- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Location
- Louisville, KY
My fourth installment in the Forgotten Forts Series
Fort Norfolk - Norfolk, Virginia
Fort Norfolk was begun in the late 1700s as part of the 1794 harbor defense program established by George Washington. Fort Norfolk was meant for the defense of the city of Norfolk which had been shelled during the Revolutionary War and for the most part destroyed and the nearby navy yard. The orginal fortification consisted of mostly earthworks. In 1809 the fort was updated as a brick fortification. The fort saw no action during the War of 1812 and because of larger and more strategically placed fortifications like Fort Monroe and Wool the fortress soon was put on on caretaker status until 1849 when the United States Navy took over the installation for their own use.
In the early days of the Civil War when Gosport Navy Yard was abandoned so too was Fort Norfolk. Confederate forces were quick to occupy both locations in April of 1861. During the forts occupation by Confederate forces its stores were put to quick use supplying the newly completed CSS Virginia and other CSN vessels. With Union troops bearing down on Norfolk in 1862 Confederates withdrew leaving the fort to the Union troops. Under Union command the fort served as both a hospital and also as a prison mostly for the crews of captured blockade runners until 1863 when the fort was then transferred back to the navy for their use. Fort Norfolk would be saved from any serious combat in the war and came away without much damage.
Later in the 1900s Fort Norfolk would be taken charge of by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Today it still survives amongst large buildings that line the banks flanking Norfolk. It is open to the public free of charge and open weekdays. When I was stationed briefly in Norfolk during my time in the Marine Corps I was able to visit this fort. The local government has dumped quite a few dollars into this fort trying to save it and have done an excellent job however it remains primarily unknown to most people.
http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Norfolk
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/fort-norfolk-be-spruced-and-preserved
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/shipyard/imageindex/imageindex.html
Fort Norfolk - Norfolk, Virginia
Fort Norfolk was begun in the late 1700s as part of the 1794 harbor defense program established by George Washington. Fort Norfolk was meant for the defense of the city of Norfolk which had been shelled during the Revolutionary War and for the most part destroyed and the nearby navy yard. The orginal fortification consisted of mostly earthworks. In 1809 the fort was updated as a brick fortification. The fort saw no action during the War of 1812 and because of larger and more strategically placed fortifications like Fort Monroe and Wool the fortress soon was put on on caretaker status until 1849 when the United States Navy took over the installation for their own use.
Later in the 1900s Fort Norfolk would be taken charge of by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Today it still survives amongst large buildings that line the banks flanking Norfolk. It is open to the public free of charge and open weekdays. When I was stationed briefly in Norfolk during my time in the Marine Corps I was able to visit this fort. The local government has dumped quite a few dollars into this fort trying to save it and have done an excellent job however it remains primarily unknown to most people.
http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Norfolk
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/fort-norfolk-be-spruced-and-preserved
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/shipyard/imageindex/imageindex.html