Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Battery Weed
Fort Wadsworth
| | Gateway Natl Rec Area | |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009
1. Battery Weed Marker
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, U.S. Department of the Interior.
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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Historic Fort Wadsworth (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. The background of the marker is an etching of Fort Richmond that appeared in Harpers 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 Wadsworths Defense Systems during different time periods:
First System Defenses, 1794 1807; Second System Defenses, 1807 1817; Third System Defenses, 1817 1876 (which includes
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.
Also see . . . Battery Weed. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on July 31, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 13, 2009
3. Markers at Fort Wadsworth
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.
Photographed by Find A Grave, unknown
6. Stephen Hinsdale Weed
Brigadier General, USA
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,308 times since then and 55 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.
