Newport Barracks facts for kids
The Newport Barracks was an important military base located in Newport, Kentucky. It was built right on the Ohio River, directly across from Cincinnati, Ohio. This base was active for a long time, from 1803 until 1894.
Contents
Building the Barracks
In 1803, a man named James Taylor Jr. had an idea. He wanted to move a military fort called Fort Washington from Cincinnati to Newport, Kentucky. James Taylor Jr. asked his cousin, James Madison, for help. James Madison was the U.S. Secretary of State at the time, which meant he was a very important government official.
With Madison's help, the government agreed to move the fort. They bought about 4 acres of land from Taylor's family for just $1. Later, in 1806, they bought two more acres for $47.
James Taylor Jr. was put in charge of building the new barracks. He oversaw the construction of three main buildings. Many people worked on the project, including bricklayers, stonemasons, carpenters, and joiners.
Serving the Nation
The War of 1812
In March 1811, about 600 soldiers arrived in Newport. They set up their tents next to the new barracks. Newport became a key place for finding new soldiers in Ohio and Kentucky. It also supplied equipment and troops for the new Louisiana Territory.
During the War of 1812 (a conflict with Great Britain), Newport Barracks played a big role. It sent soldiers to the front lines. James Taylor Jr. became the Quartermaster General for the Northwestern Army. This meant he was in charge of supplies and payments. Because of him, Newport became a vital supply center for the army. Even British prisoners of war were brought to Newport.
Improvements and Growth
By 1842, the barracks needed repairs after 35 years of use. James Taylor Jr. asked the government for $20,000 to fix them. The money was approved, and Captain J. R. Irwin was sent to help. He asked for even more money to buy extra land, build homes for officers and laundresses, and create a hospital.
By January 1845, the new hospital was ready for patients. The soldiers had new barracks, and the officers' homes were almost finished.
In 1848, the city of Newport gave the government more land. This land was along the Ohio and Licking Rivers. The city gave it for free, but with one condition: if the barracks were ever closed, the land would go back to the city.
The Civil War Era
Newport Barracks became a main recruiting center for the Eastern Department of the U.S. Army. During the American Civil War, Kentucky was a "border state." This meant it was a slave state but chose to stay with the Union (the North).
The barracks continued to be important during the war. Wounded soldiers were brought to Newport for care. Confederate prisoners were also held there. It's even said that famous generals like Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant served at Newport Barracks at different times in their careers.
Closing the Barracks
After the Civil War ended, the Newport Barracks became less useful. The army started to prefer larger military bases instead of smaller ones like Newport.
Also, the barracks were located where the Licking and Ohio Rivers met. This made them prone to frequent flooding, especially in 1882, 1883, and 1884. Because of the floods, the Secretary of War decided to buy new land. They bought 112 acres on a hill about three miles east of Newport. This new location became Fort Thomas.
By November 1894, all soldiers and equipment were moved to Fort Thomas. On January 2, 1895, Colonel Cochran officially gave the Newport Barracks land back to the City of Newport. Today, the city has built General James Taylor Park on the old barracks grounds.
