- Fort Schuyler, Bronx
: "For the fort at Utica, NY, see
Utica, New York ": "For the fort at Rome, NY, seeFort Stanwix "Fort Schuyler is a preserved 19th centuryfortification in theNew York City borough ofThe Bronx , that houses a museum, and the Marine Transportation Department and Administrative offices of theState University of New York Maritime College . It is considered one of the finest examples of French-style fortifications. The fort was named in honor of Major GeneralPhilip Schuyler of theContinental Army . [ [http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Maritime%20Museum/FortSchuyler/index.aspx History of Fort Schuyler] ,State University of New York Maritime College . AccessedOctober 20 ,2007 .] It has been listed on theNational Register of Historic Places since 1976 (as District #76001206). [ [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ny/Bronx/state.html NEW YORK - Bronx County] ,National Register of Historic Places . AccessedOctober 20 ,2007 .]Fort Schuyler was one of many forts built along the east coast of the United States in the aftermath of the
War of 1812 (with theBritish Empire ) when it became brutally apparent that the US coast was poorly defended against foreign invasion. Fort Schuyler was dedicated in 1856 after only 75% completion, and was strategically positioned to protect New York City from naval attack throughLong Island Sound ; guarding the eastern entrance to New York Harbor. It is located onThrogs Neck in the southeastern tip of the Bronx at a point where theEast River meets Long Island Sound. Fort Totten faces it on the other side of the river. Their interlocking batteries created a bottle-neck of defenses against ships attempting to approach New York City. Fort Schuyler, at its peak, boasted 440 guns. Later, it would be fitted with various other pieces throughout the ever-modernization of coastal defense artillery, once including 10" and 12" guns on disappearing carriages installed on the roof and on the peninsula around the fort.Coastal artillery emplacements at the fort lasted until 1935.During the
American Civil War , Fort Schuyler held as many as 500prisoners of war from theConfederate States Army and military convicts from theUnion Army . It also included theMacDougall Hospital which had a capacity of 2,000 beds. The fort was poorly constructed and its well water became brackish (contaminated with salt water). Fort Schuyler was also a location where units heading to war would rendezvous and be outfitted and trained before being deployed. Such units include the5th New York Volunteer Infantry "Duryee's Zouaves," and the 69th and 88th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiments (the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Meagher's "Irish Brigade (US) .") From January 1863 until July1865 , the Fort itself was garrisoned by the20th Independent Battery, New York Volunteer Artillery , a unit originally recruited to fight in the war as part of theAnthon Battalion of Volunteer Light Artillery. Duty at the fort was reported to be a dull assignment as the men took the roles of guards and hospital stewards, not artillerymen. [ See a "post history" for Fort Schuyler on NARA microfilm M903 reel 4; and "Brooklyn Eagle ",October 22 ,1863 , p. 3.] . From July until August 1865 the Fort was garrisoned by companies A, B, C, F, G, H and I of theAnderson Zouaves (companies D, and E being assigned toFort Wood on Bedloes Island), upon their return from service with the VI Corps of theArmy of the Potomac and duty in the defenses ofWashington, D.C. The Anderson Zouaves finally mustered out from Fort Schuyler on August 30, 1865.In 1934, Fort Schuyler was decommissioned by the U.S. Army, and by 1938 its conversion into a college, "The New York Public Nautical School", was completed. The college, which was founded in 1874, still occupies the site, and in 1948 was one of the original 29 founding schools to be incorporated into the
State University of New York as theState University of New York Maritime College .In 1986, a portion of Fort Schuyler was dedicated as the
Maritime Industry Museum . The museum houses exhibits of both the maritime industry and the history of Fort Schuyler, and is open to the public on weekdays.References
ee also
*
Maritime Industry Museum
*State University of New York Maritime College
*Throgs Neck External links
* [http://us.geocities.com/twentiethnyva/schuyler History of Fort Schuyler web site]
* [http://maritimeindustrymuseum.org/ Maritime Industry Museum web site]
* [http://www.sunymaritime.edu/ SUNY Maritime College web site]
* [http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/forts/fortsQ_S/schuylerFort.htm New York State Military Museum]
* [http://www.cdsg.org/mapspdf/HDEY1921.pdf 1920 map of Fort Slocum, Fort Totten, and Fort Schuyler (PDF)]
* [http://www.cdsg.org/cdlist1.htm Coast Defense Study Group]
* [http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/artillery/20thIndBat/20thIndBatMain.htm 20th Independent Battery, NYVA]
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