Fort Slocum
| Fort Slocum | |
|---|---|
 Shacks for draftees |
Fort Slocum, New York was a US military base occupying Davids Island and Hart Island at the western end of Long Island Sound. The fort was named for Major General Henry W. Slocum, a Union corps commander in the American Civil War.
History
Military use of these islands appears to date back to at least April 13 1862, when Simeon Leland leased the island to the government. On the very same day, De Camp General Hospital was established on Davids Island, housing as many as 2,538 occupants in 22 buildings[1]. A prison camp was established on Hart Island in 1856[2]. Both were used to house Confederate prisoners of war. It is unclear if the name Fort Slocum was used during this period.
On May 11, 1867, Simeon Leland sold the island to the United States Government for $38,500. The government purchased the island for use as a recruiting depot, a function which the Army maintained there for many years. [3] In 1968, New York Legislature ceded jurisdiction over the island to the United States for military purposes so long as it remained property of the United States and with the provision that it would not be used for general hospital purposes. [4]
After the Civil War, Davids Island was converted to a coastal artillery defense post[5]. In 1921, the battery included 4 12-inch mortars, 4 3-inch pedestal guns, and 2 3-inch anti-aircraft guns.
Hart Island was sold to New York City in 1868, for use as a burial ground (potter's field) and for various purposes by the New York City Department of Corrections. The US Military has continued, however, to make intermittent use of Hart Island over the years. It was used during World War II by the US Navy for a disciplinary barracks.
On July 1, 1896, by directive of President Grover Cleveland, the War Department, by General Order #28, designated the island as Fort Slocum. [6]
From 1951 to 1962, Fort Slocum (Davids Island) was the home of the U.S. Army Chaplain School and the US Department of Defense Information School [1965][7].
From 1946 to 1949, Fort Slocum housed Headquarters First Air Force. It was redesignated Slocum Air Force Base in June 1949; this only lasted for a year before being turned back into an Army post in June 1950[8].
From 1955 to 1960, Fort Slocum housed a Nike Ajax air-defense battery. The missiles were stored in underground silos on Hart Island and the radar and control base was on Davids Island. The U.S. Army Information School was located at Fort Slocum in 1956. Students from the U.S. and military personnel from around the world were taught public relations, photography, public speaking, typing, radio script writing, news releases, and citizenship-history-government.
Fort Slocum is currently (2005) abandoned, but Hart Island continues to be used as potter's field. One of the few remaining artifacts of Fort Slocum's existence visible to the general public is Fort Slocum Road in New Rochelle, New York.
Sound off, one, two
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2008) |
According to The Cadence Page, the famous "Sound off, one, two" military cadence was invented at Fort Slocum in 1944.
Other uses of the name
Fort Slocum was also the name of a Civil War fort defending Washington, D.C., although it was named for a different Slocum (Colonel John S. Slocum of Rhode Island, killed at the First Battle of Bull Run). . The Library of Congress web site contains two photographs titled, Officers, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, Fort Slocum, April, 1865. Since that regiment was never stationed north of Baltimore, Maryland, it is likely that the Fort Slocum referred to was the one in Washington, D.C.
External links
References
- ^ Earthlink personal web page
- ^ www.correctionhistory.org
- ^ Davids' Island 1600 - 1976 Historical Chronology; New Rochelle Public Library, 1976
- ^ Laws NY 1868, Chapter 257, Vol.1, page 528
- ^ Coastal Defense Study Group
- ^ Davids' Island 1600 - 1976 Historical Chronology; New Rochelle Public Library, 1976
- ^ Westchester County property records
- ^ Joe McCusker's Air Force Base List
