A Brief History of Fort Monroe

Fort Algernourne (1609 - 1667), which was rebuilt in 1632, was first located here. It was a triangular stockade containing seven cannons and fifty people in 1614. Later, Fort George (1727 - 1749) was built on the site, but it was destroyed by a hurricane. In 1802, the Old Point Comfort lighthouse was built. The British occupied this area during the War of 1812 and used the lighthouse as a watch tower. The current moated irregular hexagon-shaped stone fortress is the largest in the United States. (Fort Jefferson in Florida is bigger in height and potential armament). This National Historic Landmark was named after President James Monroe, and was designed to hold 200 guns (380 were originally called for). With the addition of the Water Battery casemates the number increased to 412. It was garrisoned in 1823 and has been continuously occupied since then. Prior to 1832 the official name was Fortress Monroe. Construction was completed in 1834. This is one of four southern permanent forts that was never taken by the Confederacy.

Learn more about Old Point Comfort Lighthouse.

Construction of the fortress was led by the French military engineer, Brigadier General Simon Bernard. During the Civil War the fort's population exploded from 400 to 6,000 troops. It was secure enough even for President Lincoln who visited during the height of the war in this region.The Casemate Museum was built inside a row of casemates. One such casemate was used as the prison cell of former Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Others were used as living quarters for soldiers and their families until World War II. Robert E. Lee was stationed here from 1831 to 1834 when he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Edgar Allan Poe was also stationed here in 1828 as a Sergeant Major of Artillery. He sold his enlistment the following year for $75. The first artillery school was established here in 1824. Several cannons are on display by the Casemate Museum. The 49,000-pound Lincoln Gun is on display at the Parade Ground. The remnants of the Water Battery can be seen just outside the fortress. The casemates of that battery were demolished in 1901 to make way for Battery Parrott. However, three 1890's gun emplacements are still present. The Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) continues to use the fortress for offices and housing.

The Endicott and World War Periods

The Coast Artillery School was here from 1907 to 1948, and the Coast Artillery Corps had a dominant presence at the fort. During the World Wars, Fort Monroe served as the headquarters for the Defenses of the Chesapeake Bay. It commanded Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Fort Wool, which is just offshore from here, Little Creek Mine Base (now known as Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base), and Fort John Custis on Virginia's Eastern Shore. In addition, the defenses of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina (Fort Macon) fell under the umbrella of Fort Monroe's command. Even after some landfilling of the island, conditions at Fort Monroe became overcrowded. Camp Eustis (now known as Fort Eustis) was established as the training grounds. Camp Pendelton was also established. The harbor defense headquarters moved to Fort Story near the end of World War II. A submarine and anti-motor torpedo boat net was linked between Fort Monroe and Fort Wool, and further on to Willoughby Spit. Another anti-motor torpedo boat net was set up at the York River entrance. A minefield was laid offshore around Thimble Shoals. Anti-aircraft guns were also set up.

BATTERIES & BUNKERS:
Battery Robert Anderson: eight 12-inch M1890 M-I mortars on M1896 carriages (1898-1943)
Battery George D. Ruggles: eight 12-inch M1890 M-I mortars on M1896 carriages (1898-1943)
Battery Albert E. Church (Redoubt B): two 10-inch M1888 M-I guns on disappearing carriages (1898/99-1942)
Battery Gustavus A. DeRussy (Battery 15): three 12-inch M1895 guns on M1897 disappearing carriages (1901-1944)
NOTE: Battery DeRussy originally named Rene E. DeRussy until 1909.
Battery Robert P. Parrott: two 12-inch M1900 guns on disappearing carriages (1905-1943); changed to AMTB 23
AMTB Battery 23: two 90mm guns on fixed mounts (1943-1946); one gun replaced 1970's from Fishermans Island
Battery Douglas S. Irwin: four 3-inch rapid-fire guns on masking parapet mounts (1902-1920's); two pedestal
mounted guns from Fort Wool emplaced in 1946; one 3-inch AA gun (1940's) on a converted emplacement
Parapet: four 8-inch rifles (1898 - 1915) on barbette carriages, one in Bastion 3, two on Front 3, one in
Bastion 4 (now site of HECP); two rifles were removed within a year; battery no longer exists.
Note: Other Parapet guns (ca.1885) were converted Rodman rifles and 100-pounder Parrott rifles
Water Battery: one 8-inch rifle (1897 - 1898) on a barbette carriage; previously three 15-inch Rodmans (ca.1890)
Note: Water Battery Casemates held 10-inch Rodmans (ca.1890)
N.E. Bastion: one experimental 10-inch depressing gun (1900-?)
Battery Charles B. Gatewood: four 4.7-inch .50 calibre M1898 British Armstrong guns on pedestal mounts (1898-1914) along Front 4; battery no longer exists
Harbor Entrance Control Post
Harbor Defense Command Post
Mines Casemates
Fire Control & Signal Towers

In addition, there was also:
Battery Charles Humphreys: one 10-inch M1894 gun on an experimental disappearing carriage (1897-1910); demolished
Note: previously the site of an earthen redan (ca.1870s-97)
Battery Abraham Eustis (Redoubt C): two 10-inch M1888 M-II guns on disappearing carriages (1898-1942); demolished
Battery George Bomford (Redoubt A): two 10-inch M1888 M-II guns on disappearing carriages (1897-1940); demolished
Note: previously this site was a rearward-facing stone and earth redoubt for small guns and infantry - converted in 1874 to carry six 15-inch guns. Demolished by 1892
Battery Thomas H. Barber: one 8-inch M1892 gun on an ARF barbette carriage (1898-1915); demolished
Note: the gun at Barber, along with a 12-inch M1891 mortar, was previously mounted in 1895 on a temporary platform somewhere at the northern end of the Water Battery.
Battery Lemuel P. Montgomery (Battery 16): two 6-inch M1900 guns on barbette carriages (1904-1948); two replaced in 1941; demolished
Battery Taylor: four 155-mm GPF guns from Fort Eustis (1920's - 1930's)
Battery Ashbridge: two 12-inch railway mortars and 8-inch railway guns from Fort Eustis (1920's - 1930's)
unnamed: three 3-inch Anti-Aircraft machine guns (1940's)
unnamed: two 3-inch Anti-Aircraft guns (1940's)
Saluting battery: two 2.24-inch rapid-fire guns on wheeled carriages at the Flag Bastion (1902-?)

Battery 124 (Battery 17) was planned but never built. It was to have two casemated 16-inch Navy guns on long range barbette carriages.