STATE: Form 10.300 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Newport INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR N PS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE

Typo all entries - complete applicable sections

COMMON

Fort Barton . AND/OR HISTORIC:

ft2cToN . .:.H .: H. . .:! ... .: STREET AND NUMBER; Lawton and Highland Avenues CITY OR TOWN Tiverton STATE

- Rhode Island, 02878

‘a CATEGORY Check One

0 District 0 Building 0 ]Cj Site 0 Structure 0 Obiect I

U PRESENT USE Chock One or More as Appropriate

P Agricultural Government Park 0 . 0 0 Transportation 0 Comments 0 Commercial . 0 Industrial 0 Priilale Residence 0 Other Specifr Military I- 0 Educational . 0 0 Religious ‘a 0 Entertainment 0 Museum 0 Scientific a 4.QWNER OF PROPERTY eNs N.E: Town of Tiverton

w STREET AND NUMBER: Ui 313 Highlad Road

‘a CITY OR TOWN: STATE: Tlye rton cTIoN.LO *LE3AL DESCRIPTION H*H COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC Tiverton Town Hall

STREET AND NUMBER: 3k3 Highland Road CITY OR TOWN; STATE Tiverton

t4[;;EP.ENt.AT10:N.E*IsTlNG SO . TITLE OF SURVEY: m 2 Not so represented -1 ‘11 DATE OF SURVEY; Federal 0 0 [j z DEPOStTOItY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: C z ‘O B In rl C STREET AND NUMBER: S C,’ ml z0 CITY OR TOWN: STATE: r -C Check One 0 Excellent Good Fair 0 Deteriorated 0 Ruin, 0 Unexposed CONDITION Check One Check One 0 Altered Unaltered fl] Moved Origir.al Site DEScRIeE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL if known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Fort Barton, so named after Colonel William Barton, is a Revolu tionary War earthwork built on a high granite hill overlooking the Sa- konnet River, Aquidneck Island, and . In 1777 the Massachusetts General Assembly agreed to aid the State of Rhode Island in building a fortification above Howl3ad’s Ferry to be called Tiverton Heights Fort. Judging from its configuration today, it was probably built in this shape: / Itsmaximwn dimensions were about 150 feet by 100 feet. ‘ It held seven guns--18- and 2b-pounders-- which were probably placed at the corners. Stones were piled on both the inside and outside surfaces of the embankments, and a layer of soil applied over the stone. The stones prevented cannonballs from penetrating, and the soil facing protected personnel from any stones that shattered under an impact. The troops probably pitched their tents to the rear of the fort. A hewn granite stone, found at the rear of the fort, was perhaps part of small arsenal structure. a rn The land slopes sharply down behind the fort, making difficult any rear attack by a hostile oarty, although cannons could have been set up on

the hill across the stream. - z Today the onginal three-acre site of Fort Barton as well as several acres of adjoining land is owned by the Town of Tiverton and is a public park. A serpentine path leads un the hill from the north- west, and various overlooks have been marked by stones. The mounds of earth that were the fort are still, remarkably well defined despite their c long and severe exposure to the elements. The main, western, embanla’nent is the most prominent; and. inside the fort, the land is dug out deeply in places. Fortunately, Fort Barton has not had to be "restored;1’ its

character as a strategic defense is still entirely palpable. The hill - on which it is built has been steepened along its west face to aid in 0 building Highland Avenue. The Tiverton Conservation Commission in 1970 a erected a lookout tower within the fort as a part of their project of making Fort Barton an historic park. ______

SIcNIFlCANcE:: ;. .: -

PERIOD Check One or More ae Appropriate 0 Pre-Columbian 0 16th Century 18th Century fl 20th Century 0 15th Century 0 17th Century 0 19th Centuiy

SPECIFIC DATEISI If Applicable and Known 1777 -

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or More se Appropriard Aboriginal 0 Education 0 Political 0 Urban Planning o Prehistoric 0 Engineering 0 Religion/Phi.. 0 Other Specify O Historic 0 Industry losophy 0 Agriculture 0 Invention 0 Science o Architecture 0 Landscepe 9 Sculpture O Art Architecture 0 Social/Human Commerce 13 0 Literature itarian Communications Military 0 Theater Conservation 0 o Music 0 Transportation

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFIcANCE

When the British captured Newport, on Aquidneck Island, in 1776, it was welL understood by the Continentals that the English might at tempt to enlarge their sphere of occupation in the direction of either ‘a Providence or Boston. The shortest water distance between the Island of Aquidneck and the mainland and therefore the most logical point for 0 troop crossing was at Howlandts Ferry, Tiverton. The Massachusetts General Assembly agreed to aid the State of Rhode Island in quickly F- erecting fortifications on commanding ground overlooking this narrow strait, thus establishing a vital defense at this key site.

In July, 1777, Lieutenant-Colonel WIlliam Barton and four men picked from the ttTiverton Heights Fort’t consummated one of the most F’ daring exploits in the records of the American military. Through con- in tacts on Aquidneck, Barton had learned that the commanding general of a- the British Newport garrison was spending much of his summer at the house of a Mr. Overing, about h’ailfway down the island, in what is now Portsmouth. The raiders broke into the house and took captive thebe- LU wildered general, Richard Prescott. The.success of Bartonts coup de w main tremendously boosted American morale, low at this particular time in the war, and consequently the fort at Tiverton was renamed "Fort Barton."

In the spring of 1778, General selected General John Sullivan to assume command of Fort Barton and to direct staFing operations for a new invasion of Aquidneck two attempts in the previous autumn had failed. The Marquis de Lafayette was to cordinate the participation of the French fleet and landing force, and a grand plan of strike by land and sea was formulated. On August 9, 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island began with the crossing at Howlandts Ferry of 11,000 Con tinental line troops and militia--one of the greatest massings of Con tinental soldiers during the entire war. Several unforeseen forces plagued the campaign, however--including a severe storm that greatly damaged the French fleet; and the British line held. At the end of August, most of the Continental troops departed the area, leaving only a small force to man Fort Barton.

See Continuation Sheet. Form lO-SOOa UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE hode I5land NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Newport INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DArE Continuation Sheet I Number all entries 8. Significance.

In August, 1970, thugh the efforts of the Tiverton Conservation - Commission ari others, the Town of Tiverton acquired the land on which Fort Barton is built, as well as lands adjoining it. Today the site serves as a place where one can examine an important and well-preserved American Revolutionary artifact,and also as a place where the public can enjoy natural beauty and scenic views.

GP 921.724 1

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,‘ ....-II-I------.------.------UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE - Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY - Newport PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph

Z :..* ...... *..... 1NAME o OMMON: Fort Rarton HISTORIC: I- LocKrtoN iTREET AND NUMBER: U Lawton and Highland Avenues

CITY OR TOWN: Tiverton

STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE Rhode Island Newport uu z OTORERENE - I0ToCT:B. Christopher Bene Ii.0FPH0T0:Feb’ary, 1972 EGATIVE FILEDAT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, Room 201, ui ,_i.. 26 Me1roe Stre et, ,Provith3nce Rhode Island ..02907

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. View along western enft-ankment.

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GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES I- Latitude: 41° 37’ 46.34" N

C Longitude: 71° 12’ 36.79" W

.8.,.:: I IIE Ut, £2, LI’% Cmv /, HummockPt ‘¼’ AImy HenI .,fl?t :; r,:.. ;?/,% .t’ Il/ne 2, / J’Jtfll " 1/.,: -. oie jI - I ‘Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Newport PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map z .. .. .;...... ‘.:.... o COMMON: Fort Barton - AND/OR HISTORIC:

- LOCATION STREET AND HUM BER: Lawton and Highland Avenues CITY OR TOWN: Tiverton STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island liii Newport ...... Z 5OURCE

- U. S. Geological Survey w CALE: 1: 2.j,000 DATE: 1943

EQWREU$T$ . ‘ TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.