Fort Grey on Mount Misery

Fort Grey on Mount Misery. A Civil War Fort to Secure Union Control. Built on a high embankment overlooking the Severn River, Fort Grey was pivotal in protecting Union interests during the earliest days of the Civil War. As a slave-holding state, Maryland was vulnerable to uprisings from local Confederate sympathizers. With commanding views of key military assets and critical transportation routes by rail, road and water, Fort Grey secured Annapolis and a vital alternate route to Washington for the duration of the war.

"A detachment of 300 men, of the Eighth New York Regiment, with two pieces of artillery, are entrenching themselves on an elevation about ten miles from Annapolis, completely commanding the road to Baltimore. The position is on the north side of Severn River."
- Sunbury American, 27 April, 1861

After the fall of Fort Sumter in early April 1861, Union control of Maryland was critical in light of its confederate sympathies as a slave-holding border state. President Lincoln sent troops to protect the Union and prevent Maryland from joining the Confederacy.

But tensions escalated with acts of sabotage and attacks on Union troops and supply chains. After a mob attack on Union troops in Baltimore - later known as the Pratt Street Massacre - on April 19th, the Governor of Maryland and the Mayor of Baltimore openly encouraged the destruction of infrastructure to impede Union troops.

In response, under orders from General B.F. Butler, the 8th New York State Militia arrived at Annapolis in late April to secure Annapolis and the Union's Northern route to Washington.

Lincoln's orders on April 25 directed Butler to "take measures, in concert with the Naval Commander at this station, to arm and hold Fort Madison and old Fort Nonsense, with such other points in their vicinity, on the opposite bank of the Severn, as may be necessary to secure the safety of this station."

Butler and the 8th established Fort Grey on land known as "Mount Misery." With commanding views of the Severn and Magothy Rivers, south to the United States Naval Academy and west to the critical railroad junction of Annapolis Junction (near modern day Laurel), the outpost proved critical in holding Annapolis and the Northern route to Washington for the Union.

On April 26, 1861, under command of Col. G. Lyons, the 8th New York arrived by steamer as part of a massive influx of Union troops into Maryland. Initially the troops occupied the grounds of the Naval Academy. Gen. Butler sent about 200 men, seven engineers, and Varian's Light Artillery Battery - equipped with two howitzers - up the Severn River to construct Fort Grey. Later, the 8th would repair the rail line to Annapolis Junction (image bottom left), a critical hub, and advance to Baltimore to secure Federal Hill.

After we had been on the ground for two days, we...were detailed to build a fort on a God-forsaken place called Mount Misery, which we completed, and were glad to leave in the hands of the regular troops. If the enemy try to take it they will have a glorious time of it, for they will no doubt get handsomely whipped.
- D.B. Keeler, Jr., Adjutant, NY Eighth Regiment

[Captions]:

8th New York engineers repairing Maryland rail lines. Harper's Weekly, 1861. Image courtesy Library of Congress.

Engineer Company, 8th New York State Militia, Arlington, Va., June, 1861. Image courtesy Library of Congress.