Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Battery Weed

Fort Wadsworth

— Gateway Nat’l Rec Area —

Battery Weed Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

1. Battery Weed Marker

Inscription. Begun in 1847, this granite structure was finally completed during the Civil War. Its four-tier design allowed up to 116 guns to skip cannonballs across the Narrows. However, by the mid-1860s bigger, more-accurate guns could destroy a stone fort like this. Comprised, it became obsolete almost before its last stones were laid.

First named Fort Richmond – after an earlier New York State-built fort on the same site – it was renamed in 1865 for Brt. Maj. Gen. James Wadsworth, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness. In 1902, the army post was named Fort Wadsworth and this fortification renamed Battery Weed for Brig. Gen. Stephen Weed, killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 40° 36.286′ N, 74° 3.315′ W. Marker is on Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. It is in Fort Wadsworth. Marker is on Hudson Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in the Fort Wadsworth Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Staten Island NY 10305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Tompkins (a few steps from this marker); Verrazano – Narrows Bridge

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(a few steps from this marker); Defending New York Harbor (a few steps from this marker); Fort Wadsworth (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Duane (within shouting distance of this marker); Torpedo Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Battery Weed (about 300 feet away); Dry Moat and Counterscarp (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.

More about this marker. The background of the marker is an etching of Fort Richmond that appeared in Harper’s Weekly Illustrated in 1860. In the picture the fort still had its tidal moat filled with water outside the fort walls. Also on the marker is an 1857 drawing of Fort Richmond, later renamed Battery Weed in 1902, and other photographs of Forts Richmond and Wadsworth.
The bottom of the marker contains illustrations of Fort Wadsworth’s Defense Systems during different time periods:
First System Defenses, 1794 – 1807; Second System Defenses, 1807 – 1817; Third System Defenses, 1817 – 1876 (which includes Battery Weed);

Markers at the Narrows image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

2. Markers at the Narrows

Several markers are found at this location. The Battery Weed Marker is the one on the left in the photo. The Verrazano – Narrows Bridge can be seen in the background.

and Endicott System Defenses, 1890 – 1910.

Also see . . . Battery Weed. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on July 31, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Markers at Fort Wadsworth image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

3. Markers at Fort Wadsworth

Battery Weed image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009

4. Battery Weed

This photo of Battery Weed, taken from the marker, shows the multi-tier design of the fort.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, May 16, 2010

5. Battery Weed

Battery Weed as seen from the Brooklyn waterfront.

Stephen Hinsdale Weed image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Find A Grave, unknown

6. Stephen Hinsdale Weed

Brigadier General, USA

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,889 times since then and 663 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 14, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on May 20, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on July 31, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.