Fort Carroll
Encyclopedia
Fort Carroll is a 3.4 acre (14,000 m²) artificial island and abandoned fort in the middle of the Patapsco River
, just south of Baltimore, Maryland. It is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton
(1737-1832), a signer of the Declaration of Independence
.
In 1847, the State of Maryland gave permission to the United States War Department to construct a fort in the shallow water of Soller’s Point Flats to protect the city of Baltimore. Fort Carroll was important for the defense of Baltimore — before the fort was created, Fort McHenry
, just outside the city, was the only military defensive structure between Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay
. The Fort was part of the "Permanent System" or Third System construction program, which aimed to defend America’s most important ports.
Then Brevet-Colonel Robert E. Lee
designed the hexagonal structure and supervised the construction, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commenced in 1848. Lee went on to become Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
at West Point before the fort named on 8 October 1850.
In addition, in 1853 a lighthouse
, now abandoned, was built on the ramparts to aid navigation into Baltimore Harbor. In 1898 a new lighthouse was built, the one still seen today. It was automated in 1920 and discontinued operations before 1945.
The original design foresaw the fort being armed with some 225 cannon on three levels. However, in April 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War, Fort Carroll's walls were still less than half the planned height of thirty feet. Only five gun platforms were ready and only two were armed with guns. Still, the Army emplaced about thirty cannon and manned the fort throughout the war. In April 1864 torrential rains flooded the fort’s magazines, which led the Army to move all the powder and ammunition to Fort McHenry.
When the United States entered into the Spanish-American War
in 1898, the Army again manned the fort's batteries, which were by then completely obsolete. The Army therefore commenced the construction of modern concrete gun emplacements following the designs of the Endicott Board. The Army created three batteries: Battery TowsonThe battery was named in honor of Major General Nathan Towson, U. S. Army. He had served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War and died July 20, 1854 at Washington, District of Columbia. (two 12" barbette
disappearing carriage
guns), Battery HeartThe battery was named in honor of Major Jonathan Heart, 2nd U.S. Infantry, who served during the Revolutionary War. He died on 4 November 1791 in action with Indians near Fort Recovery
, Ohio. (two 5" balanced pedestal-mount guns) and Battery AugustinBattery Augustin was named in honor of 2nd Lieutenant Joseph N. Augustin, Jr., 24th U.S. Infantry, who died 2 July 1898 of wounds he had received the day before at the Battle of San Juan Hill
. (two 3" balanced pedestal-mount guns).
The new batteries were ready by September 1900, well after the end of the war. They received their names on 30 March 1903.
After World War I broke out, in 1917 the Army removed the guns from Battery Heart and in 1918 those from Battery Towson to use elsewhere. By 1920, all guns had been removed from the fort.
In March 1921 the Army officially abandoned Fort Carroll and moved whatever military equipment was left to nearby Fort Howard
. The War Department declared the island excess property in 1923, but took no immediate steps to sell the land.
In World War II the Army used the fort as a firing range. It also served as a checkpoint for vessels.
In May 1958, a Baltimore attorney purchased the island for $10,000, but development plans never materialized. The fort is now deserted and the habitat for various animals. It is also a site for occasional urban explorations.
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
, just south of Baltimore, Maryland. It is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
(1737-1832), a signer of the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
.
In 1847, the State of Maryland gave permission to the United States War Department to construct a fort in the shallow water of Soller’s Point Flats to protect the city of Baltimore. Fort Carroll was important for the defense of Baltimore — before the fort was created, Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
, just outside the city, was the only military defensive structure between Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. The Fort was part of the "Permanent System" or Third System construction program, which aimed to defend America’s most important ports.
Then Brevet-Colonel Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
designed the hexagonal structure and supervised the construction, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commenced in 1848. Lee went on to become Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point before the fort named on 8 October 1850.
In addition, in 1853 a lighthouse
Fort Carroll Light
Fort Carroll Light is a derelict lighthouse consisting of a short wooden tower on the walls of its namesake fortifications in the Patapsco River.-History:...
, now abandoned, was built on the ramparts to aid navigation into Baltimore Harbor. In 1898 a new lighthouse was built, the one still seen today. It was automated in 1920 and discontinued operations before 1945.
The original design foresaw the fort being armed with some 225 cannon on three levels. However, in April 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War, Fort Carroll's walls were still less than half the planned height of thirty feet. Only five gun platforms were ready and only two were armed with guns. Still, the Army emplaced about thirty cannon and manned the fort throughout the war. In April 1864 torrential rains flooded the fort’s magazines, which led the Army to move all the powder and ammunition to Fort McHenry.
When the United States entered into the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1898, the Army again manned the fort's batteries, which were by then completely obsolete. The Army therefore commenced the construction of modern concrete gun emplacements following the designs of the Endicott Board. The Army created three batteries: Battery TowsonThe battery was named in honor of Major General Nathan Towson, U. S. Army. He had served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War and died July 20, 1854 at Washington, District of Columbia. (two 12" barbette
Barbette
A barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection...
disappearing carriage
Disappearing gun
A disappearing gun is a type of heavy artillery for which the gun carriage enabled the gun to rotate backwards and down into a pit protected by a wall or a bunker after it was fired...
guns), Battery HeartThe battery was named in honor of Major Jonathan Heart, 2nd U.S. Infantry, who served during the Revolutionary War. He died on 4 November 1791 in action with Indians near Fort Recovery
Fort Recovery
Fort Recovery was a United States Army fort begun in late 1793 and completed in March 1794 under orders by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. It was located on the site of the present-day village of Fort Recovery, Ohio, United States, on the Wabash River within two miles of the boundary with...
, Ohio. (two 5" balanced pedestal-mount guns) and Battery AugustinBattery Augustin was named in honor of 2nd Lieutenant Joseph N. Augustin, Jr., 24th U.S. Infantry, who died 2 July 1898 of wounds he had received the day before at the Battle of San Juan Hill
Battle of San Juan Hill
The Battle of San Juan Hill , also known as the battle for the San Juan Heights, was a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. The San Juan heights was a north-south running elevation about two kilometers east of Santiago de Cuba. The names San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill were names given by the...
. (two 3" balanced pedestal-mount guns).
The new batteries were ready by September 1900, well after the end of the war. They received their names on 30 March 1903.
After World War I broke out, in 1917 the Army removed the guns from Battery Heart and in 1918 those from Battery Towson to use elsewhere. By 1920, all guns had been removed from the fort.
In March 1921 the Army officially abandoned Fort Carroll and moved whatever military equipment was left to nearby Fort Howard
Fort Howard (Maryland)
Fort Howard is the name of a former military installation in Baltimore County, Maryland, near the present-day settlement of Fort Howard.This park's historical significance is its connection with the War of 1812 and largest invasion of the United States in history on the morning of September 12, 1814...
. The War Department declared the island excess property in 1923, but took no immediate steps to sell the land.
In World War II the Army used the fort as a firing range. It also served as a checkpoint for vessels.
In May 1958, a Baltimore attorney purchased the island for $10,000, but development plans never materialized. The fort is now deserted and the habitat for various animals. It is also a site for occasional urban explorations.