Nestled on the western shore of the Delaware River, south of Delaware City, lies Fort DuPont, Delaware, a site steeped in rich military history and strategic importance. Commissioned in 1898, this formidable installation played a crucial role in the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware, safeguarding the vital water approach to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for over four decades. Today, the deactivated fort stands as a cherished state park, offering a tangible connection to America’s past.
Initially named for Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, a distinguished Civil War Naval Hero, Fort DuPont’s legacy stretches back further than its formal commissioning, with roots tracing to the tumultuous years of the Civil War. Its story is one of evolution, from rudimentary defenses to state-of-the-art coastal artillery, reflecting the changing landscape of national security.
The Genesis of Fort DuPont: Civil War Era Defenses
The earliest fortification at the site emerged between 1863 and 1864, on land acquired from 1st Lieutenant Clement Reeves. Briefly known as Fort Reynolds, this initial ten-gun battery served as an auxiliary to the nearby Fort Delaware. Its construction during the Civil War was integral to a larger network of forts designed to protect the capital city of Washington, D.C.
This early fort was a robust, six-sided structure, each side measuring 100 feet, fortified by a deep moat and an ingenious defensive perimeter of felled trees with branches pointed outwards. It honored Flag Officer Samuel F. Du Pont, celebrated for his command during the naval victory at Port Royal, South Carolina, in November 1861. While its guns never engaged in battle, Fort Reynolds provided a crucial lifeline; it served as a sanctuary for runaway slaves seeking freedom before continuing their journey to the growing community of “contrabands” in Washington.
In 1870, the federal government expanded its holdings, purchasing an additional 66 acres west of the Ten Gun Battery. This acquisition facilitated the establishment of a permanent military post along the Delaware shore, intended to house a twenty-gun battery equipped with heavy guns and coast defense mortars. Though not fully armed initially, the post soon welcomed its first garrison, Captain John Jay Young’s Independent Battery G, also known as the Pittsburgh Heavy Artillery. Sergeant Bishop Crumrine of Young’s Battery famously described it: “This fortification is not properly a Fort but rather a water battery. It has five sides across the river from Fort Delaware on the Delaware City side. The two longest sides next to the river is a heavy breastwork on which six 10-inch and four 15-inch Rodman guns are mounted.” By 1876, a mine casemate was constructed, preparing the river for an underwater minefield.
The Endicott Modernization and Coastal Defense
The landscape of American coastal defense underwent a dramatic transformation following the 1885 Board of Fortifications’ sweeping recommendations, widely known as the Endicott program. This initiative reshaped military strategy, recognizing the urgent need for a defensive system capable of matching global naval firepower. Significant construction at Fort DuPont commenced prior to and continued after the Spanish-American War, systematically upgrading the defensive capabilities of the three forts guarding the crucial ports along the Delaware River.
In 1897, outdated weaponry was removed to clear the way for modern masonry fortifications, replacing the earlier Ten Gun and Twenty-Gun Batteries. These advanced concrete batteries were designed not only to protect gun crews and ammunition but also to provide robust, solid mounting platforms for heavy artillery, their substantial weight and recoil necessitating such engineering. Additional protection against naval assaults was afforded by substantial earth or sand embankments. The installation of eight- and twelve-inch steel guns on innovative disappearing carriages in these fortifications represented the pinnacle of coastal defense technology, offering the best protection for the nation’s shores.
Formally Commissioned as Fort DuPont
The site was formally commissioned as Fort DuPont in 1898, honoring Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, solidifying its place within the national coastal defense system. Following the strategic blueprints of the Endicott Board, the fort was laid out with an open-plan design, creating a well-ordered military landscape. Batteries were strategically positioned on the fort’s eastern side, facing the river, to counter potential military bombardment. In the ensuing years, Fort DuPont rose to prominence as the primary protector of Wilmington and Philadelphia.
Construction of these new fortifications began in 1899 and reached completion by 1902. This included the formidable armaments of two eight-inch and twelve-inch breech-loading rifles, alongside sixteen twelve-inch breech-loading mortars. The completion of these concrete gun and mortar emplacements, complete with their installed armaments, marked a significant milestone in establishing Fort DuPont as a state-of-the-art coastal fort of the Endicott period.
The post was garrisoned by soldiers of the 4th U.S. Artillery under the command of Major Van Arsdale Andruss. Fort DuPont served as the headquarters for the three-fort complex, boasting more barracks and administrative buildings than its sister forts. By 1901, the heavy artillery companies stationed at these forts were re-designated as coast artillery companies, falling under the Artillery Corps. Further land acquisitions after 1902 allowed for the construction of permanent buildings and essential supporting facilities.
The Coast Defenses of Delaware: WWI and Interwar Period
Upon completion, Forts DuPont, Delaware, and Mott together formed an artillery district, which was re-designated in 1913 as the “Coast Defenses of Delaware.” By 1915, most of Fort DuPont’s infrastructure, including residences, schools, barracks, and support structures, had been completed. The reservation’s layout was defined by orderly roads, with ancillary buildings encircling the artillery batteries and various facilities lining the thoroughfares. A prominent parade ground, situated between the west and east buildings, became the fort’s central feature, its commemorative flagpole marking it as the heart of the base.
Concurrent improvements were made to the other key forts: Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island received three 12-inch disappearing guns, while Fort Mott, located near Finn’s Point on the New Jersey shore, was also significantly bolstered with three 12-inch disappearing guns.
During World War I, Fort DuPont, Delaware, maintained its crucial role as a coastal defense post. It also functioned as a vital training center for local draftees and a deployment site for artillery units. However, by 1915, Batteries Read and Gibson were deemed obsolete, reflecting the continuous evolution of military technology.
Following the Great War, Fort DuPont underwent a transition, serving as a quartermaster depot before becoming an engineer post with the arrival of the First Engineers in May 1922. During this period, Battery E, 7th Coast Artillery, acted as the caretaker detachment for all Coast Artillery Corps facilities along the Delaware River. The construction of Fort Saulsbury near Slaughter Beach, Delaware, between 1917-1920, and its acceptance into service in 1924, effectively superseded the three forts near Delaware City, though these older installations retained their mortars, mines, and some guns into the early years of World War II.
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers purchased the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in 1919 for $2.5 million, elements of the canal-side lane and lockkeeper’s house were seamlessly integrated into the fort’s planned landscape. The Wingate House, though no longer standing, became part of the officers’ residential area, and its tree-lined lane was connected to the fort’s road system.
The 1930s saw further development at Fort DuPont, notably with the Works Progress Administration constructing a theater that still stands today, bordering the parade ground. Additional non-commissioned officers’ quarters were built on recently reclaimed wetlands to the north and east of the fort’s central axis. Fields west of the batteries were utilized for buildings dedicated to the storage and repair of bridge pontoons.
A unique event occurred on December 12, 1932, when six sets of officers’ quarters were floated across the river to Fort DuPont from Fort Mott in Pennsville, New Jersey, following one set that had been moved the previous year. From 1934 to 1936, Fort DuPont and the 1st Engineer Regiment were commanded by Colonel Ulysses S. Grant III, grandson of President Ulysses S. Grant.
World War II and the POW Camp
During World War II, Fort DuPont served a multifaceted role, acting as a critical mobilization station for deploying units. Perhaps one of its most notable functions during this period was housing a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp for captured German soldiers and sailors. At its peak, approximately 300 buildings and structures lined the streets of Fort DuPont, indicating its extensive wartime activity.
In 1942, the headquarters for the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware, along with artillery troops, were strategically transferred to Fort Miles in Lewes, Delaware. By this time, Fort DuPont had been largely disarmed, its weapons scrapped, as Fort Miles had taken over as the primary coastal defense installation for the region. In May 1944, a POW camp was formally established, repurposing temporary buildings within the mobilization area. Throughout the war, roughly 3,000 German POWs were held at Fort DuPont. This number included crew members of the submarine U-858, which surrendered off the coast of Lewes, Delaware, in May 1945, along with other German forces. These prisoners contributed to the war effort through various support roles on the post and at local installations like the New Castle Army Air Base, working as dishwashers, waiters, grocers, and butchers. German POWs also assisted civilian canneries, garbage companies, and even helped repair boardwalk sections for Rehoboth Beach.
Post-War Transformation and Historic Preservation
Following the conclusion of World War II, Fort DuPont, Delaware, was declared surplus effective December 31, 1945. Initially offered to the Veterans Administration as a potential veterans hospital, the offer was declined. Subsequently, the State of Delaware acquired the site at a 100% discount, embarking on a project to adapt existing structures for civilian reuse.
In 1947, the fort was officially turned over to the State of Delaware. The temporary mobilization barracks were dismantled before the health center opened. The former mobilization hospital complex, recreation hall, and chapel were integrated into the master plan for the new facility. In 1948, the post reopened its doors as the Governor Bacon Health Center, operated by the Delaware Division of Health and Social Services, marking a significant shift in its purpose.
Later, in 1976, the Major General Joseph J. Scannell Armory was constructed on the site that once housed the POW camp. By 1980, however, many of the historic quarters on Officers Row had been tragically cannibalized and demolished, a stark reminder of the challenges in preserving such a vast historical complex. Sections of Fort DuPont are currently governed by six different state agencies, a factor that often leads to complexities and confusion regarding the maintenance of specific roads, buildings, and structures within its expansive grounds.
A significant step towards preservation occurred in 1992 when a large portion of the site was rededicated as Fort DuPont State Park. By 1996, over 300 acres had been reestablished within the park system. That same year, the Major General Joseph J. Scannell Armory became the home station for the 153rd Military Police Company, a unit of the Delaware Army National Guard.
The site achieved official designation as the Fort DuPont Historic District in 1999, securing its listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This district encompasses both Fort DuPont State Park and the Governor Bacon Health Center, spanning approximately 350 acres and featuring over 75 historically significant buildings, structures, and objects. Despite ongoing efforts, by 2011, fewer than 80 historic buildings and structures remained, underscoring the continuous battle against time and decay. In 2016, the acreage not already part of the state park system was officially annexed into Delaware City.
Fort DuPont Today: A Legacy Preserved
Today, the Fort DuPont Historic District encompasses 305 acres on the western side of the Delaware River, a remarkable testament to its enduring legacy. It proudly boasts 101 distinct resources, including a diverse collection of buildings, structures, objects, and sites, each telling a piece of its storied past. The park’s strategic and unique location at the confluence of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and the Delaware River makes it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, perfect for fishing and launching vessels.
Visitors can explore the 1.1-mile River View Trail, a path with a packed earth surface that meanders through tidal marshlands, past the old gun batteries, and offers an immersive glimpse into Delaware’s rich military and natural history. Fort DuPont, Delaware, stands as a vibrant living museum, a place where history, nature, and recreation intertwine, inviting all to discover its compelling narrative.
Conclusion
From its origins as a Civil War-era auxiliary fort to its vital role in the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware during two World Wars, Fort DuPont, Delaware, has witnessed and shaped critical chapters of American history. Its transformation from a bustling military installation and a WWII POW camp to a tranquil state park and historic district underscores a remarkable journey of adaptation and preservation. Today, it serves as a powerful educational resource and a beautiful natural retreat, ensuring that the legacy of this significant coastal bastion continues to inspire and inform future generations, reminding us of the unwavering commitment to national security and the dynamic evolution of American heritage.
