Located about 10 miles west of our RV park (Fort Morgan RV Park), is Fort Morgan State Historic Site. The military history of this fort began during the War of 1812 and ended after World War II.
A small museum is a great place to start a self-guided tour of the site. Historic flags of Mobile Point are flown next to the museum.
Here’s a timeline:
- 1813: Fort Bowyer built for War of 1812; defended against 2 British invasions; surrendered in 1815, but Treaty of Ghent had ended the war in December, 1814.
- 1819: Fort Morgan construction began; took 15 years to complete due to remote location; about 200 slaves used.
- 1833: Named for Revolutionary War hero, General Daniel Morgan; fort completed in 1834.
- 1861: Alabama State Militia seized Fort Morgan from US government for the Confederacy.
- 1864: Admiral Farragut’s 18-ship fleet deployed to Gulf; 500 rounds from Fort Morgan seriously damaged Union ships and sank the USS Tecumseh (with all hands on deck); after 2-week siege of Fort Morgan, the Confederates surrendered.
- 1895: Constructed 5 modern concrete gun emplacements.
- 1923: Military occupation ended.
- 1941: Fort reactivated as Navy ordnance depot; guarded against German U-boat activity in the Gulf.
- 1947: Deeded to the State of Alabama as a historical park.
The museum has lots of interesting artifacts and information about the history of the Fort and nearby islands. The first lighthouse lens was removed from the Sand Island Lighthouse (built in 1873); and, the second from the Mobile Point Lighthouse (1873-1966).
Some of the Civil War artillery used at Fort Morgan is shown below.
World War I posters were designed to inspire men to enlist, instill fear of the enemy, and seek financial support for the war.
There’s lots more to see at the museum, but we were also anxious to begin the self-guided tour of the fort. The ground that sloped upward toward the fort protected it from direct artillery fire. The Parrot Rifle (6.4”, 100 pounder) was one of the most-used artillery during the Civil War.
Doors at either end of the Postern Tunnel were closed during an attack. The Sally Port was beyond the tunnel; and, was the main entrance.
A dry moat around the fort enabled troops to move around the fort during an attack. A drainage system (cunette) was built in the moat as well.
Two 24-pounder flank howitzers were housed in each of the fort’s ten flank casements. The design (high-arched ceilings) were designed as bomb-proof in the event of an enemy siege. Later they were used for supply storage as well as temporary housing for large garrisons.
Casements
The Citadel, a ten-sided barracks building, was located in the center of the fort (no longer exists). In 1862, approximately 1,600 soldiers were garrisoned at Fort Morgan, the greatest number ever.
Two powder magazines were used to store 60,000 pounds of black powder. To keep the powder dry, small openings were built into the walls.
We climbed to the second tier of the fort where cannon mounts can be seen. Two of the four cisterns (circular wells constructed under the parade ground) can be seen from this location, too. Rain water was siphoned to them from the top of the fort.
The primary battery, Duportail, was constructed across the parade ground of the fort between 1898-1899. Two 12-inch breech-loading rifles were mounted and were known as “disappearing guns.” Using 268 pounds of explosive to fire a 1,000+ pound shell, it had a range of up to 8.5 miles. Each was mounted on a disappearing carriage that lowered the guns behind a protective concrete wall for reloading.
The Lighthouse Battery (named for the Mobile Point Lighthouse that once stood here) was built in 1843. The original “hot shot” furnace is the narrow brick building seen below. We have seen these in several other Civil War-era forts. They were used to heat cannon balls to extreme temperatures to penetrate the hulls of wooden ships.
Battery Thomas (built 1989) protected the defensive mine field across the entrance to Mobile Bay. Four to seven” rapid fire guns were installed here. Battery Schneck (completed 1900) had two 3” rapid-fire guns to protect the mine field directly in front of it.
Nothing remains of Fort Bowyer, the first fortification built on Mobile Point in 1813. Interpretive signs and a plague mark the location where it once stood.
It was a blustery, chilly day when we visited, but that did not interfere with our self-guided tour. Also, this is a dog-friendly park, so our sweet girl, Sadie, accompanied us.
If you enjoy history as much as we do, be sure not to miss this historic site when you are in the Gulf Shores area. Admission is $5/seniors ($7/adults). For additional information about Fort Morgan, go to www.fort-morgan.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment