Fort Duffield
Introduction
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Fort Duffield is a Union Civil War fort built by the Union, located outside West Point, Kentucky. The Fort was built in 1861 and had 950 troops stationed there. The fort is mostly a serpentine wall, with the earthworks being well-preserved. After being abandoned after its last use, the forest has grown back around the fort. Being in such pristine conditions it is often used for reenactments.
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Backstory and Context
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Fort Duffield is the largest earthen Civil War fortress in Kentucky and overlooks West Point. Construction began in early November of 1861, with much of the work being done by the Ninth Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel William Duffield (the son of George Duffield, whom the fort was named after). By, March 1862 the fort was finished and had high walls, which characterized the fort. All trees were cleared within a one-mile radius of the fort, leaving a clear field of fire for the garrison and its artillery. Due to its impenetrable position, the fort was never challenged.
During the construction of the fort Sixty-one men from the Ninth Michigan Infantry died from disease and deprivation while building the fort. These men were buried on Memorial Hill. Today, a memorial cemetery stands therewith a thirty-four-star U.S. flag (like flown in 1861-1862) flying over it. The flag and flagpole were donated to Fort Duffield by the Second Kentucky Infantry in 1999.
As the war went on, it moved away from Fort Duffield. By 1863 the fort was no longer garrisoned at all. In fact, during 1864, Confederate guerrillas occupied it several times, deciding to burn the huts the Union soldiers had built while they were there. After the war, the fort went through various hands and had many uses. For example, it was used as a farm, rock quarry, and hunting lodge. The fort is now owned by the city of West Point and is known as a historic treasure.
During the construction of the fort Sixty-one men from the Ninth Michigan Infantry died from disease and deprivation while building the fort. These men were buried on Memorial Hill. Today, a memorial cemetery stands therewith a thirty-four-star U.S. flag (like flown in 1861-1862) flying over it. The flag and flagpole were donated to Fort Duffield by the Second Kentucky Infantry in 1999.
As the war went on, it moved away from Fort Duffield. By 1863 the fort was no longer garrisoned at all. In fact, during 1864, Confederate guerrillas occupied it several times, deciding to burn the huts the Union soldiers had built while they were there. After the war, the fort went through various hands and had many uses. For example, it was used as a farm, rock quarry, and hunting lodge. The fort is now owned by the city of West Point and is known as a historic treasure.
Sources
"Fort Duffield." Wikipedia. July 24, 2017. Accessed October 12, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Duffield.
"Fort Duffield." Fort Duffield. Accessed October 12, 2018. http://fortduffield.com/.
"Museum Artifacts and Memorabilia Exhibits Speakers Tours of Hardin County Elizabethtown History from the Hardin County History Museum Preserving Artifacts Memorabilia Rotating Exhibits on Display and Speakers Tours." Museum Artifacts and Memorabilia Exhibits Speakers Tours of Hardin County Elizabethtown History from the Hardin County History Museum Preserving Artifacts Memorabilia Rotating Exhibits on Display and Speakers Tours. Accessed October 12, 2018. http://www.hardinkyhistory.org/.