The fort built in West Point was made from earth.  Being atop the highest point in the city, it offered a view of considerable distance to the soldiers who would defend her.  

        The fort was built in the Fall, 1862.  The moat was dug into the ground with the dirt excavated being used for a parapet (wall) just inside the moat.  The steep climb up the hill to the fort only to be obstructed with a moat and parapet offered a seemingly effective defensive position.  With cannon capable of firing projectiles over 1500 yards, an offensive advantage also presented itself.   Normally, the construction of a fort would include a rampart, or raised wall, on which soldiers could stand and fire.  With the elevated position of the fort, a rampart was not necessary.  Wood walls were built into the parapet as reinforcement.  The inside of the fort measured 30 yards square.  Within its center was a large earthen mound secluding a powder magazine.  A single door provided entrance into the magazine.  Before the door was a lone wood wall filled with dirt.  This obstructed the view into the fort and protected the entrance to the magazine.  A single entrance was cut into the parapet on the south side.  The following pictures should give a give a good understanding the the fort's layout.  

 

 

Click on any picture to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

 

        In 1996, Fred Cook, Jr. constructed a scale diorama of the Fort.  Detailed information about the diorama (pictured below) can be obtained on the Diorama page.  

 

 

        Years after the explosion of the powder magazine, the resulting crater was turned into the town's water reservoir.   The image below shows the outline of the original fort superimposed with the outline of the reservoir.

 

 

 

 

See a description of the armament

 

See artifacts recovered

 

 

Source:

Donald J. Downs, "Last Fort or Redoubt Battle of the War Between the States"

        The fort built in West Point was made from earth.  Being atop the highest point in the city, it offered a view of considerable distance to the soldiers who would defend her.  

        The fort was built in the Fall, 1862.  The moat was dug into the ground with the dirt excavated being used for a parapet (wall) just inside the moat.  The steep climb up the hill to the fort only to be obstructed with a moat and parapet offered a seemingly effective defensive position.  With cannon capable of firing projectiles over 1500 yards, an offensive advantage also presented itself.   Normally, the construction of a fort would include a rampart, or raised wall, on which soldiers could stand and fire.  With the elevated position of the fort, a rampart was not necessary.  Wood walls were built into the parapet as reinforcement.  The inside of the fort measured 30 yards square.  Within its center was a large earthen mound secluding a powder magazine.  A single door provided entrance into the magazine.  Before the door was a lone wood wall filled with dirt.  This obstructed the view into the fort and protected the entrance to the magazine.  A single entrance was cut into the parapet on the south side.  The following pictures should give a give a good understanding the the fort's layout.  

 

 

Click on any picture to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

 

        In 1996, Fred Cook, Jr. constructed a scale diorama of the Fort.  Detailed information about the diorama (pictured below) can be obtained on the Diorama page.  

 

 

        Years after the explosion of the powder magazine, the resulting crater was turned into the town's water reservoir.   The image below shows the outline of the original fort superimposed with the outline of the reservoir.

 

 

 

 

See a description of the armament

 

See artifacts recovered

 

 

Source:

Donald J. Downs, "Last Fort or Redoubt Battle of the War Between the States"