Fort Sewall, Salem
About Fort Sewall
History
War of 1812
During the War of 1812, on April 3, 1814, USS Constitution took shelter under the guns of Fort Sewall from a pursuing pair of British frigates, Tenedos and Endymion. Despite lacking the ammunition and powder needed to sink or drive off the two frigates, the fort's garrison was able to bluff the British by running out all of their guns and acting as though they were preparing to attack. Faced with a 44-gun frigate and the defensive batteries of a fort, the British elected to retreat, none the wiser. From April 1816 to March 1821 Fort Sewall was garrisoned by Company B of the Light Artillery Regiment with about 60 soldiers. This was, apparently, the only time Fort Sewall was garrisoned by a unit the Regular Army.
Civil War
During the Civil War, Massachusetts troops were garrisoned at Fort Sewall, 12 pieces of artillery were mounted to defend Marblehead Harbor, and a few Confederate prisoners of war were held here.From May 16, 1864 to August 15, 1864 Fort Sewall was garrisoned by the 11th Unattached Company of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (formerly Company I, 8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia). On August 15, 1864 the 11th Company was relieved by the 20th Unattached Company (formerly Company E, 4th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia) which also garrisoned the fort a Salisbury Beach in Newburyport. The 20th Company was mustered out shortly after the end of the war on June 29, 1865.
Spanish-American War
Its last military use of Fort Sewall was during the Spanish-American War in 1898. It was used as the mobilization site for Company H, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, commanded by Captain Walter L. Pratt, from June to August, 1898. Company H was raised in Chelsea and consisted of 3 officers and 58 enlisted men.
Current use
As Fort Sewall was seen as no longer needed as a coast defense fort following the Civil War. On 22 May 1892 the town council of Marblehead voted to adopt the Fort as a city park. The fort was turned over to the town by the Federal Government in 1922, and is now open as a public park. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.