Fort Scammel
Fort Scammel (1808-1898) - Established 1808 on House Island in Portland Harbor, Cumberland County, Maine. Built as a Second System Fort by Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn and rebuilt as a Third System Fort by then Captain Thomas Lincoln Casey in 1862. Named after Colonel Alexander Scammel, Adjutant general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, who was killed during the Siege of Yorktown. Also known as Fort Scammell.
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Second System (1808-1816)
Part of the Harbor Defense of Portland, Maine.
Designed as a Second System fortification for the harbor defense of Portland, Maine. It was built under the direction of Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn who was the son of the Secretary of War. Dearborn also oversaw the construction of nearby Fort Preble.
Fort Scammel was built as a semi-circular brick fortification facing the entrance to Portland Harbor. Like many of the Second System forts, Fort Scammel had a large, octaginal blockhouse built from heavy timbers with gun on the upper floor. The blockhouse was located at the rear of fortification, at the center was a powder magazine and a shot furnace. The brickwork fort and the blockhouse were painted white so that all would know that the port was defended. At the top of the blockhouse was a large carved wooden eagle. The original fort had emplacements for eleven 24 and 32-pounder cannons on the brick work fortification and several more guns on a separate battery on the east side of the island.
U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)
During the U.S. Civil War Fort Scammel was expanded and rebuilt as a Third System fort. The major changes included stone bastions on the east and west side of the island and major earthwork connecting the two bastions. A planned north bastion was never completed. The rebuilt Fort Scammel was to have mounted 71 guns including seven mortars but was never fully armed or garrisoned.
Current Status
Privately owned but open to the public for fee which includes a boat ride. For more information, check the website.
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Location: House Island, Cumberland County, Portland Maine. Maps & Images Lat: 43.65028 Long: -70.21333 |
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 373
Links:
- Wikipedia - House Island
- North American Forts - Fort Scammel
- House Island Site - History
- Excellent Photo Tour of Fort Scammel
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Fort Scammel Picture Gallery
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