Since before Columbus discovered the New World, the Kennebec River has been a scene of settlement and conflict. Fort Halifax was the northernmost military outpost in the region, but it was only one of more than twenty forts that protected parts of the river, including Fort Ancient Augusta, Fort Baldwin, Georgetown Battery and Fort Popham, Fort Sagadahoc on Stage Island, Fort St. George, Fort at Cox's Head, the garrison at Georgetown, Samuel Denny's Fort, John Watt's Fort, Arrowsic Fort and Fort Menaskoux, Fort Lewis, Hammond's Fort and Clarke and Lake's Fort, the Woolwich Garrisons, Fort Noble, Joseph Berry's Fort, another Fort Lewis, Fort Richmond, and Fort Frankfort and Fort Shirley.