Fort Howard (Maryland)
Encyclopedia
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. In the Battle of Baltimore
, the British landed about four thousand, five hundred men near the site that later became Fort Howard, as a part of a campaign to capture and burn Baltimore
. In coordination with their navy's bombardment of Fort McHenry
, the British troops were to march up Patapsco Neck and capture Baltimore from the east. But the British advance was first demoralized when American sharpshooters Daniel Wells and Henry McComas killed their popular commanding general, Major-General Robert Ross. The advance had been temporarily stalled by the Americans in the Battle of North Point
, and finally stopped dead when the British perceived the strength of the American defenses at Patterson Park
. Disheartened, they reboarded their ships near North Point (Fort Howard) and sailed away to another defeat in the Battle of New Orleans
.
In the 18th century, the site served as an important part of the transportation route between the Eastern Shore
and the port of Baltimore.
Originally known as North Point, the site was taken over in 1896 by the federal government for the construction of coastal artillery fortifications. The fort was renamed by the Secretary of War in 1902 after Colonel John Eager Howard
, a Baltimore philanthropist and distinguished soldier of the Maryland Continental Line during the American Revolutionary War
. The installation earned the nickname the "Bulldog at Baltimore's Gate" and served as the coastal artillery headquarters for Baltimore. The installation was turned over to the Veterans' Administration in 1940, which still owns the majority of the property. The portion of the property containing the old coastal artillery fortications was declared surplus federal land and is now the county park.
In the 1960s it was used as an auxiliary training area for the USArmy Intelligence School at Fort Holabird in Dundalk. A Vietnamese Village was built there to train Special Forces for counterinsurgency operations. The village had realistic tunnels. Instructors acted the part of insurgents who were captured and subjected to training interrogation and often to harsh treatment. Also in the 1960s and until the mid-1970s, other students were trained there in water and land infiltration and instructors were the opposition. When students were caught they were interrogated in the underground coastal defense bunkers. Interrogation usually meant the students holding bricks on their outstreched arms while standing naked on rubber tires. All training ceased when the Intelligence school moved to Fort Huachuca in Arizona.
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, near the present-day settlement of Fort Howard
Fort Howard, Maryland
Fort Howard is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is the location of Fort Howard, a former military establishment and the site of a British landing during the War of 1812....
.
This park's historical significance is its connection with the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and largest invasion of the United States in history on the morning of September 12, 1814. In the Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
, the British landed about four thousand, five hundred men near the site that later became Fort Howard, as a part of a campaign to capture and burn Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. In coordination with their navy's bombardment of 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...
, the British troops were to march up Patapsco Neck and capture Baltimore from the east. But the British advance was first demoralized when American sharpshooters Daniel Wells and Henry McComas killed their popular commanding general, Major-General Robert Ross. The advance had been temporarily stalled by the Americans in the Battle of North Point
Battle of North Point
The Battle of North Point was fought on September 12, 1814, between General John Stricker's Maryland Militia and a British force led by Major General Robert Ross. Although tactically a British victory, the battle delayed the British advance against Baltimore, buying valuable time for the defense of...
, and finally stopped dead when the British perceived the strength of the American defenses at Patterson Park
Patterson Park
Patterson Park is a public park in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The park is bordered by East Baltimore Street on the north, Eastern Avenue on the south, South Patterson Park Avenue on the west, and South Linwood Avenue on the east...
. Disheartened, they reboarded their ships near North Point (Fort Howard) and sailed away to another defeat in the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
.
In the 18th century, the site served as an important part of the transportation route between the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
and the port of Baltimore.
Originally known as North Point, the site was taken over in 1896 by the federal government for the construction of coastal artillery fortifications. The fort was renamed by the Secretary of War in 1902 after Colonel John Eager Howard
John Eager Howard
John Eager Howard was an American soldier and politician from Maryland. He was elected as governor of the state in 1789, and served three one-year terms. He also was elected to the Continental Congress, Congress of the United States and the US Senate. He was born in and died in Baltimore County...
, a Baltimore philanthropist and distinguished soldier of the Maryland Continental Line during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The installation earned the nickname the "Bulldog at Baltimore's Gate" and served as the coastal artillery headquarters for Baltimore. The installation was turned over to the Veterans' Administration in 1940, which still owns the majority of the property. The portion of the property containing the old coastal artillery fortications was declared surplus federal land and is now the county park.
In the 1960s it was used as an auxiliary training area for the USArmy Intelligence School at Fort Holabird in Dundalk. A Vietnamese Village was built there to train Special Forces for counterinsurgency operations. The village had realistic tunnels. Instructors acted the part of insurgents who were captured and subjected to training interrogation and often to harsh treatment. Also in the 1960s and until the mid-1970s, other students were trained there in water and land infiltration and instructors were the opposition. When students were caught they were interrogated in the underground coastal defense bunkers. Interrogation usually meant the students holding bricks on their outstreched arms while standing naked on rubber tires. All training ceased when the Intelligence school moved to Fort Huachuca in Arizona.