Flagstaff Fort

A Patriot redoubt built in June 1776, located on Signal Hill at The Narrows on Staten Island. Site of an earlier 1663 blockhouse that stood until at least 1808,[1] preceded by one built by Dutch settler David Pieterszen de Vries in 1636 and destroyed in the Peach Tree War of 1655.[2] Taken by the British in July 1776 and by July 1779 a redoubt with gun platforms for 26 cannon was built. Two months later, six 24-pounders and four 18-pounders were recorded on hand. In 1782 the fort had five bastions and several barbette batteries. Evacuated by the British in 1783 at the end of the Revolution.[1] In 1806 Flagstaff Fort was demolished and Fort Tompkins was built on the site, reportedly enclosing the 1663 blockhouse with red sandstone.[3] That fort along with others grew into Fort Wadsworth.[3] The site is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area of the National Park Service.

Flagstaff Fort
Staten Island, New York
Flagstaff Fort
Flagstaff Fort
Flagstaff Fort
Coordinates40°36′18″N 74°03′24″W
TypeRedoubt
Site information
OwnerNational Park Service
Site history
BuiltJune 1776
Built byPatriot forces
In use1776-1783
DemolishedReplaced by Fort Tompkins in 1806
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
Garrison information
OccupantsNational Park Service

See also

References

  1. Roberts, pp. 587-589, 604-605
  2. Fort Wadsworth at American Forts Network
  3. Roberts, pp. 587-589
  • Roberts, Robert B. (1988). Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-926880-X.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.