New Bedford in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Defending a Rich Target

History of the stone fort at Clark's Point

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 17, 2013

1. Defending a Rich Target Marker

Inscription. In 1840, the Army Board of Engineers met in Boston to plan a defense for the Atlantic Coast. New Bedford was considered important because of its fine harbor and industrial base. Major R. Delafield, (considered the "Father of American Seacoast Artillery") and Captain Robert E. Lee (later to become Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia) drew up plans for a granite fort at Clark's Point. $50,000 was authorized by the federal government for the construction of a 5-sided, 3-level fort. In 1857, the government paid $7000 for Edward Wing Howland's farm as the site for the fort. Building began in 1857 after construction of a stone pier on the east side of the Point. The pier was used for off-loading granite. Old whaleships were used to transport the stone from Sullivan, Maine. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the fort's walls were incomplete. In 1862, Lt. Henry Martyn Robert (author of Robert's Rules of Order) was appointed Superintendent of Construction. The first cannon were installed in 1863. With the end of the Civil War in 1865, construction slowed to a halt. In 1869, the beacon of Clark's Point Lighthouse was moved

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atop the fort. In 1871, construction ended with the second level. The unused blocks may still be seen along the shore today. The Army officially named the fort in honor of New Bedford native Lt. Colonel Logan Rodman, of the 38th Massachusetts Infantry, who fell at the head of his Regiment in the assault on Port Hudson, LA in 1863. Although the fort never "saw the flame of battle,” it served as a deterrent to those who considered New Bedford and its whaling fleet as a rich target.

Captions (clockwise from top right)
• The stone fort, in 1889, shown with old and new Clark's Point Lighthouses.
• Fort Plan 1857
• Map of Fort Taber Park & facilities
• 12-inch Rodman smoothbore heavy artillery rifle in one of the fort's gun bay embrasures

Erected by City of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 41° 35.599′ N, 70° 54.105′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It can be reached from

City of New Bedford (Public Domain)

2. Defending a Rich Target Marker

The featured marker is on the left.

Rodney French Boulevard, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in Fort Taber/Fort Rodman park, about 0.2 miles south of the entrance off Rodney French Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford MA 02744, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Phoenix (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Phoenix (approx. 2.1 miles away); Revolutionary War Cannon (approx. 2.1 miles away); Major Israel Fearing (approx. 2.1 miles away); Donald R. Bernard (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Phoenix (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Phoenix (approx.

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2.2 miles away); William Bradford (approx. 2.7 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.