Eastern Point Fort, Civil War coastal fort in Gloucester, United States
Eastern Point Fort is a coastal fortification in Gloucester designed with earthwork defenses capable of mounting multiple artillery pieces. The installation included magazines and sheltered structures for military personnel to operate and protect the defensive position.
The fort was built in 1863 under the command of Major Charles E. Blunt to protect Gloucester fishing vessels from Confederate commerce raiders. The fortification served as a key defensive position throughout the conflict.
The fort represents nineteenth-century military engineering principles, demonstrating the period's approach to coastal defense through strategic positioning and earthwork construction.
The site today is largely inaccessible due to private structures occupying the grounds, including a residence that incorporates an original stone tower. Visitors should be aware that the area is not freely open and remnants of the original fort are limited in visibility.
An inventory from January 1865 documented ten different types of guns at the fortification, including both rifled and smoothbore artillery. This variety of weaponry shows how quickly the defensive position was upgraded and adapted during the conflict.
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