Story
By Argent Fields
Originally called Fort Island Battery, and also known
as Mud Island Fort, Fort Mifflin was commissioned
in 1771.
British engineer John Montresor was commissioned
to begin construction for a fort at the southern edge
of Philadelphia on the Delaware River, originally
constructed to protect the city from invasion. As
civil unrest grew construction of the fort was ceased
in 1774.
Following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence,
Benjamin Franklin headed a committee to provide for
the defense of Philadelphia. At that time the British
had only completed the granite southern and eastern
walls of Fort Mifflin. A fort, known as Fort Mercer,
was constructed across the Delaware River from Fort
Mifflin. "Chevaux de frise," (obstacles)
were sunk in the river to slow the progress of enemy
ships.
After the defeat of Washington at the Battle of Brandywine,
the British took control of Philadelphia in September
of 1777. The British forces then laid siege to Fort
Mifflin and Fort Mercer in early October, 1777. The
siege which lasted until the middle of November, destroyed
much of Fort Mifflin. During the siege, 400 soldiers
held off over 2,000 British troops and 250 ships until
November 10, when the British intensified their assault,
launching an incessant barrage of cannonballs into
the Fort. In the end, the American troops were forced
out, Nov. 15, 1777. Their stand allowed George Washington
to retreat to Valley Forge.
During the American Revolutionary War the fort was
a centerpiece of the British conquest of Philadelphia.
The name "Fort Mifflin" became official
in 1795 and it was rebuilt 1798-1800, under the presidency
of John Adams. according to L'Enfant's design and
enlarged in the 19th century.
Many of the buildings standing today are holdovers
from the post-1795 construction. The white stone walls
date to the pre-revolutionary war British construction.
Evidence of the British 1777 bombardment can be seen
in its pock marked damage to the face of the stone
walls . During the Civil War, Fort Mifflin was used
to house Confederate prisoners of war, and Union soldiers
and civilians accused of breaking the law. The Fort
was a U.S. military post until the 1950s. In 1962,
Fort Mifflin was deeded back to the City of Philadelphia.
It is the site of the greatest bombardment of the
American Revolution.
Fort Mifflin was built by the British in 1771 and
destroyed by the British in 1777.
During the Civil War, Seth Eastmen, the great American
western frontier painter was the Fort's Commandant.
The Commandment's House is the only single dwelling
north of the Mason Dixon Line designed by Pierre Charles
L'Enfant who designed Washington D.C.
Fort Mifflin boasts the last remaining open faced
artillery shed in the nation.
When it closed, Fort Mifflin was the oldest fort in
continuous use in the nation (1771 to 1954).
The British Engineer John Montresor both designed
and initially oversaw construction of the fort, and
was later assigned the duty to siege the fort in 1777.
Fort
Mifflin: Olde Fort Mifflin Historical Society
www.fortmifflin.com
Fort Mifflin Ghost Tours
The longest reported ghost is that of the "Screaming
Woman,' Elizabeth Pratt. It is said that the officer's
wife hung herself after her daughter died of typhoid
fever, and her screams still haunt the Officer's Quarters.
The blacksmith shop is supposedly still haunted by
Jacob, the resident worker who had many problems with
the doors. Then there is the very helpful guide in
revolutionary garb said to be found near the power
magazine. Apparently, he will give you a top-notch
tour of the fort, if you don't mind a ghost guide.
Finally, the best known haunting is that of Billy
Howe in casemate 5. He was a prisoner during the Civil
War, convicted of murder and hung in the courtyard.
A few years ago Rodney Anonymous of The Dead Milkmen
Fame, attempted to spend the night in casemate 5.
He detailed his experiences on his web site in a section
entitled "A Bad Night at Fort Mifflin."
He includes some audio, as do the folks at Moorestown
Ghost Research, who visited the fort three times.
A
Bad Night at Fort Mifflin ... of the Philadelphia
Ghost Hunters Alliance talking about the various ghosts
that supposedly haunt the fort along with clips ...
www.rodneyanonymous.com/radio/mifflin.html
Ft.
Mifflin ghost hunters get spooked themselves
- Philadelp...
Fort Mifflin is said to be haunted by Eliza-beth Pratt,
whose screams are supposedly heard at night, and Billy
Howe, aka "The Man Without a Face," who
was ...
www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2004/05...
Interestingly enough, this casemate 5 was hidden
for over 100 years and just discovered last year by
the caretaker!
Fort Mifflin conducts a number of family events throughout
its operating season. Group Tours can be arranged
throughout the entire year. This is a great place
for a child's birthday party, and private groups can
also rent the facilities for their functions. The
site opens April 1 for tours, and there are special
ghost tours every year around Halloween.
2007 Events
Saturday, August 11 Pirate Day Fort Mifflin
Saturday, September 8 Civil War Garrison Days Fort
Mifflin
Sunday, September 9 Civil War Garrison Days Fort Mifflin
Saturday, November 3 Work Day Fort Mifflin
Saturday, November 10 Siege Weekend, 230th Anniversary
Fort Mifflin
Sunday, November 11 Siege Weekend, 230th Anniversary
Fort Mifflin
Saturday, December 1 Soldier's Christmas Fort Mifflin
Saturday, December 8 Iron Works Hill
Saturday, December 8 Operation Lumberjack Fort Mifflin
Saturday, December 8 Monroe's Crossing
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