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| − | '''Fort Pickens''' is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on [[Santa Rosa Island]], at the entrance to [[Pensacola Bay]]. It is named after [[Wikipedia:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] hero [[Andrew Pickens]]. The fort was completed in [[1834]] and remained in use in some form until [[1947]]. | + | '''Fort Pickens''' is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on [[Santa Rosa Island]], at the entrance to [[Pensacola Bay]]. It is named after [[Wikipedia:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] hero [[Andrew Pickens]]. The fort was completed in [[1834]] and remained in use in some form until [[1947]]. Fort Pickens is currently part of the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]], and as such, is administered by the [[Wikipedia:National Park Service|National Park Service]]. |
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| − | Fort Pickens is currently part of the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]], and as such, is administered by the [[Wikipedia:National Park Service|National Park Service]]. | ||
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| + | ==Construction== | ||
[[Image:Fort Pickens map 1861.png|thumb|right|1861 sketch of the fort]] | [[Image:Fort Pickens map 1861.png|thumb|right|1861 sketch of the fort]] | ||
| − | French engineer [[Wikipedia:Simon Bernard|Simon Bernard]] was appointed to design Fort Pickens. | + | French engineer [[Wikipedia:Simon Bernard|Simon Bernard]] was appointed to design Fort Pickens. Construction on Fort Pickens lasted from [[1829]] to [[1834]], with 21.5 million bricks being used to build the fort. Much of the construction was done by slave labor. |
Fort Pickens was the largest of a group of forts designed to fortify Pensacola's harbor. Fort Pickens supplemented [[Fort Barrancas]], [[Fort McRee]], and the [[Navy Yard]]. Located at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, just offshore from the mainland, Pickens guarded the island and the entrance to the harbor. Its construction was supervised by Colonel [[William H. Chase]] of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ironically, during the [[Civil War]] some years later, Chase was later appointed by the State of Florida to command its troops and seize for the South the very fort he had built. | Fort Pickens was the largest of a group of forts designed to fortify Pensacola's harbor. Fort Pickens supplemented [[Fort Barrancas]], [[Fort McRee]], and the [[Navy Yard]]. Located at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, just offshore from the mainland, Pickens guarded the island and the entrance to the harbor. Its construction was supervised by Colonel [[William H. Chase]] of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ironically, during the [[Civil War]] some years later, Chase was later appointed by the State of Florida to command its troops and seize for the South the very fort he had built. | ||
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==Civil War== | ==Civil War== | ||
[[Image:Fort-pickens.jpg|thumb|right|Engraving of wartime Fort Pickens]] | [[Image:Fort-pickens.jpg|thumb|right|Engraving of wartime Fort Pickens]] | ||
| − | By the time of the Civil War, Fort Pickens had not been regularly occupied since the [[Wikipedia:Mexican–American War|Mexican–American War]]. However, Lieutenant [[Adam | + | By the time of the Civil War, Fort Pickens had not been regularly occupied since the [[Wikipedia:Mexican–American War|Mexican–American War]]. However, Lieutenant [[Wikipedia:Adam J. Slemmer|Adam J. Slemmer]], in charge of United States forces at Fort Barrancas, determined that Fort Pickens was more defensible than any of the other posts in the area. |
His decision to abandon Fort Barrancas was hastened when, around midnight of [[January 8]], [[1861]], his guards repelled a group of local men intending to take the fort. Some historians suggest that these were the first shots fired by United States forces in the Civil War. Shortly after this incident, Slemmer destroyed over 20,000 pounds of gunpowder at Fort McRee, spiked the guns at Barrancas, and evacuated about eighty troops to Fort Pickens. Despite repeated Confederate military threats to it, Fort Pickens remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War. | His decision to abandon Fort Barrancas was hastened when, around midnight of [[January 8]], [[1861]], his guards repelled a group of local men intending to take the fort. Some historians suggest that these were the first shots fired by United States forces in the Civil War. Shortly after this incident, Slemmer destroyed over 20,000 pounds of gunpowder at Fort McRee, spiked the guns at Barrancas, and evacuated about eighty troops to Fort Pickens. Despite repeated Confederate military threats to it, Fort Pickens remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War. | ||
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==Hurricane Ivan== | ==Hurricane Ivan== | ||
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In September [[2004]], [[Hurricane Ivan]] battered the Gulf Islands National Seashore, causing extensive flooding, the destruction of a number of buildings, and a large number of felled trees. Despite the extensive damage, the actual fort "held its ground during the hurricane with only minor damage."<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html]</ref> | In September [[2004]], [[Hurricane Ivan]] battered the Gulf Islands National Seashore, causing extensive flooding, the destruction of a number of buildings, and a large number of felled trees. Despite the extensive damage, the actual fort "held its ground during the hurricane with only minor damage."<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html]</ref> | ||
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==Batteries== | ==Batteries== | ||
A number of weapons emplacements were constructed in and around Fort Pickens throughout the years. | A number of weapons emplacements were constructed in and around Fort Pickens throughout the years. | ||
===Battery Pensacola=== | ===Battery Pensacola=== | ||
| − | '''Battery Pensacola''' was constructed in [[1898]] on a portion of the parade ground within Fort Pickens. At the battery were mounted two 12-inch rifles on disappearing carriages capable of firing 1,070 lb. shells approximately 8 miles.<ref name="NPS">[http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/extended/FLA/History/Battery.htm National Park Service - Gulf Islands National Seashore] | + | '''Battery Pensacola''' was constructed in [[1898]] on a portion of the parade ground within Fort Pickens. At the battery were mounted two 12-inch rifles on disappearing carriages capable of firing 1,070 lb. shells approximately 8 miles.<ref name="NPS">[http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/extended/FLA/History/Battery.htm National Park Service - Gulf Islands National Seashore]</ref> |
===Battery Van Swearingen=== | ===Battery Van Swearingen=== | ||
| − | + | '''Battery Van Swearingen''' was activated on [[June 29]], [[1898]]. Two 4.7-inch Armstrong guns were mounted on pedestal carriages. These were replaced with 3-inch rapid fire guns during World War II.<ref name="NPS" /><ref>de Quesada, Alejandro M. ''A History of Florida Forts: Florida's Lonely Outposts.'' The History Press, 2006.</ref> | |
| − | '''Battery Van Swearingen''' was activated on [[June 29]], [[1898]]. Two 4.7-inch Armstrong guns were mounted on pedestal carriages. These were replaced with 3-inch rapid fire guns during World War II.<ref name="NPS" /><ref | ||
===Batteries Cullum and Sevier=== | ===Batteries Cullum and Sevier=== | ||
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'''Battery Cullum''' and '''Battery Sevier''', completed by [[1898]], housed four 10-inch rifles on disappearing carriages. Although these structures appear to be one large complex, they are two separate structures.<ref name="NPS" /> | '''Battery Cullum''' and '''Battery Sevier''', completed by [[1898]], housed four 10-inch rifles on disappearing carriages. Although these structures appear to be one large complex, they are two separate structures.<ref name="NPS" /> | ||
After World War I, the batteries were declared surplus and two of the guns at Battery Cullum were removed. However, in [[1921]], the War Department reversed that decision and installed two new 10-inch guns at Cullum. Between [[1922]]-[[1923]], a new power station was constructed at Cullum/Sevier. In [[1942]], the 10-inch guns at Batteries Cullum and Sevier were removed. They were replaced in [[1943]] by three-inch rapid fire guns.<ref name="Quesada" /> | After World War I, the batteries were declared surplus and two of the guns at Battery Cullum were removed. However, in [[1921]], the War Department reversed that decision and installed two new 10-inch guns at Cullum. Between [[1922]]-[[1923]], a new power station was constructed at Cullum/Sevier. In [[1942]], the 10-inch guns at Batteries Cullum and Sevier were removed. They were replaced in [[1943]] by three-inch rapid fire guns.<ref name="Quesada" /> | ||
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===Battery Worth=== | ===Battery Worth=== | ||
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Completed in [[1899]], '''Battery Worth''' housed eight 12-inch mortars in two gun pits. Although the battery lost half its armament in [[1918]] in accordance with the War Department policy to reduce weaponry mounted in the nation's older emplacements, the other four mortars remained active until [[1942]]. The battery became essential for Army-Navy defense activities in the 1940s by housing the Fire Control Switchboard Room, Harbor Entrance Control Post and the Harbor Defense Command Post.<ref name="NPS" /> | Completed in [[1899]], '''Battery Worth''' housed eight 12-inch mortars in two gun pits. Although the battery lost half its armament in [[1918]] in accordance with the War Department policy to reduce weaponry mounted in the nation's older emplacements, the other four mortars remained active until [[1942]]. The battery became essential for Army-Navy defense activities in the 1940s by housing the Fire Control Switchboard Room, Harbor Entrance Control Post and the Harbor Defense Command Post.<ref name="NPS" /> | ||
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===Battery Payne=== | ===Battery Payne=== | ||
| − | Completed in [[1904]], '''Battery Payne''' featured two | + | Completed in [[1904]], '''Battery Payne''' featured two 3-inch guns.<ref name="NPS" /> |
===Battery Trueman=== | ===Battery Trueman=== | ||
| − | + | Positioned on the western end of Santa Rosa Island, north of the harbor entrance, '''Battery Trueman''' was completed in [[1905]]. The two 3-inch guns at Battery Trueman were relocated to Battery Cullum in [[1943]].<ref name="NPS" /> | |
===Battery Cooper=== | ===Battery Cooper=== | ||
| − | Completed in [[1906]], '''Battery Cooper''' mounted two | + | Completed in [[1906]], '''Battery Cooper''' mounted two 6-inch guns on disappearing carriages. During World War I, the guns were removed for use on railway mounts in France. In 1937, four emplacements for 155mm guns were constructed around Battery Cooper and designated Battery GPF, remaining part of the Harbor Defense Project until the spring of 1945 when it was disarmed.<ref name="NPS" /> |
===Battery Langdon=== | ===Battery Langdon=== | ||
| − | + | '''Battery Langdon''' was completed in 1923 and mounted two 12-inch guns, en barbette. The battery is named in honor of [[Loomis L. Langdon]], a man who was stationed at Fort Pickens on three occasions. In [[1861]] Langdon commanded a battery of 10-inch seacoast mortars at Fort Pickens; in [[1874]] he served as an artillery captain at the fort; and in 1885 he returned as a lieutenant colonel in charge of the 2nd U.S. Artillery. Langdon was in command when Geronimo was held in the fort.<ref name="NPS" /> | |
| − | '''Battery Langdon''' was completed in 1923 and mounted two 12-inch guns, en barbette | ||
===Battery #234=== | ===Battery #234=== | ||
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Plans for '''Battery #234''' were developed in the early 1940s in response to the buildup to World War II. However, by the time Battery #234 was completed in [[1943]], the war's tide turned in favor of the Allies and the battery was never activated.<ref name="NPS" /> | Plans for '''Battery #234''' were developed in the early 1940s in response to the buildup to World War II. However, by the time Battery #234 was completed in [[1943]], the war's tide turned in favor of the Allies and the battery was never activated.<ref name="NPS" /> | ||
