 1]
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/New_Hampshire/Fort_Constitution/index.html North American Forts - Fort Constitution Main Page]
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/New_Hampshire/Fort_Constitution/history2.html North American Forts - Fort Constitution History page 2]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Constitution Wikipedia - Fort Constitution]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Constitution Wikipedia - Fort Constitution (2)]
* {{CDSGMainLink}}
* {{CDSGMainLink}}



Revision as of 10:52, 21 June 2011

Fort Constitution (2) (1791-1948) - An Second System Coastal Fort established on the site of previous fortifications. Site purchased in 1791 on New Castle Island, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Oficially named Fort Constitution in G.O. 6, 1937. Abandoned in 1948.

Officer Quarters Bldg #14
Officer Quarters Bldg #11

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. The report also shows four, 100-pounder Parrott guns still mounted in the old casemated fort.

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)

Mine Casemate Plan

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.

In 1920 an earth covered mine casemate was built on the rear left flank of Battery Farnsworth to control the mine fields formerly controlled by Fort Stark. The casemate was accepted for service 28 Dec 1920 at a cost of $ 31,415.23.

Fort Constitution Plan 1921


A number of temporary World War I type buildings were built on the post to house increased numbers of troops. A large temporary barracks complex was built inside the old fort walls. Many of these temporary buildings can still be seen in the 1921 post plan. The fort was placed in caretaker status from 1922 to 1940 and most of the temporary buildings were removed. Much of the infrastructure was in poor condition in 1940 as World War II approached. The 1938 plan shows most of the temporary buildings gone and the post still in caretaker status.

Fort Constitution Plan 1938


World War II (1941-1945)

Mine Observation Station (M1) in Battery Farnsworth

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. Battery Hackleman (1), the last remaining gun battery on Fort Constitution was deactivated in 1945. A reinforce concrete mine observation station (M1) was built on top of Battery Farnsworth and accepted for service 13 March 1943 at a cost of $ 4,061.

Emergency construction before the start of the war in 1941 raised the the personnel capacity of Fort Constitution from 2 officers and 54 enlisted personnel to 16 officers and 243 enlisted personnel. Three 63 man barracks and a mess hall were built within the confines of the old fort. An officers BOQ and mess was built at the western edge of the reservation along with a recreation building and a Post Exchange (PX). The new buildings and the existing buildings along with the two gun batteries left little empty space on the 10 acre post.

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.

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

Maps & Images

Lat: 43.0716667 Long: -70.7102778

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:

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Fort Constitution (2) Picture Gallery

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