Fort Schuyler: Difference between revisions
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{{About|the fort in the Bronx|the fort in Utica|Utica, New York|the fort in Rome|Fort Stanwix}} |
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{{Infobox NRHP |
{{Infobox NRHP |
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| name = Fort Schuyler |
| name = Fort Schuyler |
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| nrhp_type = hd |
| nrhp_type = hd |
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| designated_other2_name = NYC Landmark |
| designated_other2_name = NYC Landmark |
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| designated_other2_abbr = NYCL |
| designated_other2_abbr = NYCL |
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| designated_other2_link = New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |
| designated_other2_link = New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |
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| designated_other2_number = LC-0124 |
| designated_other2_number = LC-0124 |
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| designated_other2_color = #ff0000 |
| designated_other2_color = #ff0000 |
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| designated_other2_date = April 19, 1966 |
| designated_other2_date = April 19, 1966 |
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| image = Schuyler2007south.JPG |
| image = Schuyler2007south.JPG |
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| caption = Southern main gate |
| caption = Southern main gate |
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| location = Throgs Neck at East River and Long Island Sound, [[New York, New York]] |
| location = Throgs Neck at East River and Long Island Sound, [[New York, New York]] |
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| coordinates = {{coord|40|48|20|N|73|47|31|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |
| coordinates = {{coord|40|48|20|N|73|47|31|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |
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| locmapin = New York City |
| locmapin = New York City |
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| built = 1833 |
| built = 1833 |
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| architect = Capt. I.L. Smith |
| architect = Capt. I.L. Smith |
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| architecture = |
| architecture = |
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| added = June 29, 1976 |
| added = June 29, 1976 |
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| area = {{Convert|17|acre}} |
| area = {{Convert|17|acre}} |
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| governing_body = |
| governing_body = |
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| refnum = 76001206<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> |
| refnum = 76001206<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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[[File:WSTM Free Culture NYU 0206.jpg|thumb|upright|Propeller of the ''[[SS United States|S.S. United States]]'']] |
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[[Category:American Civil War on the National Register of Historic Places]] |
[[Category:American Civil War on the National Register of Historic Places]] |
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[[Category:Throggs Neck, Bronx]] |
[[Category:Throggs Neck, Bronx]] |
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[[Category:Historic districts in New York City]] |
Revision as of 15:15, 11 December 2017
Fort Schuyler | |
NYC Landmark No. LC-0124
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![]() Southern main gate | |
Standort | Throgs Neck at East River and Long Island Sound, New York, New York |
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Coordinates | 40°48′20″N 73°47′31″W / 40.80556°N 73.79194°W |
Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
Built | 1833 |
Architect | Capt. I.L. Smith |
NRHP reference No. | 76001206[1] |
NYCL No. | LC-0124 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | June 29, 1976 |
Designated NYCL | April 19, 1966 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/WSTM_Free_Culture_NYU_0206.jpg/170px-WSTM_Free_Culture_NYU_0206.jpg)
Fort Schuyler is a preserved 19th century fortification in the New York City borough of the Bronx. It houses a museum, the Stephen B. Luce Library, and the Marine Transportation Department and Administrative offices of the State University of New York Maritime College. It is considered one of the finest examples of French-style fortifications. The fort was named in honor of Major General Philip Schuyler of the Continental Army.[2]
History
Fort Schuyler was one of many forts built along the east coast of the United States under the third system of US fortifications in the aftermath of the War of 1812, when it became apparent that the U.S. coast was poorly defended against foreign invasion. Fort Schuyler was begun in 1833 and dedicated in 1856 after 75% completion, though not garrisoned until 1861.[3] The fort was strategically positioned to protect New York City from naval attack through Long Island Sound, guarding the eastern entrance to New York Harbor. It is located on Throggs Neck, the southeastern tip of the Bronx, where the East River meets Long Island Sound. Fort Totten, built during the Civil War and largely incomplete, faces it on the opposite side of the river. Their interlocking batteries created a bottle-neck of defenses against ships attempting to approach New York City.
Fort Schuyler, at its peak, boasted 440 guns. Its position on Throggs Neck allowed four of its five sides to cover the water approach to New York City. The fort included an extensive hornwork and an advanced redoubt to defend against a land attack.[4][5] Later, it would be fitted with various other pieces through the continuing modernization of coastal defense artillery, once including 10-inch and 12-inch guns on disappearing carriages installed on the hornwork and on the peninsula around the fort. Coastal artillery emplacements at the fort remained until 1935.
Civil War
During the American Civil War, Fort Schuyler held as many as 500 prisoners of war from the Confederate States Army and military convicts from the Union Army. It also included the MacDougall Hospital, which had a capacity of 2,000 beds. The fort was well designed for its time, it is said to have had one of the most effective waste removal systems ever seen in a fort from this time period. During its active duty, not one man died from disease.
Fort Schuyler was also a location where units heading to war would rendezvous and be outfitted and trained before being deployed. Such units include the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry "Duryee's Zouaves," and the 69th and 88th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiments (the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Meagher's "Irish Brigade"). From January 1863 until July 1865, the fort itself was garrisoned by the 20th Independent Battery, New York Volunteer Artillery, a unit originally recruited to fight in the war as part of the Anthon Battalion of Volunteer Light Artillery.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/WSTM_Free_Culture_NYU_0234.jpg/220px-WSTM_Free_Culture_NYU_0234.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/WSTM_Free_Culture_NYU_0246.jpg/220px-WSTM_Free_Culture_NYU_0246.jpg)
Duty at the fort was reported to be a dull assignment as the men took the roles of guards and hospital stewards, not artillerymen.[6] From July until August 1865 the Fort was garrisoned by companies A, B, C, F, G, H and I of the Anderson Zouaves (companies D and E being assigned to Fort Wood on Bedloes Island), upon their return from service with the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac and duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C. The Anderson Zouaves finally mustered out from Fort Schuyler on August 30, 1865.
Endicott era
A ten-gun battery was built 1873-1876 as part of a general fort improvement program, along with a mine casemate (bunker) for a controlled minefield in the river, Fort Totten being an experimental station for coast defense minefields.[5] Later, Fort Schuyler received several modern gun batteries under the Endicott Program, completed 1898-1900 as part of the Coast Defenses of Eastern New York, which also included new batteries at Fort Totten and Fort Slocum on Davids' Island. These included Battery Gansevoort with two 12-inch guns on disappearing carriages, Battery Hazzard with two 10-inch disappearing guns, Battery Bell with two 5-inch guns on retractable balanced pillar carriages, and Battery Beecher with two 3-inch guns on retractable masking parapet carriages.[7][8] However, soon after completion the defenses of the East River were largely superseded by the Coast Defenses of Long Island Sound, including Fort H. G. Wright on Fishers Island.[8]
After the American entry into World War I in 1917, Battery Bell's 5-inch guns were removed for potential service in France on wheeled carriages. Most of the 5-inch guns removed under this program were sent to France with the 69th Coast Artillery regiment. However, the regiment did not complete training before the Armistice and did not see action.[9] The 5-inch guns were never returned to the forts and were scrapped circa 1920. At some time, probably in 1918-1920, a battery of two 3-inch antiaircraft guns was built at the fort.[7] In 1920, with the war over, Battery Beecher's 3-inch guns were scrapped as part of a general removal from service of the M1898 3-inch gun. The 10-inch guns of Battery Hazzard followed in 1930; the reason for this is unclear. In 1934 the fort was disarmed and turned over to the state. All of the Endicott-era batteries were demolished in the 1950s.[10]
College
In the late 1920s Fort Schuyler was placed on the abandoned list by the U.S. Army. When this was done, it was targeted for acquisition by Robert Moses for conversion to a state park as well as a permanent shore base for the New York State Merchant Marine Academy (now SUNY Maritime College). A protracted political struggle ensued, but eventually the academy forces prevailed. The site was then rehabilitated by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression and dedicated to the school in 1938.[11] The college, which was founded in 1874, still occupies the site, and in 1948 was one of the original 29 founding schools to be incorporated into the State University of New York as the State University of New York Maritime College. The fort has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.[12]
Maritime Industry Museum
In 1986, a portion of Fort Schuyler was dedicated as the Maritime Industry Museum. The museum houses exhibits on the history of the United States maritime industry, including commercial shipping, the merchant marine, and the port of New York, as well as exhibits on the history of Fort Schuyler. It is open to the public on weekdays.
See also
- State University of New York Maritime College
- Throgs Neck
- Seacoast defense in the United States
- United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in The Bronx
- National Register of Historic Places in Bronx County, New York
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ History of Fort Schuyler, State University of New York Maritime College. Accessed October 20, 2007.
- ^ Roberts, p. 579
- ^ Weaver, pp. 107-109
- ^ a b Fort Schuyler at American Forts Network
- ^ See a "post history" for Fort Schuyler on NARA microfilm M903 reel 4; and Brooklyn Eagle, October 22, 1863, p. 3.
- ^ a b Fort Schuyler (1) at FortWiki.com
- ^ a b Berhow, pp. 208-209
- ^ 69th Coast Artillery in WWI
- ^ The WPA Guide to New York, 1939, repr. 1982, p. 546.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) J. Williams "Seeking a Safe Harbor," Bronx County Historical Society Journal', Spring/Fall 2010 - ^ New York - Bronx County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed October 20, 2007.
- Berhow, Mark A., Ed. (2015). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide, Third Edition. McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press. ISBN 978-0-9748167-3-9.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Lewis, Emanuel Raymond (1979). Seacoast Fortifications of the United States. Annapolis: Leeward Publications. ISBN 978-0-929521-11-4.
- 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.
- Weaver II, John R. (2001). A Legacy in Brick and Stone: American Coastal Defense Forts of the Third System, 1816-1867. McLean, VA: Redoubt Press. pp. 86–87. ISBN 1-57510-069-X.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Maritime Industry Museum - official site at SUNY Maritime College
- SUNY Maritime College web site
- New York State Military Museum
- 1920 map of Fort Slocum, Fort Totten, and Fort Schuyler (PDF)
- Coast Defense Study Group
- List of all US coastal forts and batteries at the Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. website
- FortWiki, lists most CONUS and Canadian forts
- 20th Independent Battery, NYVA
- Library of Congress American Memory Site - Historic American Buildings Survey
- Historic Photos at the Library of Congress American Memory Site
- Historic Plans and Schematics - Library of Congress American Memory
- A Description of Fort Schuyler during the American Civil War
- Buildings and structures in the Bronx
- Forts in New York City
- New York (state) in the American Civil War
- American Civil War forts
- American Civil War prison camps
- Military facilities on the National Register of Historic Places in New York City
- Libraries in the Bronx
- Maritime museums in New York (state)
- Landmarks in the Bronx
- University museums in New York (state)
- Military and war museums in New York (state)
- Museums in the Bronx
- University art museums and galleries in New York City
- Forts on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
- History museums in New York City
- Transportation museums in New York City
- National Register of Historic Places in the Bronx
- American Civil War on the National Register of Historic Places
- Throggs Neck, Bronx
- Historic districts in New York City