(Cover) Fort Jefferson from the air.
Fort Jefferson
NATIONAL MONUMENT
Fort Jefferson (1846-74), largest of the 19th-century American coastal forts, and one time “Key to the Gulf of Mexico.”
The seven Dry Tortugas Islands and thesurrounding shoals and waters in the Gulfof Mexico are included in Fort Jefferson NationalMonument. Though the area is offthe beaten track, it has long been famous forbird and marine life, as well as for legendsof pirates and sunken gold. The century-oldfort is the central feature.
Dry Tortugas
Like a strand of beads hanging from the tipof Florida, reef islands trail westward into theGulf of Mexico. At the end, almost 70 mileswest of Key West, is the cluster of coral keyscalled Dry Tortugas. In 1513, the Spanish discovererPonce de León named them las Tortugas—theTurtles—because of “the greatamount of turtles which there do breed.” Thelater name Dry Tortugas, warns the marinerthat there is no fresh water here.
Past Tortugas sailed the treasure-ladenships of Spain, braving shipwreck and corsairs.Not until Florida became part of theUnited States in 1821 were the pirates finallydriven out. Then, for additional insurance toa growing United States commerce in theGulf, a lighthouse was built at Tortugas, onGarden Key, in 1825. Thirty-one years laterthe present 150-foot light was erected on LoggerheadKey.
The Need for a Fort
In the words of the naval captain who surveyedthe Keys in 1830, Tortugas could “controlnavigation of the Gulf.” Commerce fromthe growing Mississippi Valley sailed theGulf to reach the Atlantic. Enemy seizure ofTortugas would cut off this vital traffic, andnaval tactics from this strategic base could beeffective against even a superior force.
There were still keen memories of Jackson’sfight with the British at New Orleans,and Britain was currently developing herWest Indies possessions. Trouble in Cuba wasnear. Texas, a new republic, seemed about toform an alliance with France or England, thusproviding the Europeans with a foothold onthe Gulf Coast.
Thirty Years of Construction
During the first half of the 1800’s theUnited States began a chain of seacoast defensesfrom Maine to Texas. The largest linkwas Fort Jefferson, half a mile in perimeterand covering most of 16-acre Garden Key.From foundation to crown its 8-foot-thickwalls stand 50 feet high. It has 3 gun tiers,designed for 450 guns, and a garrison of1,500 men.
The fort was started in 1846, and, althoughwork went on for almost 30 years, it wasnever finished. The U. S. Engineer Corpsplanned and supervised the building. Artisansimported from the North and slaves fromKey West made up most of the labor gang.After 1861 the slaves were partly replaced bymilitary prisoners, but slave labor did not enduntil Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863.
The War Between the States
To prevent Florida’s seizure of the half-complete,unarmed defense, Federal troopshurriedly occupied Fort Jefferson (January19, 1861), but aside from a few warningshots at Confederate privateers, there was noaction. The average garrison numbered 500men, and building quarters for them accountedfor most of th