| Fort Norfolk Click on the fort for a virtual tour |
| Click on picture for a virtual tour of the fort |
| Main Gate of Fort Norfolk, ca. 1810 Norfolk, Virginia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- History On March 20, 1794 Congress authorized then President George Washington to build fortifications to protect the major sea ports along the coast of the United States. French born John Jacob Ulrich Rivardi was appointed by Henry Knox, then Secretary of War under President Washington, to build forts to protect both Nofolk, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland. Rivardi was instructed to place the highest priority on Norfolk as the threat from foreign attack was greater there. This threat came from the first war between the new French Republic and Great Britain. Rivardi arrived in late April, 1794 and proceeded directly to work. Prior to this time Fort Norfolk had existed as a earthen work fort and did serve poorly in the Revolutionary war. Rivardi decided to construct the fort where the previous fort stood on the eastern shore of the Elizabeth River. Fort Nelson was rebuilt from it's Revolutionary War configuration to conform to the Second System of Fortifications directly south of Fort Norfolk on the western shore of the Elizabeth River. The land for Fort Norfolk was purchased from Edward and Sarah Poole for two hundred pounds sterling in 1795 after the work had begun. Construction on the fort was discontinued for budgetary reasons shortly thereafter. However, construction was completed with mostly private funds and labor by 1810, as a direct result of the fear generated by the "Chesapeake / Leopard Affair" in 1806 off the Virginia coast. The War of 1812 At the urging of President Madison, Congress declared war with Great Britain on June 18th, 1812. In August the governor of Virginia called up the militia in preparation for the defense of the Commonwealth. Governor Barbour ordered the first contingent, known as Lucas and Wills regiment to march from Richmond and proceed directly to Norfolk. Robert B. Taylor was placed in command of the forces in the Hampton Roads area with his headquarters at Fort Norfolk. United States regular forces present at the fort when the war started were quickly sent to the northern front which left Norfolk and Portsmouth virtually defenseless. Governor Barbour decided to rotate Virginia militia units through Fort Norfolk for training and to man the forts in the area. A company of regular troops, under the command of Captain Pollard of the 20th regiment, also saw duty at Fort Norfolk. Within six months the vunerability of the area would be realized with the arrival of the British blockading force. In February of 1813 the first of his majesties forces arrived off the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Using the Lynnhaven Bay as an anchorage, the British were able to effectively limit shipping into and out of the bay. This anchorage allowed easy access to the main shipping channels into and out of the Chesapeake Bay. As the British were arriving at the mouth of the bay, the USS Constellation, 44 guns, was making a run for the open ocean from Baltimore, Maryland. Upon sighting the fleet, the captain of the Constellation put the ship about and made all sail for Norfolk. Two British frigates took up the chase but retreated when the Constellation came within the range of guns at Fort Norfolk. Due to the effectiveness of the British Blockade, the USS Constellation spent the entire War of 1812 in the harbor at Norfolk. Though the fort was not attacked during the war, it was instrumental in provideing troops to man the post created at Craney Island at the mouth of the Elizabeth River. These troops successfully fended off an attack by British forces in June of 1813. To learn about the Battle of Craney Island click on the map below. |
