When the United States gained its independence in 1783, its remaining seacoast defenses were in poor condition. The 1794 and 1807 war scares caused Congress to appropriate money for fortifications to guard key harbors. These programs are called the First and Second Systems of American seacoast fortification. However, interest in building fortifications subsided once the threat of attack disappeared and the uncompleted works deteriorated. Built mostly of earth with some masonry backing and designed to hold smooth-bore cannons, the structures were neither uniform nor durable. Subsequent construction and erosion have all but destroyed these works.
In 1816 Congress appropriated over $800,000 for a new fortification
program, which became the Third System, and was the most ambitious
American fortification construction program to date. Begun under
peaceful conditions, the works were built more methodically and
were permanent in nature. President James Madison appointed a
Board of Engineers for Fortifications, which visited potential
sites and prepared plans for the new works. Its first report in
1821 was the basis for a fortification program that remained the
backbone of American coastal defense until well into the latter
part of the 19th Century. The original report suggested 50 sites,
but by 1850 the board had recommended nearly 150 more be built.
In all, the board suggested building at 200 Atlantic and Gulf
coast sites and 20 Pacific coast sites. However, fortifications
were only actually built at about one-fourth of these sites. The
construction of these works, as were all subsequent seacoast fortification
construction projects, was overseen by officers of the army's
Corps of Engineers. The mainstays of the defensive works were
the large masonry structures built to house many guns in their
vertical faces. Smaller works were built to guard less important
harbors. The larger works, principally around the major harbors,
were largely replacements for earlier works.
