Forgotten Forts Series - Fort Nathan Hale

NFB22

Sergeant Major
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Location
Louisville, KY
Fort Nathan Hale was a fortification located near New Haven, Connecticut. The fort was strategically located at the entrance to the harbor on a spot that had been home to multiple fortifications dating back to colonial times.

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The fort consisted of earthworks and “bombproofs” to protect the fort’s artillery and garrison. It was also surrounded by a moat filled with seawater. It was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale who served as a spy early in the war before being captured and hanged.

The site of Fort Nathan Hale was originally fortified in early colonial times to protect early settlements inside of the harbor. During the American Revolution a fort named Fort Black Rock, after the formation of rocks it was built on, stood guard over the harbor until it was captured by British forced during Tyron’s Raid and destroyed.

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A new second system fort was built prior to the War of 1812 near the site of Fort Black Rock and named Fort Nathan Hale. After the war it fell into disrepair and the site laid, for the most part, abandoned until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.

The second system fort was then demolished and new earthwork fortifications were constructed for the defense of New Haven against Confederate naval forces and raiders. The fort saw no action during the war and eventually fell into disrepair and was mostly demolished.

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The area once again lay abandoned until it was incorporated as a park. In 1970 the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places and over the next decade replicas were built of both Fort Black Rock and Fort Nathan Hale on the site.

Today the site is known as the Fort Hale City Park. Visitors can tour the site each summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Visitors are free to walk over the draw bridge and moat into Fort Nathan Hale to view the earthworks and magazines as well as Fort Black Rock and various pieces of artillery. There is also a statue of Nathan Hale on the grounds.

Also be sure to check out all other "forgotten forts" in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/
 
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