Eastern Point Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern Point Fort |
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| Eastern Point, Gloucester, Massachusetts | |
 Eastern Point Fort
Eastern Point Fort
Location in Massachusetts
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| Coordinates | 42°35′8.32″N 70°39′30.93″W / 42.5856444°N 70.6585917°W |
| Type | Coastal defense |
| Site information | |
| Owner | private |
| Open to the public |
no |
| Condition | earthworks remain |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1863 |
| Built by | Major Charles E. Blunt, US Army |
| In use | 1863–1867 |
| Materials | earthworks |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Eastern Point Fort was a military fort built in 1863 during the American Civil War. It was located on Eastern Point in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This fort was used to protect the area from enemy attacks by sea. It was active for a few years, from 1863 to 1867. Sometimes, people also used the name "Eastern Point Fort" to talk about an older fort called Stage Fort, which was across the harbor.
Contents
Why Was Eastern Point Fort Built?
Protecting Gloucester's Harbor
In June 1863, during the Civil War, ships from the Confederate side attacked fishing boats from Gloucester. These attacks happened at Georges Bank, a rich fishing area off the coast of Cape Cod.
At the same time, military engineers from the U.S. Army realized something important. The existing forts in Gloucester, Stage Fort and Fort Defiance, were not enough. Enemy ships could get too close to Gloucester's harbor before these forts could fire at them.
A New Fort for Sea Defense
To solve this problem, the army decided to build a new fort. This new fort, which was never given a formal name, was placed at the very end of the peninsula. This spot was chosen so it could stop any enemy ships coming from the ocean. It was built on high ground that belonged to a farm owned by Thomas Niles. Major Charles E. Blunt of the U.S. Army was in charge of its construction. Eastern Point Fort was special because it was the only Civil War fort on the north shore of Massachusetts Bay that wasn't built on an older fort's site.
What Was the Fort Like?
Design and Weapons
Eastern Point Fort was an earthwork. This means it was built using mounds of earth and dirt. It was designed to hold seven large guns. Inside the fort, there were three magazines, which are safe places to store gunpowder and ammunition. There was also a bombproof shelter, a strong building designed to protect soldiers from bombs.
Outside the main fort, there were other buildings. These included a barracks for soldiers to live in and a hospital for the wounded.
Guns and Defenders
Even though it was designed for seven guns, a report from January 1865 showed it had ten guns. These included three 32-pounder rifled guns, four 32-pounder smoothbore guns, and three 24-pounder rifled guns. Rifled guns were more accurate. Some experts believe the 24-pounders might have been in the bombproof shelter. This shelter was set up to defend the fort from land attacks, with openings called embrasures for cannon.
In 1864, the fort was defended by soldiers from the 2nd and 11th Unattached Companies of Massachusetts militia.
What Happened to the Fort?
Eastern Point Fort was no longer needed after the Civil War ended. It was abandoned in 1867. The buildings that were part of the fort were taken down at some point. However, the original earthworks, the mounds of dirt that formed the fort's shape, are still there today.
In the 1920s, a large hotel or manor house called "The Ramparts" was built inside the old fort's area. This building even had two stone towers. The main part of the hotel was torn down in 1950, but the two stone towers still remain. Today, a private home stands within the old earthworks of the fort, and it even includes one of those original towers.
