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Stanwix, Fort
Description: Fort Stanwix: 1758, Oneida County, Rome. Built in summer 1758 to guard a strategic portage along a major transportation route. Fort Stanwix guarded the centuries old Oneida Carrying Place. This strategic Iroquois Confederacy portage in upstate New York bridged the waterways between the Atlantic Ocean (Hudson - Mohawk) and the Great Lakes (Wood Cr - Oneida Lk, Oswego R.). After the British conquered Canada in 1760 it gradually ceased to be a military post. During the American Revolution (then also known as Fort Schuyler), the Americans rebuilt the ruined fort in the summer of 1776. British military forces were repulsed while attempting to besiege the fort. In this battle of 3 Aug 1777 it is claimed that the Stars and Stripes first flew in the face of the enemy. American militia and Oneida allies tried to come to the aid of Fort Stanwix, but were cut off in an ambush at Oriskany, considered one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. Both these battles were part of St Leger's attempt towards Albany to meet up with Gen Burgoyne who was defeated at Saratoga. In 1781 the fort was virtually destroyed by fire and flood and substantially rebuilt and its original name restored. During the War of 1812 it was seriously neglected and a blockhouse was built as an emergency on the parade ground. Beginning in 1828 the fortifications were gradually dismantled. From 1970 to 1977 the National Park Service reconstructed the fort.
County: Oneida County
City, State: Rome, New York