William Eustis Report 21 December 1809
11th Congress,
2st session
No. 89
Fortifications
Communicated to House of Representatives, December 21, 1809.
War department, December 19, 1909.
Sir:
I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a report of the state of fortifications for the defence of the ports and harbors of the United States,
And am, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,
W. Eustis.
Report of fortifications for the defense of ports and harbors of the United States.
District of Maine.
Passamaquoddy. - A circular battery of six guns, mounted, covered by a block house, with barracks for fifty men.
Machias. - A circular battery of four guns, mounted, covered by a block house, with barracks for forty men.
Pandescot.- A small enclosed work of four guns, mounted.
St. George's River. - A small enclosed work of three guns, mounted.
Booth Bay, on Damariscotta. - A battery with three guns, mounted, covered by a block house.
Edgecomb, on Sheepscot. - A battery with six guns, mounted, covered by a block house.
Georgetown, mouth of Kennebeck. A small enclosed battery of six guns, mounted.
Portland Harbor. - Fort Preble, on Spring’s point, at the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed star fort of masonry, with an elliptical battery in front, mounting 15 guns, with brick barracks, for one company, officers included; a brick magazine. Fort Scammel, on the opposite side, three quarters of a mile distance; an enclosed semi-circular work, with two circular flanks of masonry, mounting eighteen guns, covered by a block house which will contain 40 men; a brick magazine. In the town of Portland, a battery of masonry, mounting five guns; also, a brick gun house with four pieces mounted on traveling carriages.
New Hampshire.
Fort Constitution, at the entrance of the harbor, at the mouth of Piscataqua river, three miles below Portsmouth; an enclosed work of masonry, mounting thirty seven guns, with brick barracks, for one hundred fifty men including officers; also two brick magazines.
Portsmouth Harbor. - At Kittery Point, and enclosed elliptical battery of masonry, mounting ten guns, covered with a redoubt of earth, with barracks for one company, including officers; also a brick magazine. In the town of Portsmouth, a brick gun house, containing six guns on traveling carriages, with harness complete.
Massachusetts
Newburyport. - On the east point of Plume Island, at the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed battery of timber and earth, mounting five guns, with a brick magazine, and barracks of wood for twenty five men.
Cape Ann, Gloucester. - at the head of the harbor, a battery with seven guns, mounted, covered by a block house, which will contain twenty men.
Salem. - Fort Pickering, on the west side of the entrance of the harbor; and enclosed work of masonry and earth, mounting six guns, covered by a block house, with barracks for thirty men, including officers and a magazine.
Marblehead. - Fort Sewall, at the west point of the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed work of masonry and earth, mounting eight guns, covered by a block house, with barracks for forty men, including officers, and a magazine.
Boston harbor. - Fort Warren, on Governor’s Island; a star fort, of masonry, with twelve guns mounted; a brick barrack for one company, including officers; also, a brick magazine and guard house; on the south point and west head of the island, semi circular batteries of masonry, calculated for ten guns each, 10 guns mounted in the west head. Fort Independence, on Castle Island, south side of the inner harbor; an enclosed pentagon of five bastions of masonry, calculated for fifty guns; thirty nine mounted, with two batteries to contain twenty five; brick barracks for four hundred men including officers; also, a large brick magazine, built in 1801.
At Charlestown. - Near the Navy Yard a small circular battery of six guns, with a brick gun house, containing ___ guns, on traveling carriages; also, a stone and brick magazine.
Plymouth Harbor. – At Garnet head, the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed work, repaired with stone and earth, mounting five guns, with a brick magazine, and barracks for thirty men.
New Bedford. – At Eldridge’s point, commanding the the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed work of masonry, mounting six guns, with a brick magazine, and barracks for forty men, including officers.
Rhode Island.
Newport. – Fort Adams, on Brenton’s point, entrance of the harbor; and enclosed indented work of masonry, calculated for twelve guns, six mounted, with a brick magazine, and barracks for one company, including officers. Fort Wolcott, on Goat Island, in the center of the harbor; a star fort of stone, brick, and timber, mounting twelve guns, with flank batteries mounting eighteen guns; a brick magazine, and barracks for one company, including officers. On the Dumpling rocks, on the west side entrance of the harbor, a battery unfinished; on Rose Island, an enclosed work of four bastions of masonry, calculated for sixty guns, unfinished: all the works in this harbor were begun in the year 1798 and 1800. At Newport and Bristol, guns mountain mounted on traveling carriages.
Connecticut
Stonington. - A gun house of brick, to you contain four pieces of Canon on traveling carriages.
New London. – An enclosed work, of masonry and earth, calculated for twenty five guns, twelve mounted; with a magazine, and barracks for forty men, including officers, called Fort Trumbull.
New Haven. – A small work for the defense of the harbor, mounting six guns, with barracks for forty men.
New York.
Ney York Harbor. - Fort Columbus, on Governor’s Island; an enclosed pentagonal work, with four bastions of masonry, calculated for one hundred guns, fifty five mounted, with brick barracks for two hundred and thirty men, including officers. A stone and brick magazine; a castle, or stone tower, of three tears, on a projecting point of the island, calculated for fifty two heavy guns, under a bomb proof cover, and forty eight on the terrace; the lower tier finished, calculated for twenty six guns, twelve mounted; guns may be placed in the second tier in case of necessity. The bombproof will serve as barracks for two or three hunderd men.
On Bedloe’s Island, on the opposite side of the harbor; and enclosed indented work of masonry, calculated for forty guns, unfinished.
On Ellis's Island, opposite Fort Columbus; and enclosed battery of masonry, calculated for twenty guns, eight mounted with barracks for one company, including officers. At the west point of the city, near the old battery, a circular battery, calculated for thirty guns, has been commenced.
On Hudson river, at the termination of Hubert Street, a battery of masonry, calculated for sixteen guns, finished. In the city of New York, an arsenal and store house of brick, with twenty four guns, mounted on traveling carriages. Three miles above the city of New York, an arsenal, magazine, and laboratory, all of brick.
By the report received, it appears that seventy one guns are actually mounted; one hundred and fifty may be actually brought into action on an emergency; and that the works for the defence of the city of New York are calculated for three hundred guns, and ten mortars, exclusive of those mounted on traveling carriages, and of the works on Staten Island, erected by the state of New York, calculated for eighty guns.
Pennsylvania.
Delaware River. - Fort Mifflin on Delaware river, seven miles below Philadelphia; an enclosed work of masonry, defended by bastions, calculated for sixty guns, twenty nine mounted; a water battery of eight guns mounted, with a brick magazine, and barracks for one hundred men, including officers.
Delaware.
Wilmington. – An arsenal of 96 x 26 feet, one and a half stories high; intended for cannon on traveling carriages, with their equipment.
Newcastle. – The same as Wilmington.
Maryland.
Baltimore. - Fort McHenry, at the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed pentagon, with five bastions of masonry, calculated for forty guns, ten mounted; a water battery, of ten guns mounted; a brick magazine; gun house, and barracks for two companies, including officers.
Annapolis. - Fort Madison, an enclosed work of masonry, comprehending a semi elliptical face, with circular flanks, calculated for thirteen guns; with a brick magazine, and barracks for one company, including officers.
At windmill point a circular battery of masonry, calculated for eleven guns, eight mounted. In the rear of the work quarters for two companies.
Potomac River. – Fort Washington, an enclosed work of masonry, comprehending a semi-elliptical face, with circular blanks on the side next to the Potomac, mounting thirteen guns, commanded by a tower of masonry, calculated to mount six guns; with a brick magazine, and barracks for one hundred and twenty men, including officers.
Virginia.
Norfolk Harbor. - Fort Nelson, on the west side of the entrance of the harbor; an enclosed work of brick and earth, defended by half bastions, calculated for forty guns, thirty three mounted; with a brick magazine, and barracks for two companies, including officers.
Fort Norfolk, on the opposite side; and enclosed work of masonry, calculated for thirty guns, ten mounded; with a brick magazine, and barracks for two companies, including officers.
North Carolina.
Wilmington, - Fort Johnston, on Cape Fear River, - Miles below Wilmington; an enclosed work and battery, calculated for twelve guns, four mounted; and barracks for forty men, unfinished.
Beaufort. – A small enclosed work, with five guns, mounted; and barracks for fifty men.
South Carolina.
Charleston Harhor. - Fort Johnston, an enclosed work defended by bastions and batteries of masonry, calculated for forty guns, twenty six mounted; with a brick magazine, and barracks for two companies.
Fort Moullrie, near the entrance of the harbor; and enclosed work defended by bastions and batteries of masonry, calculate for thirty guns, seven mounted; with a brick magazine, and barracks for two companies.
Fort Pinckney, an enclosed work of masonry for two tier of guns, nearly completed. Fort Mechanic, in the town of Charleston; an enclosed work, with battery of masonry, with barracks; and arsenal for guns on traveling carriages.
Beaufort. – And enclosed work, and battery, unfinished.
Georgia.
Savannah. - At Five Fathom Hole, three miles below the town; a battery of masonry, calculated for eight guns. Works have not been commenced in the town of Savannah, or at St. Mary's, the title to the land selected for the sites at those places not having been obtained.
Mississippi River.
New Orleans. - Fort St. Philip, at Placquemine, near the mouth of the river; an enclosed work of masonry and wood, calculated for twenty guns; with a magazine, and barracks for one company.
English Turn, an enclosed work with two bastions, and a battery of masonry for nine guns; with a magazine, and barracks for one company, nearly finished.
Fort St. Charles, in the city of New Orleans; an enclosed redoubt of five sides, of masonry and earth, mounting nineteen guns; a magazine, and barracks for thirty men.
At the Bayou St. John, a strong battery of six guns, which commands the passage of Lake Ponchartrain; with barracks for thirty min.
Note. – The foregoing report was referred to a select committee, to whom the secretary of war made the following communications:
Fort Norfolk Documents
1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799,
1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819
1820,
1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849,
1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859
1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879
1880,
Source of Information
Library of Congress