'The Bulldog at Baltimore's Gate' Fort Howard and the Endicott Period

Editor: Adam J. Youssi Volume 45 Winter 2015-2016 Number 2 ‘The Bulldog at Baltimore’s Gate’ Fort Howard and the Endicott Period Rachel L. Harmon Staff and officers at Fort Howard, 1939 PAGE 2 History Trails Hidden among the vines and leaves lies the could gain an upper hand in the battle. Fort Bulldog at Baltimore’s Gate - Fort Howard (BA- McHenry and Fort Carroll do not meet these 9391), a place with deep roots in Baltimore County specifications. history. Today the buildings of the fort act as a local Fort McHenry, built in 1802 as an early example hub of entertainment. Each year, during Halloween, of seacoast defense of the city, was active in the the buildings are used as a haunted attraction, “The War of 1812 during the Battle of Baltimore. The Dungeons at Fort Howard.” But how many know layout of Fort McHenry is a particular pentagon- the history of this historic and aging fort? shaped pattern that allows the buildings to be seen Long before it was Fort Howard, it was where more easily from the sea.7 the British landed during the War of 1812, just Fort Carroll was built in 1848, a few decades before their march into the Battle of North Point. before Fort Howard. Not an Endicott Era fort, it Later, before the Spanish-American War of 1898, was built in the middle of the lower Patapsco River. based on the Endicott mentality, the War The island on which Fort Carroll was constructed Department determined that Baltimore needed had been man-made as the site for the six-sided added defenses against foreign attack by sea. At the island fortress that would defend Baltimore from time the area was deemed a weak point in foreign attack. Sitting in the middle of Patapsco Baltimore’s outer harbor; thus plans for Fort River rendered Fort Carroll vulnerable to sea-borne Howard were underway.2 enemy attack.8 The Endicott Era The Beginning of Fort Howard During the Endicott Era (1890-1910), the The Federal Government acquired the first Spanish-American War brought changes to the parcels of property on April 14, 1896. Over the next coastal defense of the United States. During the few years land was purchased that once belonged to war, measures to defend the coast from a possible Todd’s Inheritance and North Point. The first of six attack were hurried and improvised, showing a batteries was constructed in 1898 with guns being general need to modernize seacoast defenses.3 mounted a year later in 1899.9 The building of Fort Howard was inspired by The Baltimore Sun announced the name of the this period. The Endicott system created a way to new fort in an article on April 1900: defend against enemy warships from shore, allowing Navy vessels the time needed to reach the The reservation at North Point, where one of enemy. Fortifications were being mounted in the main defenses for Baltimore has been concrete in such a way that they were not visible located, will be known hereafter as Fort from the water.4 The aim of the Endicott system Howard, in honor of Col. John Eager was to equip major points along every coast of the Howard, a famous soldier of the Maryland line, who served with distinction in the war United States with the latest techniques and 5 of the Revolution … All along the Atlantic devices. seaboard from Maine to Galveston the new With the need for new defenses at the end of the batteries were being named.10 1890s, the modernization ideas of the Endicott Board were pushed. Along with the new forts being Fort Howard gets its name from Colonel John constructed, new coastal defense arsenals such as Eager Howard, a Baltimore native who had 6 torpedoes and submarine mines were set in place. contributed to the defense of Baltimore during the The objective of the Endicott Era was to build War of 1812 and was the leader of the Federalists seaside forts that could not be seen by enemy ships and their candidate for Vice President in 1816.11 as they sailed unknowingly into firing range, a Its position at the tip of the peninsula between different tactic from other forts built to protect Patapsco River and Back River in Baltimore County Baltimore’s coast. Endicott Era fortifications were prompted The Baltimore Sun to give Fort Howard hidden from direct enemy sight so that defense the nickname, ‘Bulldog at Baltimore’s Gate’. The Fort Howard PAGE 3 ‘bulldog’ would guard Baltimore against all would- on county park property and the other near the be intruders with its modern weapons and capable Veterans Hospital.17 gunners.12 Time as an Active Fort The Buildings at Fort Howard The soldiers who manned the batteries at Fort The buildings that make up Fort Howard were Howard were some of the best in the world at the constructed at different times, when it was actively time. In 1908 after many drills and practices, they used as a military base. Today, only a fraction of set the world record by hitting a moving target more the buildings that made up the original fort are open than 5,000 yards away, nine out of ten tries. The to the public. Four of the original six batteries, that shell that missed was said to be defective.18 were each part of the first buildings, can be Years after construction at Fort Howard, the explored by the public. The oldest batteries on the United States entered World War I in 1917. The property are Battery Stricker and Battery Harris. garrison at the fort was doubled though the enemy Both were built in 1898 above ground and made of never came close. Its soldiers engaged in drills and concrete and firebrick. Stricker was once equipped mock firings on merchant ships. Fort Howard with two 12-inch disappearing guns to defend fought no battle, but its soldiers were ready to Baltimore’s coast. In 1899, Battery Key was defend Baltimore at any moment.19 completed with deep concrete lined pits that After World War I the fort lay dormant until sheltered four 12-inch mortars in each of its pits, 1922 when Fort Howard was ordered to step up eight mortars all together. Battery Nicholson was once again in Baltimore’s defense.20 On September completed later in 1900 and housed two 6-inch 25, 1922, the Baltimore Sun commented on an disappearing guns.13 increase of soldiers at Fort Howard: These four batteries can still be explored today with parts of Battery Key having been altered to Fort Howard will accommodate this winter accommodate a restroom for visitors. more officers and enlisted men than ever The two remaining batteries were named Battery before during peacetime … The regiment Lazear and Battery Clagett. They were twin numbers 600 men and 40 officers. Hitherto batteries that were built practically the same as the the fort has been held between 300 and 400 men.21 others. Battery Lazear has been demolished, and its former location remains Federal property while The exact reason the fort had been rearmed Battery Clagett is covered in vines and other during peacetime is unclear. However, the growth.14 rearmament, ultimately, did not last long. Two All of the buildings that make up Fort Howard years later, in 1924, the Secretary of War reported were completed in concrete, and according to The to Congress that Fort Howard would be declared Baltimore Sun in 1908, were the first army surplus and no longer needed.22 buildings to be constructed of concrete.15 At the Before it became inactive, Fort Howard housed time of its construction Fort Howard housed the one of the first Citizens Military Training Camps most modern weapons of its day, which were for African-Americans, before the military services manned by efficient artillery companies.16 were racially integrated.23 Here recruits would learn Two Azimuth Towers were built early in Fort what it was like to go through rigorous military Howard’s history in order to increase the accuracy training during a thirty-day training period.24 of the artillery. These were twin towers built of In 1940, some of Fort Howard was transferred to brick and were used to plot compass bearings, look the Veterans Administration to become a hospital out for enemy ships during the Spanish-American that still stands today. War in 1898 and the First World War, and as a Even after it was declared surplus by the plotting tower for Fort Howard’s mine crew. Today military, the grounds at Fort Howard were used for both towers are covered in vines and ivy with one PAGE 4 History Trails military purposes alongside the Veterans Hospital. afternoon to see the soldiers drill. The only request During the Vietnam War, the military constructed a was that visitors not bring cameras.29 realistic Vietnam village named Du Duc Nuc to Soldiers could also partake in various sports that train soldiers for war. During training, natives were took place at Fort Howard. There were football and played by United States veterans that played the baseball games, with Fort Howard’s baseball team either friendly or hostile Vietnamese. Maryland often being featured in a column of The Baltimore Senator Daniel Brewster, a veteran of Vietnam, Sun called “Gossip of Baltimore’s Amateur visited the site and commented on how authentic Balltossers.”30 the constructed village looked.25 Fort Howard had become obsolete after only 30 Selling Fort Howard years as an active fort, as the technology of warfare evolved.

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