Hooper Battery facts for kids

Hooper Battery was a special kind of fort built on a hilltop. It was made of earth, meaning it was a big mound of dirt designed for defense. This fort was built during the American Civil War to help protect the city of Cincinnati in Ohio.

The battery was located in Northern Kentucky. It was built by the Union Army to stop Confederate soldiers from attacking. Its main job was to guard Cincinnati and the important Ohio River valley. Hooper Battery was placed in a very good spot, overlooking the Licking River valley. This gave soldiers a great view of anyone approaching.

Protecting Cincinnati

During the Civil War, Cincinnati was a very important city for the Union. It was a major center for supplies and transportation. If the Confederate army captured Cincinnati, it would be a big problem for the Union.

In September 1862, a Union general named Lew Wallace was in charge of defending Cincinnati. He knew the city needed strong defenses. He brought in an expert, Charles Whittlesey, to help.

Building the Defenses

Charles Whittlesey was a former army officer and a skilled engineer. He had actually planned some defenses for Cincinnati back in 1861. However, General Wallace found these plans needed a lot of work.

Wallace made Whittlesey part of his team. Whittlesey immediately started organizing groups of workers. These groups worked hard to make the defenses stronger. Later, another officer, James H. Simpson, took over this important job. He continued to improve and upgrade Cincinnati's defenses.

A City Prepares

When it seemed like Cincinnati might be attacked, many people came forward to help. Within just five days, about 75,000 men volunteered to defend the city! Most of these men, around 60,000, were not regular soldiers. They were ordinary citizens who wanted to protect their homes.

Hooper Battery Today

Hooper Battery is one of only six forts that are still standing today. During the Civil War, 28 such forts were built on hilltops in Northern Kentucky between 1861 and 1864. These forts were called artillery batteries because they held cannons (artillery).

For many years, the site of Hooper Battery was home to the James A. Ramage Civil War Museum. This museum taught people about the Civil War and the history of the area. However, the museum closed its doors in 2021.