Fort Rodman

Fort Taber District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Fort Rodman
Location	New Bedford, Massachusetts
Coordinates	41°35′35″N70°54′05″W
Built	1861
Architect	Robert E. Lee, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Architectural style	Third System fortification
NRHP referenceNo.	73001954
Added to NRHP	February 8, 1973

8-inch M1888 disappearing gun emplacement atFort Constitution,similar to those at Fort Rodman.

12-inchcasematedgun, similar to the guns at Battery Milliken.

A155 mm gunon aPanama mount.

90 mm M1 gun on T3/M3 fixed seacoast mount atFort Monroe,Virginia.

Fort Taber Districtor theFort at Clark's Pointis a historicAmerican Civil War-era military fort on Wharf Road within the formerFort Rodman Military ReservationinNew Bedford, Massachusetts.The fort is now part ofFort Taber Park,a 47-acre town park located at Clark's Point. Fort Taber was an earthwork built nearby with city resources and garrisoned 1861-1863 until Fort Rodman was ready for service.

Fort Taber

After the Civil War began in April 1861, it was apparent that the Fort at Clark's Point was still years from completion. Fort Taber, a small earthwork with six cannons, was built nearby with city resources, and named after New Bedford's mayor during that period.It provided a temporary defense until the stone fort was garrisoned in 1863. Fort Taber is marked by a stone outline today, directly behind the stone fort. It was noted at the time that the stone fort's presence interfered with effective fire from Fort Taber, and a battery of field artillery was emplaced east of Fort Taber.The Fort Taber name was unofficially used to refer to the Fort at Clark's Point for many years, even by the garrison in letters home, and is used to refer to the stone fort in some recent references.

Fort Rodman

Civil War era

Also known as the Old Stone Fort,Fort Rodman(known as "Fort at Clark's Point" until 1898) began construction in 1857 under thethird system of US fortifications,and in 1862 construction became overseen byHenry Robert,author ofRobert's Rules of Orderand anArmy Corps of Engineersofficer.The fort, as built, had emplacements for 72cannonin three tiers; a fourth tier was originally planned, but this was removed from the design to allow more timely completion.Construction was halted in 1871, and the fort as planned was never completed.

The Fort Rodman/Fort Taber Military Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Endicott period

With new batteries being constructed under theEndicott programin 1898, the U.S. Army officially named the military reservation at the site and the fort as Fort Rodman Military Reservation, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Logan Rodman, a New Bedford native with the38th Massachusetts Infantrywho died in theassault on Port Hudson, Louisianain 1863. It was the primary fort of theCoast Defenses of New Bedford,and was garrisoned by theUnited States Army Coast Artillery Corps.Along with gun batteries, facilities for planting and controlling anunderwater minefieldwere built. The site was added to theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1973.

The Endicott period batteries at Fort Rodman were built 1898-1902, with other batteries added later as follows:

Name	No. of guns	Gun type	Carriage type	Years active
Walcott	1	8-inch gun M1888	disappearingM1896	1899-1942
Barton	1	8-inch gun M1888	disappearingM1896	1899-1942
Cross	2	5-inch gun M1900	pedestal M1903	1902-1920
Craig	2	3-inch gun M1898	masking parapetM1898	1902-1920
Gaston	2	3-inch gun M1898	masking parapet M1898	1902-1920
Milliken	2	12-inch gun M1895	M1917 long-rangebarbette	1921-1946
Unnamed	2	155 mm gun M1918	Towed onPanama mounts	1938-1945

Battery Walcott was named for William H. Walcott of the17th U.S. Infantryin the Civil War. Battery Barton was named forWilliam Bartonof the Revolutionary War. Battery Cross was named for Charles E. Cross, an engineer officer killed at theBattle of Fredericksburgin the Civil War. Battery Craig was named for Presley O. Craig,2nd U.S. Artillery,killed at theFirst Battle of Bull Runin the Civil War. Battery Gaston was named for William Gaston,1st U.S. Dragoons,killed in 1858 fighting Native Americans. Battery Milliken was named for Alfred S. Milliken, an engineer officer killed in World War I.

World War I through World War II

After theAmerican entry into World War Imany 5-inch guns were withdrawn from forts for potential service on field carriages on theWestern Front.However, Battery Cross's two guns were removed in 1917 and installed on theArmy transport shipUSATKilpatrick.They were returned to Fort Rodman in March 1919, and scrapped in 1921 under a general removal from Coast Artillery service of 5-inch guns. The 8-inch guns of Batteries Walcott and Barton were dismounted for potential service asrailway artilleryin June 1918, but were remounted later without leaving the fort.

In 1920 theDriggs-SeaburyM1898 3-inch gunsof Batteries Craig and Gaston were removed due to a general removal from service of this type of gun; they were not replaced.

Battery Milliken was built 1917-1921 as part of a general upgrade of the Coast Artillery with existing12-inch M1895 gunson new long-range carriages, initially in open mounts.Compared with disappearing carriages, this increased the range of this type of gun from 18,400 yards (16,800 m) to 30,100 yards (27,500 m).This effectively replaced the fort's previous 8-inch guns, but those were not removed until World War II.Battery Milliken housed the post switchboard, and during World War II this was operated by theWomen's Army Corps,for which thelatrineswere re-arranged.

In 1925 the Coast Defenses of New Bedford were renamed theHarbor Defenses of New Bedford,as were all similar commands.

In 1938 a battery of two155 mm gunson "Panama mounts"(circular concrete platforms) was built at Fort Rodman. In 1940-1941 numerous temporary buildings were constructed on site to accommodate newly mobilized units. In 1942 the two 8-inch guns of Batteries Walcott and Barton were scrapped, leaving only the 12-inch Battery Milliken and the 155 mm battery active. Battery Milliken wascasematedfor protection against air attack during the war.HD New Bedford was garrisoned by the23rd Coast Artilleryfrom February 1940 through October 1944. This unit was a battalion for most of the war, but was redesignated as a regiment September 1943 through February 1944.

In 1946, with the war over, Fort Rodman was disarmed and subsequently turned over to the Commonwealth.

Associated batteries

Several additional small-caliber batteries defended New Bedford andBuzzards Bayduring World War II. Chief among these was Battery 210 atMishaum Point Military ReservationinDartmouth.It had two6-inch M1 gunsin long-range shielded mounts with a large bunker for ammunition andfire controlbetween them. It currently has a private residence built on it. A two-gun 155 mm battery was at the location until the 6-inch battery was completed in 1945, along with the harbor entrance control post for New Bedford.

Defending the passage to New Bedford between Dartmouth andCuttyhunk Islandwere two batteries of90 mm guns,one atBarneys Joy Point Military Reservationand one on Cuttyhunk Island, part of theElizabeth Islands Military Reservation.These were called Anti-Motor Torpedo BoatBatteries (AMTB) 931 and 932, respectively. The AMTB batteries had an authorized strength of four 90 mm guns, two on fixed mounts and two on towed mounts. An additional 90 mm battery, AMTB 933, was onNashawena Island,just east of Cuttyhunk Island.

Protecting the southern entrance to theCape Cod Canalwas a two-gun 155 mm battery on Panama mounts, replaced in 1943 by AMTB 934, atButler Point Military ReservationinMarion.

Present

The fort's guns were all scrapped by 1948. The fort grounds and garrison buildings became a military reserve center, and eventually awastewater treatmentplant was built on part of the site.University of Massachusetts Dartmouth(Southeastern Massachusetts University prior to 1991) occupies some of the fort's buildings. The reserve center closed in the 1970s. Today most of the former fort is a public park, but as of 2016 the stone fort and gun batteries are fenced off, and the Endicott batteries are overgrown. The stone fort has occasionally been opened for special events.

Lighthouse

TheClarks Point Lightstands on the parapet of the fort. Originally established as a freestanding tower, it was moved to the fort in 1869 because the fort's walls obscured the beacon from some angles. it was deactivated in 1898, but was relit in 2001 by the city as a private aid to navigation.

Fort Taber Historical Association Museum

TheFort Taber Historical Association Museumis located at Fort Taber Park, and features a miniature model of the fort, uniforms from different eras during the fort's active use, photos and military memorabilia. It is operated by the Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Historical Association and opened in 2004.

Park amenities

The park includes several gunbatteries,andAmerican Revolution,American Civil War,andWorld War IIre-enactments are held in the park. The stone fort and 20th-century batteries are fenced off but can be viewed.

A World War IIM-4 Shermantankrecovered from the debris ofExercise Tigeris on display in the park, and serves as the US memorial for the dead of the Exercise. A commemoration ceremony is held annually.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in New Bedford, Massachusetts
• Seacoast defense in the United States
• United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
• List of coastal fortifications of the United States
• List of military installations in Massachusetts

References

• Berhow, Mark A., ed. (2015).American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide(Third ed.). McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press.ISBN978-0-9748167-3-9.
• Lewis, Emanuel Raymond (1979).Seacoast Fortifications of the United States.Annapolis: Leeward Publications.ISBN978-0-929521-11-4.
• Stanton, Shelby L. (1991).World War II Order of Battle.Galahad Books.ISBN0-88365-775-9.
• Weaver II, John R. (2018).A Legacy in Brick and Stone: American Coastal Defense Forts of the Third System, 1816-1867, 2nd Ed.McLean, VA: Redoubt Press.ISBN978-1-7323916-1-1.

External links

• Fort Taber Park- City of New Bedford
• Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Park at Destination New Bedford
• Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Historical Association
• List of all US coastal forts and batteriesat the Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. website
• FortWiki, lists most CONUS and Canadian forts
• NorthAmericanForts.com, lists most US forts