Subject: Patriot's Fortifications - Boston, 1776 Source: The Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution by Benson J. Lossing, Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York - 1850 Vol. I p.591 - 593. Lossing writes: With the exception of Dorchester, Bunker Hill and Roxbury, I believe there are few traces of the fortifications of the Revolution that can be certainly identified; and so much alter- ed has been the fortress on Castle Island that it exhibits but little of the features of 1776. Every year the difficulty of properly locating the several forts becomes greater, and there- fore to preserve, in this work, a record of those landmarks by which they may be identified, I condense from Silliman's Journal of 1822 an interesting article on the subject which was communicated by J. Finch, Esq., with such references as later writers have made. I. BREED'S HILL & BUNKER HILL These works were on the summits and slopes of the hills, looking toward Boston. Bunker Hill Monument now stands upon the spot where Col. William Prescott's redoubt was thrown up. II. PLOWED HILL This fort was upon the summit of the eminence commanding the Mystic River and the Penny Ferry. It was in a direct line from Charlestown Neck to Winter Hill, further northward. III. COBBLE or BARRELL'S HILL. In consequence of its strength, the fort on this hill was called Putnam's impregnable fortress. This was on the north side of Willis's Creek, in full view of Bunker and Breed's Hills, and commanding the whole western portion of the peninsula of Charlestown. IV. LECHMERE'S POINT Was strongly fortified at a spot one hundred yards from West Boston Bridge. There was a causeway across the marsh, and a line of works along Willis's Creek to connect with those on Cobble Hill. V. WINTER HILL The works at this point, commanding the Mystic and the country northward from Charles- town were more extensive than any other American fortification around Boston. There rested the left wing of the army under General Lee, at the time of the siege of Boston. There was a redoubt near, upon the Ten Hill Farm, that commanded the Mystic; and be- tween Winter Hill and Prospect Hill was a redoubt, where a quarry was opened about the year 1819. This was called White House Redoubt, in the rear of which, at a farm house Lee had his quarters. VI. PROSPECT HILL Had two eminences, both of which were strongly fortified, and connected by a rampart and fosse, or ditch. These forts were destroyed in 1817. There is an extensive view from this hill. VII. THE CAMBRIDGE LINES situated upon Butler's Hill, consisted of six regular forts connected by a strong intrenchment. These were in a state of excellent preservation when Mr. Finch wrote. The second Line of Defense might then be traced on the College Green at Cambridge. VIII. A SEMICIRCULAR BATTERY with three embrasures was situated on the northern shore of the Charles River, near its entrance into the bay. It was rather above the level of the marsh. IX. BROOKLINE FORT On Sewall's Point, was very extensive. The Ramparts and irregular bastion, which commanded Charles River were very strong. The fort was nearly quadrangular. X. MUDDY RIVER There was a battery on the southern shore of Muddy River, with three embrasures. West- ward of this position was a redoubt; and between Stony Brook and Roxbury were three others. XI. ROXBURY There were strong fortifications at this point, erected upon eminences which command- ed Boston Neck, sometimes called Roxbury Neck. About three quarters of a mile in advance of these redoubts were the Roxbury Lines, situated northward of the town. There were two lines of intrenchments, which extended quite across the peninsula; and the ditch, filled with high water, made Boston an island. The works thrown up by Gage when he fortified Boston Boston Neck were near the present Dover Street. Upon a higher emminence, in the rear of the Roxbury lines (at present - 1850) west of Highland Street, on land owned by the Hon. B. F. Copeland, was Roxbury Fort, a strong quadrangular work, with bastions at each angle. The magazine appears to have been on the southwest side, near which was a covered way and sally-port. I have nowhere seen a fortification of the Revolution so well preserved as this, except the old quadrangle fort or castle at Chambly, on the Sorel; and it is to be hoped that patriotic reverence will so consecrate the ground on which this relic lies, that un- hallowed gain may never lay upon the old ramparts the hand of demolition. The history of the construction of Roxbury Fort is somewhat obscure. It is known to have been the first regular work erected by the Americans when they nearly circum- vented Boston. Tradition avers, that when the Rhode Island "Army of Observation," which hastened toward Boston, under Greene, after the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, encamped at Jamaica Plains, a detachment was sent forward and commenced this redoubt at Roxbury. General Ward, who by common consent, was captain-general of the accumulating forces, ordered them to desist, as he was about to commence a regular line of fortifications under the direction of Gridley. The Rhode Islanders, acknowledging no authority but their own Provincial Assembly, proceeded in their work, and when Washington took command of the army, he regarded this fort as the best and most eligibly located of all the works then in course of construction. During the seige of Boston, Roxbury Fort was considered superior to all others for its strength and its power to annoy the enemy. XII. DORCHESTER HEIGHTS The ancient fortifications there are covered by the remains of those erected in 1812, and have little interest except as showing the locality of the forts of the Revolu- tion. XIII. NOOK'S HILL At Nook's Hill near South Boston Bridge, the last breast-work was thrown up by the Americans before the flight of the British. It was the menacing appearance of this suddenly-erected fort that caused Howe to hasten his departure. The engineers em- ployed in the construction of these works were: Colonel Richard Gridley, Chief. Lieut. Colonel Rufus Putnam. Capt. Josiah Waters. Capt. Baldwin of Brookfield. Capt. Henry Knox (afterward General) These were the principal works erected and occupied by the Americans at Boston. When Mr. Finch wrote in 1822, many of these were well preserved, and he expressed a patriotic desire that they should remain so. But they are gone, and art has covered up the relics that were left. But it is not yet too late to carry out a portion of his recommendation, by which to preserve the identity of some of the localities. "The laurel, planted on the spot where Warren fell, would be an emblem of unfading honor; the white birch and pine might adorn Prospect Hill; at Roxbury, the cedar and the oak might yet retain their eminence; and upon the heights of Dorchester we would plant the laurel, and the finest trees which adorn the forest, because there was achieved a glorious victory, without the sacrifice of life!" footnote: Roxbury Fort - To the right of the ramparts was the house of Mr. Benjamin Perkins, on Highland Street and extending to the left is the side of the fort toward Boston, which exhibits traces of the embrasures for the cannons. It was a foggy day when Lossing visited the fort in the company of Frederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston, to whose courtesy and antiquar- ian taste the author was indebted for the knowledge of the existence of this well-preserved fortification. The bald rocks on which the fort stands (1850) are huge boulders of pudding stone, and upon three sides of these form natural revetments, which would be difficult for an enemy to scale. The embankments are from eight to fifteen feet in height and within, the terre-plein, on which the soldiers and cannons were placed, is quite perfect. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth