Earthworks and Officer's Row at Fort Ontario

Earthworks and Officer's Row at Fort Ontario. . , Earthworks 1759-1902 , All four versions of Fort Ontario built from 1755 to 1839 were surrounded by a ditch (dry moat) and earthworks constructed of a dirt and timber facing material called revetment designed to provide a protective barrier between the garrison and any attackers. Attackers would have to endure withering musket and artillery fire from the fort while ascending a long sloping hill (glacis) before reaching the ditch. Once in the ditch, they would be caught in a concentrated crossfire of muskets, artillery, and grenades., Outer Earthworks 1755-1815 , Small fortifications such as redoubts. ravelins, redans, and other defensive works were located beyond the main fort and earthworks. An enemy would have to capture these smaller defenses before assaulting the main fortification Picket or guard posts were pl located even further out to warn of an approaching enemy and provide defense for patrols, hunting, and woodcutting parties., Defense of the Ditch May 6, 1814 , Around noon outnumbered Americans met a British landing force near shore, but were driven back to the ditch where they stopped the enemy advance. Meanwhile, Royal Navy Seamen overran harborside artillery batteries while Marines stormed the fort's northwest bastion, driving out or capturing its defenders. Surrounded on three sides, Lt. Colonel George Mitchell ordered a retreat from the ditch, but Sergeant Timothy Gowell's platoon at the north end did not hear the order. Fighting until a volley tore down into them from behind, Private David Rodgers picked up the badly wounded Gowell and escaped with the survivors of the platoon, just before the trap closed behind them., Officer's Row 1903-1953 , The fort's earthworks were removed in 1902 to make way for brick officer's quarters and a tree lined road during modernization of the post from 1903-1905. Garages, tennis courts, sheds, gardens, and a long driveway were located between the quarters and the stone fort. In 1953, Officer's Row and many other structures built from 1903 to 1946 were demolished. The tree lined road was removed in 1968, [Photo and Illustration Captions, ccw from top left: ] , - Detail of map by Thomas Sowers, 1760. Courtesy of the British Library. , - 1761 Perspective View of Fort Ontario by Francis Phister Courtesy of the British Library , - C. 1900 Photograph of the ditch taken from about this location. , - Photograph of the ditch and timber revetment by Bastion C. , - Detail of engraving Attack on Fort Oswego hy Lt. John Hewitt, 1815. , Courtesy Library and Archives of Canada. , - Postcard ca. 1930s , - Fire Drill at Fort Ontario 1918 , - 1943 photograph of garage and tennis courts behind Officers Row. , - 1908 postcard photograph of Officer’s Row. A section of earthworks behind the Administration Building at left remained until about 1908. , - Escape from the Ditch. Courtesy of Peter Rindlisbacher.