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(5) Fort Knox
Located on the west bank of the Penobscot River in Prospect, Maine, in an area known as the Penobscot Narrows, Fort Knox is one of the best preserved fortifications on the New England seacoast. The Fort has many architectural features present only to itself, as well as a rich history behind it's cannon batteries. The fort saw two periods of military activity. As many as 117 Maine Volunteers were garrisoned here from 1863 to 1866, during the Civil War. About 500 Connecticut troops were stationed at the fort in 1898, during the Spanish-American War. No enemy ships ever appeared on the Penobscot River or threatened its towns during these wars Fort Knox’s "A" battery and "B" battery each have a hot shot furnace. These small brick structures were built in 1857 and were designed for use in 32 pound cannons, which were replaced at Fort Knox by Rodman cannons, such as those seen at the fort today. Hot shot furnaces heated cannonballs so hot that when the balls hit wooden ships, the ships were set on fire. With the development of ironclad ships, the firing of red hot cannonballs was no longer an effective defense and hot shot furnaces became obsolete.
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Searsport Charters, LLC (1) Stockton Harbor
(2) Fort Point
(3) The River
(4) Narrows Bridge (5) Fort Knox (6) Bucksport
(7) Verona |
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The 32 mile section of the Penobscot River between Castine and Bangor has been the site of fierce conflicts. Great Britain controlled this section of river during both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Later, in 1839 when Great Britain and the United States fell into dispute over the northern border between Maine and New Brunswick, fear and mistrust of the British spread. It seemed all too likely that British ships would once more sail up the unprotected Penobscot and take control of Bangor, Maine’s wealthy, unprotected lumber capital. Fort Knox was built to prevent this and possible future attacks.
The main fort building measures 252 by 146 feet. It’s two levels contain mounts for 64 cannon. Four batteries, mounting a total of 69 cannon, cover four lines of defense outside the main building. Fort Knox was the first of many granite forts built in Maine. These forts, with their large granite casemates protecting cannon, could handle more armaments and provide stronger defense than outdates wooden blockhouses. The design and construction of Fort Knox was a model for later Maine forts such as Fort Popham, Fort Gorges, Fort Preble and Fort Scammell. Fort Knox’s granite was quarried on Mount Waldo, located about five miles upriver from the fort in Frankfort, Maine. Huge granite blocks ware quarried, transported down the mountain, then carried by river barge to Fort Knox’s wharf.
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The fort was named for Major General Henry Knox, America's first Secretary of War, who was born in Boston but retired to Thomaston, Maine in 1796. The Fort garrisoned it's first troops from 1863 to 1866. These troops were mostly volunteers undergoing training before being sent to their active posts and included members of the celebrated 20th Maine. Troops were also briefly stationed at the Fort during the Spanish American war in 1898, but never saw military action. |
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