- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Location
- Louisville, KY
Before I continue I'd like to thank John Hartwell for bringing this fort to my attention.
Fort Scammel is a Third System granite fortification built on House Island in Portland Harbor, Maine.
The fort is named after Colonel Alexander Scammel who was killed at the Siege of Yorktown during the American Revolution. The first fortification built on House Island was a blockhouse and earthwork defenses built in 1808 for the defense of Casco Bay. During the War of 1812 the blockhouse saw action against British forces in August of 1813.
Shortly following the outbreak of the American Civil War Fort Scammel saw major changes with the construction of two major granite bastions seen in the picture above connected by extensive earthworks. The fort was supported by Fort Preble on the mainland and Fort Gorges on Hog Island Ledge. In June of 1863 the fort did see some excitement when Confederate raiders, disguised as fishermen, sailed into the harbor and comandeered several vessels before the raiders were captured trying to make a run into open waters.
Following the American Civil War plans were made for another bastion on the north side of the fort but this plan was never carried out. During the early 1900s there were anti-aircraft emplacements built on the island however these emplacements were never garrisoned by U.S. troops. For 30 years from 1907 to 1937 the island served as a quarantine station for the United States Department of Immigration.
(Fort Edgecomb located in Edgecomb, Maine. This blockhouse is similiar to the one built on House Island in 1808 that saw action in 1813 during the War of 1812.)
Today Fort Scammel still stands on House Island along with several buildings that date back to the quarantine station. The island is privately owned but a few ferry services based out of Portland offer tours of the island that is currently for sale for the small fee of $4.5 million dollars according to internet sources. Visitors to the fort can tour the large granite bastions and their casemates. You can also walk the parade ground and explore several earthwork magazines and the anti-aircraft gun emplacements.
http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Scammel
http://www.portlanddiscovery.com/tours/fort-scammel-casco-bay-cruise/
Links to other "Forgotten Forts Series" forts
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-lancaster.79287/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-craig-nm.79104/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-pike.78757/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-livingston.78737/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mcallister.78469/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-caswell.78408/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-wool.78325/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mackinac.77950/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-norfolk.77859/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-clinch.77816/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-adams.77979/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/fort-warren.77775/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/fort-alcatraz.77732/
Fort Scammel is a Third System granite fortification built on House Island in Portland Harbor, Maine.
The fort is named after Colonel Alexander Scammel who was killed at the Siege of Yorktown during the American Revolution. The first fortification built on House Island was a blockhouse and earthwork defenses built in 1808 for the defense of Casco Bay. During the War of 1812 the blockhouse saw action against British forces in August of 1813.
Shortly following the outbreak of the American Civil War Fort Scammel saw major changes with the construction of two major granite bastions seen in the picture above connected by extensive earthworks. The fort was supported by Fort Preble on the mainland and Fort Gorges on Hog Island Ledge. In June of 1863 the fort did see some excitement when Confederate raiders, disguised as fishermen, sailed into the harbor and comandeered several vessels before the raiders were captured trying to make a run into open waters.
Following the American Civil War plans were made for another bastion on the north side of the fort but this plan was never carried out. During the early 1900s there were anti-aircraft emplacements built on the island however these emplacements were never garrisoned by U.S. troops. For 30 years from 1907 to 1937 the island served as a quarantine station for the United States Department of Immigration.
(Fort Edgecomb located in Edgecomb, Maine. This blockhouse is similiar to the one built on House Island in 1808 that saw action in 1813 during the War of 1812.)
Today Fort Scammel still stands on House Island along with several buildings that date back to the quarantine station. The island is privately owned but a few ferry services based out of Portland offer tours of the island that is currently for sale for the small fee of $4.5 million dollars according to internet sources. Visitors to the fort can tour the large granite bastions and their casemates. You can also walk the parade ground and explore several earthwork magazines and the anti-aircraft gun emplacements.
http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Scammel
http://www.portlanddiscovery.com/tours/fort-scammel-casco-bay-cruise/
Links to other "Forgotten Forts Series" forts
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-lancaster.79287/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-craig-nm.79104/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-pike.78757/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-livingston.78737/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mcallister.78469/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-caswell.78408/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-wool.78325/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mackinac.77950/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-norfolk.77859/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-clinch.77816/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-adams.77979/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/fort-warren.77775/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/fort-alcatraz.77732/