Old Brick Coastal Fortifications

Fort McHenry was designed by Ghanan Jean Foncin. this fortification was built in 1798 to protect and defend the busy harbor of Baltimore. It was named after a Scots-Irish Immigrant, James McHenry. He was a surgeon soldier and became Secretary of War under President George Washington. this fort was built after America won its independence from Britain. Its star design enabled defenders trap invaders in a cross fire of cannon and musket.

On August 44,1814, British forces over run American defenders at Bladensburg. The British marched in and looted Washington D.C. and continued on to Alexandria. Americans fled Fort Warburton and left Alexandria undefended. Alexandria surrendered. British forces spent several days there looting.

September 13,1814, British Navy tries to enter Port of Baltimore from Chesapeake Bay. Brittish bombards fort for twenty five hours. The attack was repulsed from Fort McHenry and other batteries guarding the harbor. The British withdrew. This famous battle is what inspired Frances Scot Key to write our National Athem. Not only did this battle inspire Frances Scott Key to write a poem but Department of Defense and Secretary of War as well. This battle proved the necessity of coastal and port defenses. Congress allocated funds for properly designed brick and mortar constructed fortifications alog the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Some of these old forts were nothing more than earthen breast works. Built by local militia to deter attacks from pirates and other unfriendlies. Some were built and left behind by the British. Fort William and Mary were given to the Federal Government by the State of New Hampshire. 1808 it was refurbished and renamed Fort Constitution. Fort William Pepperell was redone and renamed Fort McClary.

1779, Congress approved funds for the formation of the Army Corps of Engineers. Realizing any invading foreign power would have to have a sea port to maintain operations. In 1790’s Congress allocated funds to build twenty fortifications and six months latter , one more, Annapolis Maryland. All of these were timber and earthwork case mates, block houses, barracks and magazine.

The threat of war again with Britain loomed in the horizon. The Chesapeake incident occured between American and British Navies. Congress apporpriated more funds for a second system of coastal defense. These defenses were mortar and brick faced earthen open batteries. Some were totally made from masonry and were permanent. This fortifications during The War of 1812 deterred Britain from attacking certain ports. The third system of fortifications were to protect Harbors, cities, interior navigation and navy yards. Due to no threat of war, these forts grew slower and more carefully. The intention of these fortifications whether big or small would provide adequate and permanent security to the whole nation.

The Civil War brought Army and Navy Advancements. Masonry forts were obsolete to the newly developed rifled cannon. fast moving steam and iron clad war ships could steam right through their defenses. In the 1880’s Secretary of War William Endicott made sweeping recomendations on upgrading these fortifications. Steal reinforced concrete with twelve inch mortars or guns on disapearing carriages. These came in five different sizes.

On into the Second War these fortifications protected harbors, cities and naval yards. The developement of aircraft, aircraft carriers and ballistic missiles, atomic or otherwise made all these fortifications obsolete. After World War Two, these forts were turned over to the State or Federal park sevices. They are now historical locations. One inparticular, Fort Pickens, one of three that protected Pensacola, port and the city never lowered the Union Flag during the Civil War. Fort Pickens and Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas are the only forts in the south that never surrendered to the Confederacy. Abraham Lincoln gave firm orders not to lower the Union Flag and defend the fort to the last man.