Cow Fort (Marblehead, Massachusetts)

Marblehead · Massachusetts · American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War

Quick BriefOriginally built in 1775 for the Revolutionary War as the Huit's Head Battery, this coastal battery occupied a strategic position on Marblehead's shoreline and served multiple conflicts spanning nearly a century. Named in honor of John Glover, a Revolutionary War general from Marblehead who commanded the Marblehead Regiment and provided his own ship Hannah as the first warship in United States service, the fortification was rebuilt and regarrisoned during the War of 1812 and Civil War before demolition in 1917.

Civil WarCoastal defense

History & Significance

Cow Fort originated as Huit's Head Battery, constructed in 1775 for the Revolutionary War. The fort was located on what is now Riverhead Beach on Bubier Road in Marblehead, sited to guard the beach and the Marblehead Neck causeway.

It was rebuilt in the War of 1812 as the Gilbert Heights Fort, garrisoned 1813–1815. During the Civil War era, it was rebuilt again in 1863 as a three-gun earthwork battery.

After it was abandoned as an active defense, local residents nicknamed it Cow Fort after the cattle that roamed within the old walls. It was regarrisoned by state militia in 1898 as a watch post during Spanish-American War preparations.

The fort was named in honor of John Glover, a Revolutionary War general from Marblehead who commanded the Marblehead Regiment and provided his own ship Hannah as the first warship in United States service. The fort was demolished in 1917.