Fort Billingsport
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Fort Billingsport, in Paulsboro, New Jersey is early U.S. fort on the Delaware River. The land for the fort was purchased by the Continental Congress on July 5, 1776, the first land purchase made by the United States. [1]
The 96 acres (0.4 km²) site was purchased for purchased for 600 pounds. Tadeusz Kościuszko designed the fortifications at the request of George Washington.[1]
The fort was constructed by troops from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. It was completed on August 1, 1777.[1] It had a fleet of small armed vessels and chevaux de frise to slow the progress of enemy ships. It was eventually overrun by 1,500 British troops. Today the site is currently a park.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Fort Billingsport is at coordinates Coordinates:
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Colimore, Edward. "Fighting to save remains of a fort", Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 2007.
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