Fort Schuyler

USA / New York / Saddle Rock /
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Built as part of the Third System beginning in 1833, Fort Schuyler along with Fort Totten guarded the Western Approaches to New York at the strategic pinch point between Throgs Neck and Willets Point on the East River.
As of 1851, it was intended to be armed with forty-eight 42-pounder seacoast guns, forty-eight 32-pounder seacoast guns, seventy 24-pounder guns, eight 18-pounder guns, twelve 12-pounder guns, six field pieces, seventy flank howitzers, nineteen 8" heavy seacoast howizters, six 8" light howitzers, two 13" mortars, seven 10" heavy mortars, three 10" light mortars, five 8" light mortars, two 16" stone mortars and 12 coehorn mortars, for a total of 318 guns.
At its peak, the fort had 440 guns, the largest of which were 10" and 12" guns on dissapearing carriages. The fort served as a prison during the Civil War and remained armed until 1934 when it was turned over to the State Of New York Maritime College (SUNY).
The Fort also has a odd place in NY history, as being one of the few post-War of 1812 forts to have fired a shot in anger. During WWI a ship heading towards New York City failed to identify itself to the Fort and the soilders fired a shot across its bow. Unfortunately, the shot ricocheted off the waters surface and ended up in the walls of Fort Totten on the other side of the river, the dent is still visible today.
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Coordinates:   40°48'18"N   73°47'29"W
This article was last modified 13 years ago