In the late-19th century, with the advances in technology and the increase in America's economic stature, a new round of fortification building began in the United States and its overseas territories. Locations such as Portland, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charlestown, Savannah, Key West, Los Angeles and San Francisco were all extensively fortified. This book provides a concise introduction to the design, development and purpose of American coastal defenses in the "modern" era (1885–1950), a period defined by the use of concrete, steel, and powerful breech-loading rifles. It covers the emplacements, weaponry, equipment, and people that defended their country in times of great change and uncertainty.

Excerpt from The Personnel of Sea-Coast Defense This table shows at a glance, that this force is entirely inade quate for the defense of the sea-coast fortifications designed to protect our cities and harbors. For, considering the Atlantic coast alone, it appears that but three batteries are assigned to the great Northern bay extending from New Brunswick to Cape Cod, but two batteries at St. Augustine for the whole Southern bay from Cape Hatteras to Key West, while the great Central bay from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, though rich in fine harbors and great cities, has but twenty-two batteries distributed among eight garrisoned works. But a single battery comprising 44 officers and men cannot be called a protection for the whole coast of Maine; neither can two batteries insure the safety of Boston, and the Massachusetts coast; nor is New York defensible, with but two batteries covering the East River approach and with but seven at the most, that by the Narrows. Indeed these scattered fragments of the regiments of artillery are not garrisons, but rather care takers of the works at which they are stationed, and so long as the Artillery retains its present numerical strength, the coast and frontier must remain inadequately defended. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

A unique reference guide to seacoast defenses and fortifications of the United States from 1789 to 1950

Pacific Fortress, A History of the Seacoast Defenses of Hawaii is a revealing historical account of the U.S. Army's coastal defenses of Oahu. This work provides a thorough account of both the seacoast and anti-aircraft branches of the Coast Artillery Corps in this important American Pacific base. It presents a detailed chronicle of the building and operation of the defenses from shortly after the territory's occupation in 1907 through the tense pre-war period and the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 to the impressive wartime enhancements. At its culmination in 1945, Oahu boasted the strongest coast defenses of any American harbor. Compiling research from the National Archives and many primary sources this work describes in great detail the defensive plans as well as the fortifications built between 1904 and 1945. Consequently, it is simultaneously a "unit" history (the Coast Defense units stationed in the islands), a weapon /technical history (the artillery in the fixed gun batteries) and a combat history. The text is supported with thorough referenced endnotes, a bibliography, and eleven appendices listing all fortification sites. This 450-page, hardcover book is heavily illustrated with over 460 maps, plans, and period photographs, this work is the most comprehensive coverage of these defenses ever offered in print. The author, Glen M. Williford, has contributed an important addition to the body of knowledge on these historical defenses. It is a worthy companion to the earlier publication, Pacific Rampart, A History of Corregidor and the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays by the same author and publishing team. Readers of both military and Hawaiian history will find this coverage fascinating.