The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-14
THE FoRTIFIcATIoNs OF NEW
HAVEN


THE FORTIFICATIONS OF NEW
HAVEN.
The old historic earthworks in East
Haven which bear the names of two
heroic sons of our city and state, and
are designated by the dignified title of
forts, are now practically heaps Of
earth, without much resemblance to a
defensive work, yet their past history
has demonstrated their former useful
ness fully. A fort was built by Colonel
| Thompson at Black Rock In 1775, which
was called during the Revolution BLACK
Rock fort" and afterwards named
Fort Hale in honor of Captain Nathan
Hale the gallant young hero martyr of
| the war for independence and gradu-
ate OF Yale. The fort, barracks and
magazine We're constructed of red
brick, the fort resting on rock foun-
dation surrounded by a broad lnoat,
over which, on the land side, draw
bridge, furnished easy access and
egress for the small garrison. The bar
racks stood a little back of the fort
|
it, The magazine was little to the
west of the fort near the water. This
| fertilization was erected on a point of
land between what is now called Rayn-
ham, Captain Charles H. Townshend's
estate. and Morris Cove.
At the time Of the invasion of New
Haven, which occurred on Monday,
| July 9Th, 1779 near the close of the
! American Revolution, this fort was
garrisoned by detachment of nineteen
men, and three guns were it's arma-
ment. This small garrison was under
the command of Captain Moulthrop
A field piece was also stationed near
| the fort under the command of Lieu
| tenant Pierpont. The fort kept up
such hot fire that the British were
obliged to land at Lighthouse Point 1T
| was owing to the warm reception the
enemy received from the garrison and
guns of this little fort that General
Tryon's march into the city was de-
layed several hours The little garri-
son held their position until their am
munition was exhausted, and then hop
ing to escape along the beach, they
spiked and dismanted their guns and
left them and Were obliged to retreat.
They We're, however, captured by the
sl1irmishers and carried off to New
York
During the war of 1912 the fort was
garrisoned by about sixty men. The
buildings and grounds pertaining to
and around the fort as late as 1881 were
in charge of Captain John A. Thomas,
who resided with his family in the bar
RACKS
In 1861 bomb proofs were built near
the fort and garrisoned for short
time Fort Hale or all that is left of it,
as it appears to-day, whether viewed
from the harbor or land, now consists
of five mounds, on one of which little
of the original brick is visible at a
point nearest Morris Cove on the south
east side
The one referred to is the largest in
the group These mounds are sur
rounded by broad moat still filled
with water, over which the ruins of an
old drawbridge stretches its decayed
beams The flooring of the drawbridge
has disappeared and the ratings ON the
side toward the mainland and the film
sy superstructure and few piles or
piers with rusty iron rivets, protruding
from their top without anything to
support, remain. On the largest
mound just spoken Of an old fagpole
still stands, but 1t no longer proudly
floats at it's masthead the beautiful
standard of our beloved country.
This Fertilization was considered in
sufficient, and accordingly supplement
tary works We're erected on Beacon Hill
of such extent that hundreds Of mer
were employed for more than month
building them The earthworks
thrown up on Beacon Hill, East Haven
were called Fort Wooster In honor OF
General David Wooster, the hero of the
battle Of Danbury, in which engage
ment he was killed. At the time of the
invasion Of our city, which I had occa.
sion to mention before the chief object
of the enemy was to gain possession OF
Beacon Hill, which they subsequently
accomplished and established a caml
on it, but not before the patriots who
had reiterated before their advance ha(
gained the summit of the hill and the
earthworks, and not only poured de
structive fire on the invaders, but fill
ing barrels of sand, rolled them dowr
it's slope on the foe as they marched by
until they were driven from their posi-
ton.
Fort Wooster, as it now appears, con
sists of a large, nearly-circular earth
work, in the center of which the ruins
of an old bomb proof magazine built O
stone, with an arching brick roof, tn,
top being dome shaped. This vaultet
roof is capped by large fiagstone. Thu
magazine is sunk in the hill inside TIL
redoubts and it's walls and roof are GOV
cred by earth and grass. Facing TIL
north wide wooden doorway, Which
was open when / visited the old fort
discloses the interior of the magazine
There are two flagpoles close to tn
northwest corner of the parapet. Sine
the fort has become part of the parl
which bears it's name setees have beef
placed all around on top of the ram
parts. They have also been placed OF
the drives, the approaches and slope
!, of the bastions On a boulder on tn
slopes of the northern side of the earth
works bronze tablet is inserted in 1t
side, on the surface of which in raise
letters is the following inscription
"On this spot a signal beacon was es
tablished in 1775, and about this hi
American patriots bravely resisted
large force of invading British troop
: July 5, 1779." Below this a row of star
and this superseription, "To honor tn
| 5aads Of ba fatharc fba Conn copint