Fort Gibson (2)
Fort Gibson (2) (1795-1861) - A U.S. Army post established in 1795 on present day Ellis Island in New York Harbor, New York County, New York. Upgraded to a Second System fort in 1809. Named Fort Gibson in 1814 by New York Governor Daniel D. Tompkins after Colonel James Gibson, 4th U.S. Riflemen, who was killed at the Battle of Fort Erie, Canada, in September 1814. Turned over to the Navy in 1861. Also known as Crown Fort
Fort Gibson (2) History
First fortified in 1795 and later upgraded to a 14 gun circular battery known as Crown Fort. The land was acquired by the Federal government in 1808 and upgraded to a 20-gun Second System coastal fort with a magazine and barracks. The fort was used as a garrison by American troops and as a prisoner-of-war camp for British prisoners during the War of 1812 but was not attacked.
In 1861 the fort was dismantled and the U.S. Navy established a naval powder magazine on the island.
Current Status
Ellis Island National Monument, New York County, New York
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2359512
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Location: Ellis Island National Monument, New York County, New York. Maps & Images Lat: 40.6991667 Long: -74.0391667 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 554-555
Links:
- North American Forts - Fort Gibson
- Wikipedia - Ellis Island
- New York State Military Museum - Fort Gibson
- NPS - Ellis Island
Visited: No
Fort Gibson (2) Picture Gallery
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