A Giant Among Forts

Fort Adams was a twenty acre fort built to defend Newport, with 468 cannon placed along the most probable attack routes and space for 2,400 soldiers. Although designed for an imposing force, it was usually garrisoned by several hundred troops in peacetime, but during war the fort and surrounding area filled with thousands of soldiers patrolling the ramparts and training for combat. Simon Bernard, who had served as a lieutenant general of engineers under Napoleon, designed Fort Adams using many advanced fortification techniques of French engineers. Compared with other forts, Fort Adams was far larger, at 871,200 square feet circa 1825, while Fort McHenry measured 85,000 square feet circa 1796, Fort Sumter 56,000 square feet circa 1829, and Fort Ticonderoga 44,200 square feet circa 1755.

Newport, Rhode Island · United States