Introduction

Welcome to the “Fort Independence History,” page, where we explore the rich and fascinating past of this legendary site. Spanning over 350 years, Castle Island has been home to eight different forts, each having its unique historical and military significance. Castle Island was originally of glacial origin. It was a mass of sand, gravel, boulders, and clay left when the glaciers retreated between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. Over time, it became a crucial military stronghold..

The General Court Of The Colony of Massachusetts constructed the first four Forts in 1634, 1644, 1653, and 1673. The British Military rebuilt it in 1700 and named it Castle William. US Military completed three reconstructions in 1776, 1809, and 1851.

Enjoy reading the details about each modification of the Fort below:

Stragetic Importance of the Location

A 1775 chart of Boston Harbor illustrates why Castle Island was a critical military asset.. The chart shows a BLACK LINE where the main shipping channel goes in and out of Boston Neck.

The fort overlooked the main shipping channel leading into Boston Neck. All ships entering Boston had to pass close to the fort, putting them within range of its cannons. This positioning allowed for both military control and taxation of passing vessels.

The Evolution of Castle Island’s Fortification

The Castle 1634

The garrison consisted of the captain, the gunner, and an undetermined number of men; in 1634, three men enlisted for a year’s service at 10 pounds a year. In 1641, the Court authorized the captain to employ a gunner and his men 150 bushels of Indian corn a year.

The Castle – 1644

After a French Warship visited Boston Harbor, the French were a traditional enemy. The French arrived seeking aid against fellow Frenchmen in a dispute over trading rights in Nova Scotia. Because no salute to the visiting ship came from the Fort, an upgrade of the Fort was required. The new Fort was reconstructed with pine logs, stone, and earth and had six saker guns and three smaller guns.

To read more about a saker gun, considered a top-of-the-line cannon at the time with a range of over a mile, could fire 5 to 6-pound balls.

The Castle – 1653

Pine logs were used to substantialy upgrade the outer defensive walls of The Castle. Commander Richard Davenport died in 1665 after getting struck by lightning while at the Fort. Captain Roger Clap was commander from 1665 to 1686.

The Castle – 1673

After an accidental fire destroyed the Fort, it was rebuilt using stone. It had 38 guns and 16 culverins in four bastions and six guns in a water battery. The culverins had an effective range of 1800 feet. Generals valued demi-culverins for their range, accuracy, and effectiveness.

In 1689, British Governor Edmund Andros fled to Castle Island after King James II was overthrown in England. Andros had attempted to centralize authority in New England by bringing it more under the king’s control. One of the acts he sought to enforce was the Navigation Act, which prohibited the use of foreign ships to land in England and restricted the colonies from exporting certain products to any country other than England.

The Castle – 1692

Weaponry used to upgrade the Fort to include 54 cannons, 24 nine pounders, 12 twenty-four pounders, and 18 thirty-two and forty-eight pounders under Governor Sir Williams Phips.

Castle William – 1701

Wolfgang William Romer, the Chief Engineer of British forces in the American colonies, designed a new fort. The new Fort’s armament was increased to over 100 guns. The Fort was now known as “Castle William.” Outside the Fort, Romer added a complex system of outer defenses. An enemy would have to cross three sets of fortifications to enter the Fort—the waterfront, the secondary, and the Fort itself. A new lookout tower at the northeast corner of the Fort that surveyed the outer harbor. Close by the new tower and heavily protected were two powder magazines.

Siege of the Boston

During the Stamp Act and Boston Massacre issues, numerous provincial leaders and British troops felt compelled to flee the Fort. Some British soldiers and officials were stationed on the island for the next six years.

The siege of Boston Harbor started immediately after the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775. The British troops set up roadblocks on the Boston Neck to prevent rebels from entering the town.

This led to a series of battles with a final climax, the events at the Fort and Dorchester Heights. General Howe thought the British would be safe as he had a large navy, while the rebels had a tiny navy.

Howe wrote to London during the fall of 1775 requesting to move his troops from Boston to New York but got permission to do so when winter had already started settling in New England.

The Revolutionary War and Beyond

Fort Adams – 1776

In March of 1776, George Washington’s continental army fortified the nearby Dorchester Heights using cannons they had taken from Fort Ticonderoga. At the same time, the continental troops provided cover fire in Cambridge on the British forces.

The following morning, British Commander General Howe attempted an attack using row boats on Dorchester Heights but had to turn back due to a snowstorm. Now surrounded, Howe decided to remove his 10,000 troops and 1,000 loyalists from Boston.

Commander Howe and American General George Washington had reached a tacit agreement. So long as the British could leave unmolested, they would not destroy downtown Boston. After the British soldiers started some “plundering” in downtown Boston, Howe issued the following proclamation;

“The commander-in-chief finding, notwithstanding former orders that have been given to forbid plundering, houses have been forced open and robbed, he is therefore under a necessity of declaring to the troops that the first soldier who is caught plundering will be hanged on the spot.”

Howe burned down the Fort and destroyed most of its weaponry and ammunition as part of his “gentleman agreed” evacuation with Washington.

Here is a quick description of the capture and journey of the Fort Ticonderoga cannons to Boston. The link below is for a great detailed book about the winter trek covering over 260 miles to Boston. Henry Knox led the journey over many lakes and rivers in the winter. The book “Henry Knox Noble Train “ can be found on Amazon.com

USA takes control of Fort and Boston

General Washington appointed Colonel Richard Gridley, Chief Engineer, to rebuild the star-shaped Fort. Colonel Paul Revere was put in command of the forces stationed at the Fort. The Fort was officially called Fort Adams until 1797 when President John Adams renamed it Fort Independence.

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Fort Independence – 1800

The fort was rebuilt and expanded by military engineer Jean Foncin in 1803. The fort was now described as “a regular pentagon, with bastions of masonry, mounting 42 heavy cannons, with two additional batteries for six guns” and was made of brick.

During the War of 1812, the British Navy was active in Massachusetts Bay but did not enter Boston Harbor because the Forts played a big part in the harbor defense. Colonel John Beck was the fort’s commandant during the War of 1812.

Importance of Fort Independence

“Reflecting on the 350 years that Castle Island has stood, we can conclude that the seventh fort, the first Fort Independence, built between 1801 and 1836, was the most significant. At the same time, there were times when perceived threats felt more pressing—such as during the French and Indian War, the pre-Revolutionary period, or the Civil War when a larger number of personnel were stationed on the island—none compared to the actual danger during the War of 1812. At that time, the British controlled Massachusetts Bay, attacking and occupying towns at will.” periods. But during the War of 1812, the danger was real. The British controlled Massachusetts Bay and harassed, attacked, and occupied towns seemingly at will.”

“That Boston was NOT attacked was due to Fort Independence and the then prevailing naval thought that sailing vessels with the armament of the day could not successful subdue land fortifications – a theory proven by the unsuccessful British attack on Foncin’s Fort McHenry at Baltimore. The mere presence of Fort Independence was sufficient to defend the town.”

Taken from Book Castle Island and Fort Independence by William J. Reid

Fort Independence – 1833

Work began in 1833 on the final renovation of the fort, with work continuing until 1862. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer supervised this work and continued with Charles H. Bigelow and Edward H. Courtenay. To see more details about Colonel Thayer’s illustrious military career. The fort was made of granite from Rockport, MA, with walls 30′ high and 5.5′ thick.

During the Civil War, weaponry included 96 cannons, including some 15″ Rodman guns that could fire a 450-pound shot more than 3 miles. Fourth Battalion Volunteer Militia and two Infantry regiments, the 11th Massachusetts and 13th Massachusetts, used the fort for training and drilling.

Connecting Castle Island to Mainland

In 1890, Boston started filling in the marshes around Castle Island and expanded,Southwards to the Fort Point Channel completing landfill efforts in the 1920s. Today, visitors can walk along the the Head Island Causeway, which circles Pleasure Bay for a 2.5-mile scenic walk.

Fort Independence stands as a testament to centuries of military innovation and American resilience. Its legacy continues to inspire visitors from all over the world.

Resources used for this Article:

Castle Island and Fort Independence book by William Reid

This book can be borrowed at the Boston Public Library or purchased through the Castle Island Association

https://www.masshist.org/object-of-the-month/objects/fort-independence-2005-06-01