Fort Tompkins (Plattsburgh, New York) facts for kids

Fort Tompkins was a small but important fort built around 1814 in Plattsburgh, New York. It was part of a larger defense system during the War of 1812. This fort was named after Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, who was a key leader at the time.

Why Was Fort Tompkins Built?

Fort Tompkins was built to help protect Plattsburgh from attacks. After the British forces were defeated in the Battle of Plattsburgh, American leaders wanted to make sure the area was even safer. They decided to add new forts to strengthen their defenses.

A New Addition to Plattsburgh's Defenses

Fort Tompkins was one of two new forts added after the big battle. It was built near other important forts like Fort Brown, Fort Moreau, and Fort Scott. This helped create a strong line of defense.

What Was Inside Fort Tompkins?

Fort Tompkins was located southwest of Fort Brown. It was equipped with three cannons. These cannons were important for defending the area against any enemy ships or troops.

Connecting the Forts

Later, another fort called Fort Gaines was built. It was placed between Fort Tompkins and the nearby lake. This created a unique, five-sided defense area. These forts were then connected by strong walls called curtain walls. These walls helped protect the soldiers and made the entire complex even stronger.