Fort Stanwix National Monument

Fort Stanwix (named after Gen. John Stanwix) was a British fort built in 1758 to protect the Oneida Carry from the French during the French and Indian War.  This 6-mile stretch of portage lying in the Oneida Indian Territory between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek was the only overland section of a vital trade route between the lower Hudson River (and Atlantic Ocean) and Lake Ontario. The fort was abandoned in 1774 after the war has ended and it no longer served an important role in the area.

In 1776, the fort was occupied and repaired by the American patriots and renamed after Gen. Philip Schuyler, then commander of the Northern Department of the Continental Army.  In Aug. 1777,  the fort successfully repelled a 21-day siege by a combined force of British, German, Canadian, Loyalists and Indian forces which helped lead to American victory in Saratoga and eventually to American alliances with France and Netherlands. Troops from the "fort that never surrendered" later participated in the 1779 Clinton-Sullivan Campaign that aimed to protect the northwest frontiers by destroying villages of the Six Nations Confederacy who were allied with the British and limit their ability to wage war on the Americans. In 1781, the fort was destroyed by flood and fire and was abandoned. In 1794, a blockhouse was built by NY state on the parade ground of the old fort to store military supplies but by 1815, it was already in disuse.

After the war, (not sure exactly when) the fort was again called Fort Stanwix, which our ranger guide later said was convenient since there were already two other Fort Schuylers in New York (Fort Schuyler in the Bronx, and Old Fort Schuyler in Utica).

Around 1796, a community started to develop near the ruins of the old fort, initially named Lynchville, then changed to Rome in when it became incorporated in 1819. In the 1830's, the city of Rome started to build over the remains of the fort.  Through the lobbying of city residents,  the Wagner-Sisson Bill was signed in 1935 by President F. D. Roosevelt establishing the Fort Stanwick National Monument.  Since it had a clause that stated that "property and/or money to purchase property had to be donated", development did not occur until early 1970's when the city donated the property to the National Park Service. The land was cleared and volunteers unearthed the remains of the fort. After the archeological investigation, construction of the new fort started in 1973.  Fort Stanwix National Monument opened in 1976, in time for the nation's bicentennial.

On our visit, we first stopped at the Marinus Willett Center where we were welcomed by Janet, the ranger on duty. We walked through the exhibits showing pictures or illustrations of historical events, notable figures during the revolutionary war and displays of artifacts which are only a fraction of the 485,000 articles and documents in their collection, watched movies about the Oneida Carry and the siege, and begun to understand the historical significance of this site.

 At 2pm, we joined the ranger lead tour where Janet further explained the significance of the Oneida Carry.  After a quick pass through the Willett Center, we walked towards the new fort.

 Above the southwest bastion,  the US flag flew as it's predecessor did during the siege of 1777, claimed by some to be the  "first time the stars and stripes flew in battle". It was, of course, an early version, earlier even than Betsy Ross'  and might not even have any stars on it.

The new fort is a faithful, albeit partial, reconstruction of the original fort of which only a hearth remained. We learned from Janet the multiple layers of defense the fort had to protect against attackers - parapet,  fraise, ditch (which was then also used as added living spaces), cannons on the embrasure.

Encasement

Soldiers' Quarters: Casement

We explored the living quarters of the residents of the fort, from the very simple straw bunks for soldiers housed in the encasement to more comfortable accommodations for the officers.

 

Artillerymen's Quarters

Commandant's Quarters

-




What an enjoyable lesson in history it was. An must see for the locals and any history buff for that matter.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

Fort Stanwix.  National Park Service

Fort Stanwix National Monument 1999.   National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory.

Philip Schuyler.    The People of Colonial Albany

Fort Schuyler. Maritime College State University of New York.

Old Fort Schuyler . Utica NY. A Site on Revolutionary Day Road Trip

John Stanwix. Wikipedia.org