Board of Fortifications

Several boards have been appointed by US presidents or Congress to evaluate the US defensive fortifications, primarily coastal defenses near strategically important harbors on the US shores, its territories, and its protectorates. In 1885 US President Grover Cleveland appointed a joint Army, Navy and civilian board, headed by Secretary of War William Crowninshield Endicott, known as the Board of Fortifications (now usually referred to simply as the Endicott Board). The findings of the Board in its 1886 report illustrated a grim picture of neglect of America's coast defenses and recommended a massive $127 million construction program for a series of new forts with breech-loading cannons, mortars, floating batteries, and submarine mines for some 29 locations on the US coast. Coast Artillery fortifications built between 1885 and 1905 are often referred to as Endicott Period fortifications. The first board consisted of the following officers and civilians: William C. Endicott, Secretary of War, president of the Board Brigadier-General Stephen V. Benet, Chief of Ordnance Brigadier-General John Newton, Chief of Engineers Lieutenant-Colonel Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers Captain Charles S. Smith, Ordnance Department Commander W.T. Sampson, U.S. Navy Commander Caspar F. Goodrich, U.S Navy Mr. Joseph Morgan, jr. Mr. Erastus Corning Prior efforts at harbor defense construction had ceased in the 1870s. Since that time the design and construction of heavy ordnance had advanced rapidly, including the development of superior breech-loading and longer-range cannon, making U.S. harbor defenses obsolete. In 1883, the Navy had begun a new construction program with an emphasis on offensive rather than defensive warships, and many foreign powers were building more heavily armored warships with larger guns. These factors combined to create a need for improved coastal defense systems. The Endicott Era Defenses were constructed, in large part, during the years of 1890–1910 and some remained in use until 1945.