Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth

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Coordinates: 43°04′17″N 70°42′37″W / 43.07139°N 70.71028°W / 43.07139; -70.71028
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Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth
Active1900-1950[1]
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army Coast Artillery Corps
TypeCoast artillery
RoleHarbor Defense Command
Part of
Garrison/HQ
  • Fort Constitution
    , New Castle, NH
  • Camp Langdon, New Castle, NH (World War II)[2]
Motto(s)We are one[3][4]
Mascot(s)Oozlefinch

The Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth was a

forts and underwater minefields. The command originated circa 1900 as the Portsmouth Artillery District, was renamed Coast Defenses of Portsmouth in 1913, and again renamed Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth in 1925.[2][5][6][7]

History

Early Portsmouth forts

Fort William and Mary by Wolfgang William Romer (1705).
Fort Constitution in the 19th century.
Battery Farnsworth, 8-inch disappearing gun emplacement, Fort Constitution.

The first fort in the Portsmouth area was

Massachusetts. This was called Fort Pepperrell after its builder, William Pepperrell. In 1720 this became a permanent battery of six guns named Fort William.[10]

In 1746 Battery Cumberland was built at Jaffrey's (Jerry's) Point in New Castle.

caretaker detachment and confiscated much of the fort's supply of gunpowder. On the second night another raid under John Sullivan seized 16 of the fort's cannon and a number of muskets. These raids were the first acts of the Revolution in New Hampshire.[12] In 1775 Fort William was seized by New Hampshire militia and expanded.[10] The British recaptured Fort William and Mary, but eventually abandoned it and New Hampshire; the Patriot forces probably renamed it Fort Hancock.[8]

Other forts built during the Revolution in the Portsmouth area included Fort Washington on Peirce Island in Portsmouth and Fort Sullivan on Seavey's Island in Kittery, near the later site of the Portsmouth Naval Prison.[13][14][15] Both were built in 1775 and were named for George Washington and local hero John Sullivan. Fort Washington was a star-shaped earthwork. Both forts were commanded by Captain Titus Salter (or Salten) during the Revolution. They were re-garrisoned in the War of 1812 and abandoned after that war.[13][16]

Following the Revolution Fort William and Mary was called Castle Fort or Fort Castle.

Fort Constitution while Fort McClary was constructed across the river, both of these under the second system of fortifications.[10] Around this time Battery Cumberland was rebuilt with stone as the Fort at Jaffrey's Point.[11] A Martello tower was added to Fort Constitution during the War of 1812, while a blockhouse was added to Fort McClary in 1844. Major expansions of both forts were begun during the Civil War under the third system of forts, but were abandoned incomplete in 1867; war experience showed that masonry forts were too vulnerable to rifled cannon. Fort Constitution's north front was demolished to prepare for the third system expansion.[17] Fort Sullivan at the Navy Yard was rebuilt in 1861 with eleven 8-inch Rodman guns.[15] In the 1870s Jaffrey's (Jerry's) Point became the center in the Portsmouth area of a soon-abandoned rebuilding of the US fort system, with a 12-gun earth-protected battery called the Battery at Jerry's Point.[11]

Endicott period

12-inch (305 mm) disappearing gun emplacement, Fort Stark.

As recommended by the

disappearing carriages, with four 3-inch (76 mm) guns to defend the minefield against minesweepers. Fort Foster had three 10-inch (254 mm) disappearing guns and two 3-inch guns. Fort Constitution had two 8-inch disappearing guns and two 3-inch guns.[18]

World War I

The

railway artillery in that war. Stateside garrisons were drawn down to provide experienced gun crews on the Western Front. Some weapons were removed from forts with the intent of getting US-made artillery into the fight. 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch guns and 12-inch mortars were converted to railway artillery,[23] while 5-inch and 6-inch guns became field guns on wheeled carriages.[24] However, few railway artillery pieces were mounted and few or none saw action before the Armistice. The remounted 5-inch and 6-inch guns were sent to France, but their units did not complete training in time to see action.[25] All three 10-inch guns from Fort Foster, both 8-inch guns from Fort Constitution, and both 6-inch guns from Fort Stark were removed; after the war the 10-inch guns were returned, but the 6-inch guns were stored and the 8-inch guns probably became railway artillery.[20][26][22] At all the forts, numerous temporary buildings were constructed to accommodate the large influx of new recruits. Camp Langdon (named for the Revolutionary War hero and originally the New Military Reservation) was established in New Castle due to insufficient space at the forts.[27] References indicate the authorized strength of CD Portsmouth was 10 companies, including four from the New Hampshire National Guard.[6]

Interwar

In 1920 a new mine casemate was built at Fort Constitution to replace the one at Fort Stark.

3-inch gun M1917 and were removed in the early 1930s.[27]

World War II

Harbor Entrance Control Post disguised as a mansion, added to Fort Stark in World War II.
16-inch gun emplacement, Battery Seaman, Fort Dearborn.

Early in World War II numerous temporary buildings were again constructed to accommodate the rapid mobilization of men and equipment. Camp Langdon became the headquarters of HD Portsmouth, probably for reasons of space. After the

Camp Hood, Texas for inactivation by reassigning their personnel to five field artillery battalions.[29] Another, less detailed source states the regiment was dissolved on 7 October 1944.[2]

An outlying 4-gun 155 mm battery was at the Salisbury Beach Military Reservation, just over the state line in Salisbury, Massachusetts.[18][30] The battery was initially part of the Harbor Defenses of Boston, but was transferred to HD Portsmouth with the construction of a fire control station for Fort Dearborn.[31][32]

Numerous fire control towers and other structures were built from Kennebunkport, Maine to Cape Ann, Massachusetts to support HD Portsmouth, particularly the 16-inch guns at Fort Dearborn.[33]

The

indicator loops, including a station on Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals (Station 1G).[34]

Following mobilization in 1940 HD Portsmouth was subordinate to

antiaircraft and fighter assets. This command was disestablished in 1946.[35]

Post World War II

Following the war, it was soon determined that gun defenses were obsolete, and they were scrapped by the end of 1948, with remaining harbor defense functions turned over to the Navy.

Air Defense Artillery carries the lineage of some Coast Artillery units.[36]

Present

The forts of the Portsmouth area are unusually well-preserved and publicly accessible, and include many features of US fort construction 1808-1945 in a geographically compact area. All except Fort Constitution are in public parks, and that fort is also open to the public. The only large battery that is partially buried is Battery Bolden, the 10-inch gun battery at Fort Foster. Most of the other batteries are fenced off, or with interior access otherwise impeded, but are visible and reasonably free of overgrowth.

Pulpit Rock Base-End Station (N. 142) is on the National Register of Historic Places, no. 10000188.[39]

Coat of arms

  • Blazon
    • Shield: Gyronny of eight azure and gules, a three-bastioned fort voided argent.[3][4]
    • Crest: On a wreath of the colors a ship gules flagged proper in stocks argent, from the
      seal of the state of New Hampshire.[3][4]
    • Motto: We are one.[3][4]
  • Symbolism: The field is taken from one of the two earliest New Hampshire flags known to exist, that of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. (This flag bears in the upper comer next to the staff, eight triangles, alternately red and blue, so arranged as to form two crosses, one upright and the other diagonal.) The field commemorates the capture, on December 14–15, 1774, of Fort William and Mary (now Fort Constitution) by the colonial Americans of New Hampshire, said to be the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. The three bastions of the fort are used as a charge, representing the three forts of the harbor defenses, Fort Constitution, New Hampshire, at chief, Fort Foster, Maine, dexter base, Fort Stark, New Hampshire, sinister base. The fact that the three forts are represented as bastions joined together by curtain wallsso as to form a single fort signifies their union in the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth and the close cooperation of the three in the common defense of Portsmouth. The motto, "We are One," taken from the old flag mentioned in connection with the field, also alludes to this union and cooperation. The ship on the stocks, used as a crest, is taken from the seal of the State of New Hampshire, of which seal it is the most prominent feature. Its significance lies in the fact that the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth defend the only port in the state. Its tincture, red, is that of the Coast Artillery Corps, the combatant arm manning the defenses.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Gaines, pp. 8, 15
  2. ^ a b c d Stanton, pp. 455-481
  3. ^ a b c d Berhow, p. 578
  4. ^ a b c d e Coat of Arms, p. 537
  5. ^ a b Coast Artillery Organization: A Brief Overview at the Coast Defense Study Group website
  6. ^ a b Rinaldi, pp. 165-166
  7. ^ a b Berhow, p. 430-434
  8. ^ a b c Roberts, pp. 498-499
  9. ^ a b c d Fort William and Mary/Constitution at American Forts Network
  10. ^ a b c d Fort McClary at American Forts Network
  11. ^ a b c d Fort Stark at American Forts Network
  12. ^ Kehr, Thomas F., The Seizure of His Majesty's Fort William and Mary at the New Hampshire Society, Sons of the American Revolution
  13. ^ a b c Fort Washington (New Hampshire) at FortWiki.com
  14. ^ a b Fort Washington (New Hampshire) at American Forts Network
  15. ^ a b Fort Sullivan (Kittery, Maine) at American Forts Network
  16. ^ Roberts, p. 503
  17. ^ Weaver, pp. 99–103
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Berhow, p. 205
  19. ^ Congressional serial set, 1900, Report of the Commission on the Conduct of the War with Spain, Vol. 7, pp. 3778–3780, Washington: Government Printing Office
  20. ^ a b c Fort Stark at FortWiki.com
  21. ^ a b Fort McClary at FortWiki.com
  22. ^ a b Fort Constitution at FortWiki.com
  23. ^ US Army Railway Guns in World War I
  24. ^ Williford, pp. 92-99
  25. ^ Coast Artillery Corps Units in France in WWI
  26. ^ a b Fort Foster at FortWiki.com
  27. ^ a b Camp Langdon at American Forts Network
  28. ^ History of Fort Dearborn at American Forts Network
  29. ^ Gaines, William C., Coast Artillery Organizational History, 1917-1950, Coast Defense Journal, vol. 23, issue 2, p. 15
  30. ^ Salisbury Beach at FortWiki.com
  31. ^ Salisbury Beach at American Forts Network
  32. ^ Scarpulla, Norm (Winter 2020). "Salisbury Beach Fire Control and Battery". Coast Defense Study Group Newsletter. Mclean, Virginia: CDSG Press.
  33. ^ Fire control towers of the Portsmouth Harbor Defense Command in World War II at American Forts Network
  34. ^ Indicator loops at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  35. ^ Conn, pp. 33-35
  36. ^ McKenney, Janice E. (1985). Army Lineage Series: Air Defense Artillery, CMH 60-5. United States Army Center of Military History.
  37. ^ Great Island Common at Town of New Castle, NH
  38. ^ Brief history of Great Island Common
  39. ^ National Register of Historic Places asset detail web page

Further reading

External links

43°04′17″N 70°42′37″W / 43.07139°N 70.71028°W / 43.07139; -70.71028

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