Fort Mott (New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Mott |
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| Part of Harbor Defenses of the Delaware | |
| Pennsville Township, New Jersey | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Public - State of New Jersey |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
Gun fire control tower and observation stand
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| Area | 124 acres (0.50 km2) |
| Operated by | New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry |
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Fort Mott and Finns Point National Cemetery District
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| Area | 64.4 acres (261,000 m2) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001793 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 31, 1978 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1896–1900 |
| Built by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1899–1922, 1941–1943 |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete, earth |
Fort Mott is a historic fort located in Pennsville, New Jersey. It was part of a special defense system for the Delaware River. This system, called the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware, included two other forts: Fort Delaware and Fort DuPont. These forts were built to protect the river after the American Civil War and in the 1890s.
Contents
Building Fort Mott
The first plans for Fort Mott, originally known as the "Battery at Finn's Point," began in 1872. It was meant to have eleven gun spots and a mortar battery. However, work stopped in 1876 before it was finished.
Later, in 1885, a group called the Board of Fortifications suggested building many new forts. Fort Mott was one of them. It was finally completed by 1902.
Unique Fort Design
Fort Mott was special because it was designed to defend against attacks from both the river and the land. Most forts of its time only focused on river defense.
To protect against land attacks, the fort had a large artificial hill called a parados. It also had a moat (a ditch filled with water) behind its gun batteries. This made it harder for enemies to attack from the land side.
Some of the fort's guns could even turn all the way around (360 degrees). This allowed them to fire at attackers coming from any direction.
Fort Mott's Powerful Guns
Fort Mott had many different types of guns, each with a special purpose.
Main Guns
The biggest guns at Fort Mott were in two main batteries:
- Battery Arnold: This battery had three large 12-inch guns.
- Battery Harker: This battery had three 10-inch guns.
These large guns were on "disappearing carriages." This meant the guns could pop up to fire and then drop back down. This kept them hidden from enemy ships on the river.
Smaller Guns and Unique Features
Other batteries had smaller, but still important, guns:
- Battery Gregg: This battery had two 5-inch guns.
- Battery Krayenbuhl: This battery also had two 5-inch guns. These guns could turn all the way around to fire in any direction.
Fort Mott also had a very unusual battery called Battery Edwards. It had two 3-inch guns hidden inside strong concrete rooms called casemates. These guns were meant to protect an underwater minefield in the river. They would fire at any enemy ships trying to clear the mines. This type of hidden gun was very rare in American forts of that time.
Honoring Heroes: How Fort Mott Got Its Name
The fort was officially named Fort Mott on December 16, 1897. It was named after Gershom Mott, a brave military leader from Trenton, New Jersey. He fought in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He was wounded four times during his service.
Many of the fort's gun batteries were also named after important military figures:
- Battery Arnold was named for Brigadier General Lewis G. Arnold, an artillery officer.
- Battery Harker was named for Brigadier General Charles G. Harker, who died in the Civil War.
- Battery Gregg was named for Captain John C. Gregg, who died in the Philippine–American War.
- Battery Krayenbuhl was named for Captain Maurice Krayenbuhl, also killed in the Philippine–American War.
- Battery Edwards was named for Captain Robert Edwards, who died in the War of 1812.
Fort Mott Becomes Obsolete
After World War I, new technology made Fort Mott and the other Delaware River forts less important. A new fort, Fort Saulsbury, was built much further down the river. Its guns could shoot much farther, making the older forts less useful for defense.
Over time, many of Fort Mott's guns were removed. In 1910, the two 5-inch guns from Battery Gregg were moved to Fort Ruger in Hawaii. In 1918, the guns from Battery Krayenbuhl were taken away to possibly be used in Europe during World War I. By 1920, Battery Edwards' unique 3-inch guns were also removed.
In 1941, the three 10-inch guns from Battery Harker were sent to Canada. Two of these guns can still be seen today at Fort Cape Spear in Newfoundland. By 1943, Fort Mott had lost all its remaining guns.
It's interesting to note that Fort Mott's guns were only ever fired for training. They were never used in a real battle.
Fort Mott Today: A State Park
Troops were stationed at Fort Mott from 1897 until 1922. After that, a small group of caretakers looked after the fort until 1943.
In 1947, the state of New Jersey bought the fort. It was turned into a historic site and a State Park. Fort Mott State Park officially opened to the public on June 24, 1951.
Today, the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry manages the park. Fort Mott and the nearby Finn's Point National Cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
You can visit Fort Mott State Park and explore the old gun batteries and grounds. During certain times of the year, you can even take a ferry called the Forts Ferry Crossing from Fort Mott to Fort Delaware and Delaware City.
