An Archeological Overview Fort Mchenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Baltimore, Maryland
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"On the shore dimly seen ... ": an Archeological Overview Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Baltimore, Maryland by Charles D. Cheek, Ph.D. Joseph Balicki and John Pousson Prepared by John Milner Associates, Inc. 5250 Cherokee A venue, 4th Floor Alexandria, Virginia 22312 and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine East Fort A venue Baltimore, Maryland 2123 0-5 3 93 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS page page page List of Figures . iv 3.3 Sally Port Complex ............................. 50 4.3 Fort Grounds .................................. 79 Preface .............................................. v 3.3.1 Gorge .................................. 50 4.3.1 Original Fort Grounds ..................... 79 Acknowledgments ..................................... v 3.3.2 Ramp .................................. 51 4.3.1.1 Upper and Lower Water Batteries ......... 81 3.3.3 Sally Port Passageway Floor ................ 51 4.3.1.2 Upper Water Battery ('Ravelin') Barracks .. 82 1. Introduction ....................................... 1 3.3.4 Traverse ................................ 51 4.3.1.3 Gun Shed and Store House .............. 83 1.1 Methods . 1 3.3.5 Bombproofs ............................. 52 4.3.1.4 Hospital (1813) ....................... 85 1.2 Organization . 2 3.3.6 Guardhouses/Prisons ...................... 53 4.3.1.5 Married Soldiers' Quarters .............. 87 1.3 Archeological Site Formation Processes .............. 2 3.4 Star Fort Interior Structures ....................... 53 4.3.1.6 BoundaryWallandEntranceGate(l817-37) 87 1.4 Glossary of Military Architectural Terms . 3 3.4.1 Powder Magazine ......................... 53 4.3.1.7 Seawall ............................. 88 3.4.2 Wells and Cistern ........................ 54 4.3.2 Addition to Fort Grounds (1836-37) .......... 89 2. Historic Context and Site Development ................. 7 3.4.3 Shot Furnaces ............................ 55 4.3.2.1 Tavern ............................. 91 2.1 Prehistoric and Early Historic Background ............ 7 3 .4.4 Residential Structures ..................... 55 4.3.2.2 Boundary Wall and Entrance Gate 2.2 Historic Context: the Defense of Baltimore ........... 8 3.4.4.1 Commanding Officer's Quarters .......... 55 (1837-Present) ........................ 91 2.3 Episodes of Development ........................ 15 3.4.4.2 Junior Officers' Quarters ................ 56 4.3.2.3 Civil War Magazine ................... 91 2.3.1 Fort Whetstone .......................... 15 3.4.4.3 Enlisted Men's Barracks No. 1 ........... 57 2.3.2 First American System .................... 16 3.4.4.4 Enlisted Men's Barracks No. 2 ........... 57 5. Previous and Future Research at Fort McHenry .......... 95 2.3.3 Second American System .................. 16 3.4.5 Privies and Water Closets .................. 57 5.1 A Chronology of Previous Research ............... 95 2.3.3.1 Pre-Bombardment ..................... 16 3.4.5.1 Commanding Officer's Privy ............. 58 5.1.1 Early Investigation: 1958-1966 ............... 95 2.3.3.2 Post-Bombardment .................... 16 3.4.5.2 Junior Officers' Privy .................. 58 5 .1.2 Research and Compliance: 197 4-1983 .......... 95 2.3.4 Mid-1800s .............................. 16 3.4.5.3 Water Closet Behind Barracks No. 2 ...... 59 5.1.3 Cultural Resource Management: 1984-1998 ..... 96 2.3.5 Civil War ............................... 18 3.4.7 Guardhouses ............................. 59 5.2 Potential Future Research ........................ 97 2.3.6 1866-1912 .............................. 19 3 .4. 8 Flagstaffs . 5 9 5.2.1 Architectural Features: Star Fort Components ... 98 2.3.7 World War I Hospital ..................... 22 3 .5 Moat, Counterscarp, and Glacis ................... 60 5.2.1.1 Fort Whetstone ....................... 98 2.3.8 War Department Restoration ................ 22 5.2.1.2 Star Fort ............................ 98 2.3.9 National Park Service ..................... 23 4. Archeological and Historical Research Results: 5.2.1.3 Sally Port ........................... 99 Outworks and Grounds ............................. 69 5.2.1.4 Star Fort Interior Structures ............. 99 3. Archeological and Historical Research Results: Star Fort .. 25 4.1 Ravelin ....................................... 69 5.2.1.5 Moat .............................. 100 3.1 Local Geology and Topography .................... 25 4.1.1 Scarp Walls ............................. 69 5.2.2 Architectural Features: Outworks and Grounds . 100 3.1.1 Geology ................................ 25 4.1.2 Parapet and Breast-height Wall .............. 70 5.2.2.1 Ravelin ............................ 100 3.1.2 Original Site Topography .................. 25 4.1.3 Terreplein, Banquettes, and Gun Emplacements . 70 5.2.2.2 Water (Outer) Battery ................ 100 3.1.3 Modifications of Site Topography ........... 27 4.1.4 Entrance Passageway ...................... 71 5.2.2.3 Upper and Lower Water Batteries ....... 101 3.2 Star Fort Components ........................... 31 4.1.5 Drainage ................................ 71 5.2.2.4 Additional Structures on Original Grounds 102 3.2.1 Scarp Wall .............................. 31 4.1.6 Magazine ............................... 71 5.2.2.5 Structures within the 1836-3 7Addition ... 102 3.2.2 Parapet .............................. 33 4.1. 7 Ravelin Privy ............................ 72 5.2.2.6 Comparative Research ................ 103 3.2.3 Breast-height Wall ........................ 36 4.2 Water (Outer) Battery ............................ 72 5.2.3 Anthropological Research Topics ........... 103 3.2.4 Terreplein and Banquettes .................. 36 4.2.1 Parapet ................................. 74 3.2.5 Gun Emplacements ....................... 40 4.2.2 Revetment (Breast-height) Wall ............. 75 6. References Cited 105 3.2.6 Parade Wall ............................. 43 4.2.3 Terreplein. Banquettes, and Gun Emplacements . 76 3.2.7 Parade Ground ........................... 44 4.2.4 Shot Furnaces ............................ 76 Appendixes: 3.2.8 Star Fort Drainage and Postern .............. 46 4.2.5 Magazines. Bombproofs. and Traverses ....... 77 A. Annotated Bibliography of Archeological Research 3.2.8.1 Rampart Drainage ..................... 47 4.2.5.1 Magazines ........................... 77 B. Annotated Bibliography of Selected Historical Maps and 3.2.8.2 Parade Ground - Surface Drainage ........ 47 4.2.5.2 Bombproofs .......................... 77 Plans of Fort McHenry 3.2.8.3 Parade Ground - Subsurface Drainage ..... 48 C. Tabular Chronology of Previous Archeological 3.2.8.4 Postern ............................. 48 Investigations - lll - LIST OF FIGURES page page page 1. Detail of USGS Baltimore East 7.5 minute 19. Detail of Delafield' s plan of the proposed 36. Structures in the powder magazine vicinity ............. 53 quadrangle, showing the vicinity of Fort McHenry ....... outer battery at Fort McHenry, 1836 .................. 30 3 7. Structures in the enlisted men's barracks vicinity ........ 54 2. Simplified composite plan of Fort McHenry ............. 3 20. DeVille drawing, 1629, showing counterforts, and the configuration of Fort McHenry's counterforts ........ 32 38. Detail of Lee's Fort McHenry, 1834, showing elevation 3. Schematic cross section of a fort ..................... 4 and cross-section of typical quarters within fort .......... 56 21. Comparative historical and schematic archeological 4. Berthier's Port et Rade de Baltimore, 1782 ............. 7 profiles of Fort McHenry' s parapet and terreplein ....... 34 39. Grade changes at the southeast front of Fort McHenry, 1803-1840. ........................ 61 5. Detail of Folie's Plan of the Town of Baltimore 22. Detail of Delafield's plan of proposed outer battery, and Its Environs, 1792 .............................. 8 1836, showing profile ............................. 35 40. The ravelin at Fort McHenry, showing its counterfort system and the former entrance passageway............. 69 6. Fort McHenry, 1803 .............................. 10 23. Detail of Smith's Fort McHenry, 1840, showing the profile d-d' ....................... 37 41. Stages of development, water battery vicinity, 7. Detail of Poussin's Plan and Profiles ca. 1800 - present ................................ 73 ofFort McHenry, 1819, showing plan of the fort ........ 11 24. JMA's plan of excavations in bastion 4 ................ 39 42. Detail of Craighill's Plan of Water Battery at 8. Detail of Lee's Fort McHenry, 1834, showing 25. Detail of Fort McHenry, Md., ca. 1833, Fort A1cHenry, 1866 .............................. 74 the general plan of the fort . 12 showing armament ................................ 41 43. Profiles of archeological excavations 9. Butler's Fort McHenry, ca. 1840 ..................... 13 26. Detail of Thompson's Fort McHenry, Md., 1837 ........ 42 at the water battery's revetment wall .................. 75 10. Brick's Plan and Sections o,f Drill Ground at 27. Detail of Smith's Fort McHenry, Baltimore, 1840 ....... 43 44. Craighill' s Plans and Sections ofService Magazines. 1866 78 Fort McHenry, 1858 .............................. 14 28. Detail of Brewerton's Fort McHenry, Md., 1861 ........ 44 45. Structures on the grounds of Fort McHenry, ca. 1800-183 5 80 11. Moore's sketch plan of Fort McHenry, 1864 . 17 29. Detail of Fort McHenry, Md., ca. 1833, 46. Archeological excavations and features 12. Fort McHenry, Md., Showing Armament, 1864 ......... 19 showing cross-section of parade wall ................. 45 east and northeast of the ravelin ....................