Fort Slocum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Slocum
Part of Coast Defenses of Eastern New York
Davids Island, city of New Rochelle, New York
Mortars similar to the type used at Fort Slocum
Fort Slocum Show map of New York City Fort Slocum Show map of New York Fort Slocum Show map of the United States Location in New York City area
Coordinates	40°53′02″N 73°46′12″W / 40.884°N 73.770°W / 40.884; -73.770
Type	Coastal defense fort, hospital, training base
Site information
Owner	City of New Rochelle
Condition	Demolished
Site history
Built	1862
Built by	United States Army Corps of Engineers
In use	1867–1965
Demolished	2008
Battles/wars	American Civil War World War I World War II

Fort Slocum was a United States military base. It was located on Davids Island in New Rochelle, New York. The base was active from 1867 to 1965. It was named after Major General Henry W. Slocum. He was a leader in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

History of Fort Slocum

Civil War Era: A Hospital and Prison

Military use of Davids Island began in 1861. A camp was set up there by the Irish Brigade. In 1862, the U.S. Government rented the island. This was the first time the regular Army used it.

A large hospital called De Camp General Hospital was built. It treated thousands of soldiers wounded in the Civil War. By late 1862, it was the Army's biggest hospital. It could hold over 2,100 patients.

After the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the hospital also cared for wounded Confederate soldiers. Davids Island soon held over 2,500 Confederate prisoners of war. Most were later moved to other prison camps.

After the Civil War: A Training Center

After the war, the U.S. government bought Davids Island in 1867. It became the Davids Island Military Reservation. In 1878, it became a main center for Army recruiting. This started its long role as a training base.

Late 1800s: Coastal Defense Fort

As the base grew, new brick buildings were added in the 1880s. These included homes for officers and barracks for soldiers. In 1896, the base was officially named Fort Slocum. It was named after Major General Henry W. Slocum.

Fort Slocum became a coastal artillery defense post. It was part of a plan to protect important ports like New York Harbor. Between 1891 and 1904, artillery batteries were built. These included large mortar batteries and medium-range gun batteries.

The fort had powerful 12-inch mortars. It also had 6-inch and 5-inch guns. These guns were meant to defend the coast. However, by the early 1900s, newer warships made these defenses less useful. Fort Slocum kept its guns until World War I.

World War I: A Busy Training Hub

When the U.S. entered World War I, Fort Slocum became very busy. It was one of the country's main training stations for new soldiers. About 100,000 soldiers passed through each year. Between 1917 and 1919, over 140,000 recruits were processed here.

During this time, Fort Slocum's guns were removed. They were sent to other forts or possibly used as railway artillery. By 1919, Fort Slocum had no guns left.

Between the Wars: New Roles

After World War I, there was a military slowdown. Fort Slocum almost closed, but it stayed open with different jobs. It hosted a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. It also had an Army school for cooks and bakers.

In the 1930s, many old gun batteries were torn down. This made space for new barracks for soldiers.

World War II: Moving Troops Overseas

On May 16, 1941, Fort Slocum became a staging area. This meant it was a place where troops gathered before going overseas. It also trained staff to set up other staging areas.

Fort Slocum was important for the Army's Transportation Corps. This group was in charge of moving huge numbers of soldiers and supplies. The fort also hosted a training school for transportation officers.

By 1944, Fort Slocum helped soldiers returning from Europe. It helped them get used to Army life in the U.S. again.

The "Sound Off" Cadence

A famous military cadence was created at Fort Slocum. In May 1944, Private Willie Lee Duckworth made up the "Sound off, one, two" chant. He was attending a class at the fort at the time.

After World War II: New Missions and Closure

After World War II, Fort Slocum had new roles. From 1946 to 1949, it was home to the Headquarters First Air Force. For a short time in 1949, it was even called Slocum Air Force Base.

From 1955 to 1960, Fort Slocum was part of a Nike Ajax air-defense missile battery. The missiles were stored on nearby Hart Island. The radar and control base were on Davids Island.

From 1951 to 1962, the U.S. Army Chaplain School was at Fort Slocum. From 1951 to 1954, it also housed the Armed Forces Information School. This school trained people in journalism, radio, and photography. In 1965, this school moved, and Fort Slocum was closed.

After Closure: Demolition and Future Plans

Fort Slocum officially closed on November 30, 1965. Over the next few decades, the buildings fell into disrepair. In 2004, money was set aside to remove the old ruins.

In the summer of 2008, the city of New Rochelle tore down all remaining structures. This included the well-known water tower. The plan is to turn Davids Island into a park.

Other Fort Slocums

There was another Fort Slocum during the Civil War. This fort was in Washington, D.C.. It was named after a different person, Colonel John S. Slocum. He was killed in the First Battle of Bull Run.

Images for kids

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  Rifle squad

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  Early barracks

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  Medical corps posing on a 15-inch Rodman gun