Sandy Hook History

Local, independent historian covering the amazing stories of Fort Hancock / Sandy Hook, the Bayshore Area, Jersey Shore, and The Battle Of The Atlantic!

[sandyhookhistory]

Justice Is Served... 'Extra Crispy'

'Evening, folks. We have a very dark chapter of New York City's WWII-era History to share with you tonight.

80 Years Ago Today - (Saturday) March 4th, 1944:

(From left to right, going clock wise) Seen here, in Photo 1, in their mug shots, are Mafia members Louis Capone, Emanuel "Mendy" Weiss (top right), and Louis "Lepke" Buchalter (bottom right) But, these aren’t just ANY mobsters. These creeps are members of "Murder, Inc," the contract killers who worked for the Italian and Jewish mobs, primarily in New York. Buchalter, in fact, was its first President. All three of them are nothing but cold-blooded killers.

Buchalter, in fact, had a hand in The Hit on Dutch Schultz in Jersey City, NJ in October, 1935.

Each man has a bone-chilling record that is too numerous to list here. After years of crime and a body count to match, all three were ultimately caught, convicted, and given the death sentence in New York City on December 2nd 1941 - five days before Pearl Harbor. Capone and Weiss were sent 'Up The River' to Sing Sing Correctional Facility on the Hudson River while Buchalter ended up back at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas on a previous racketeering charge. The State of New York wanted him back - BAD. Following the loss of a long string of appeals, he was extradited to New York on January 21st, 1944.

All three got a seat in "Old Sparky," the Electric Chair at Sing Sing on Saturday, March 4th, 1944 around 11:00 pm, EST - hence while we waited until now to do our post.

Capone, who had been sentenced last among the three, was slated to go first. Ironically, he had a heart condition, and the State was worried he would have a heart attack and "cheat the hangman." Weiss went second, and Buchalter, sentenced first, and being known as a "tough guy," was intentionally made to go last - forced to watch his two henchmen go before him.

Regular... Or Extra Crispy?

Macabre as this you might think this to be, they earned it, and they got what was coming to them. This story plays a unique part of the WWII timeline within America's 1940s Home Front culture as the Mobs were being consistently hunted down and dismantled by the FBI. The glory days of the Depression and the "Public Enemies" in the 1930s were long over, and the Federal Government had little patience or mercy for thugs like these as it had to execute and fight a War that was raging around the planet.

But... quite paradoxically, in the "Fog Of War," American Organized Crime wove itself in and out of America's War Effort - both here, and overseas - with the blessings and absolution of that very same US Government. But that's an incredible story for another day. 😉

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🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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[sandyhookhistory]

“Tragedy At Sea - The Loss Of Texas Tower 4”

Good evening, everyone. Today is a terrible anniversary, both in the history of our military, and the Jersey Shore.

63 Years Ago, Today - (Sunday) January 15th, 1961, 76.8 miles east of Barnegat Light, NJ:

In the 1950’s, with the Cold War well underway, the military wanted to extend our visibility deep into the Atlantic ocean. To accomplish this, large radar platforms would be built far offshore. With an additional 300 mile increase in range, the towers’ would give the United States additional response time in the event of a nuclear attack by Russian aircraft.

Five towers were planned, from New England to New Jersey. Towers 1 and 5 were never built; Tower 2 was placed on George’s Shoal northeast of Cape Cod, Tower 3 was built on Nantucket Shoal east of Montauk Point, LI, and Tower 4 was built on an unnamed shoal 76.8 miles nearly due east of the Barnegat Lighthouse, in New Jersey. The large platforms earned the nickname “Texas Towers,” due to their similarity with oil drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas Tower 4 was assigned to the Highlands Air Force Station, here in Monmouth County (present day Hartshorne Woods County Park), with the call signs “Jitney” and “Dora,” as part of the 646th Radar Squadron.

Regrettably, it had a terrible reputation from the start, beginning in 1957. Built on land, it was transported to its shoal via barge. Enroute, two of the three legs were damaged, and the decision was made to repair them at sea - this was never properly done.

The whirring of the massive radar dishes, and their diesel generators, caused extreme reverberation through the entire platform. Due to the depth - 185 feet of water - the Tower’s hollow legs reverberated with the flow of the sea. Not only did the Tower shudder with the waves, it rocked violently, earning it the unenviable nickname of “Old Shaky.”

Repeated pleas for substantial repairs were deferred, and only small piece-meal work was done over time. Requests to abandon the Tower were declined, because of Russian patrol vessels who were ready to swoop in and strip the Tower of its secret materials.

The Tower endured one massive storm after another. It took Hurricane Daisy in August, 1958, and then was battered by Hurricane Donna in September, 1960..

Refusing to the abandon the Tower, the Air Force removed non-essential troops and left a skeleton crew of 14 Air Force personnel and 14 civilian contractors aboard. With the powers-that-be finally acknowledging that the Tower was in danger of collapse, their flash of brilliance to temporarily stabilize it was to mix concrete and dump it straight down the hollow shafts of each legs. As winter of 1960-61 approached, the helipad on the tower filled up with pallets of cement bags. As late as January 7th, Navy Divers, assessing the legs, found the supporting structures were damaged and letting go

As these stories always do, tragedy awaited. A storm arrived in full force - the forecast on January 14th called for winds as high as 60 mph. On the morning of the 15th, the Tower groaned and twisted in ways no one had seen before - another support brace had gone. All day the men on Texas Tower 4 called in damage reports and pleas for rescue.

The Air Force finally relented - but it was too late. At 4 pm, at the height of the storm, they authorized an evacuation, but the weather was too rough for helicopters. All US Coast Guard and Navy ships in the area - including an aircraft carrier, the USS Wasp (CV-18) - made for the Tower at full speed.

At 6:45 pm came the bone-chilling radio message “WE ARE BREAKING UP.”

Texas Tower 4 presented a massive blip on surface radars. Around 7:30 pm, with some ships just miles away - it vanished.

One of the damaged legs finally buckled, and the entire structure crashed into the sea. Texas Tower 4 was gone. And with it, all 28 men. Only two bodies were recovered; the rest were claimed by the sea.

We pause to honor and remember the lives that were lost 63 years ago today off the Jersey Shore. It must be remembered that our Cold War veterans served - and sacrificed - without a shot ever being fired in anger.

28 US Air Force Personnel and Civilian Contractors Lost their lives that day. Of note, many of the civilian contractors were veterans themselves, of several branches. Out of respect so as to prevent confusion, they are listed here without rank, simply by name and age.

They Are:

Abbott, David - 48

Bakke, Roald - 35

Brown, Vincent - 43

Bucherri, Samuel - 45

Cudnick, Chester - 47

Evans, Thomas - 54

Foster, Bishop - 35

Giurastante, Domenic - 19

Green, Kenneth - 27

Haroutunian, Aram - 45

Ide, William - 38

Jones, Leland - 22

Kovarick, Wilbur - 36

Kruse, William - 27

Laino, Louis - 21

Leo, Milton - 50

Martel, Raymond - 34

Opalka, Anthony - 46

Parker, David - 22

Phelan, Gordon - 33

Robertson, Edward - 39

Schutz, Henry - 57

Shaffer, Harry - 37

Smythe, William - 61

Waitt, Donald - 39

Williams, Troy - 39

Wolford, Larry - 24

Yavorosky, Vincent - 44

You Are Not Forgotten

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🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a day by day review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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[sandyhookhistory]

~ Fallen Flyers ~

Good evening, everyone. We have a very tragic WWII Anniversary to discuss tonight.

Eighty Years Ago, Today - (Tue) December 28th, 1943, near Douglas, Arizona:

As WWII rages, the ranks of the US Military swell by tens of thousands. Time is short, and the training is hard, fast and tough across the nation.As Allied victories begin to mount up, the time tables accelerate, and more and more troops are needed on the front as soon as possible.

At an unspecified (at this time) Army Air Field (AAF), either Douglas AAF or Hereford, AAF, a routine training flight is about to take off. 2nd Lieutenant Douglas McDow, US Army Air Forces, a 30-year old native of California, is about to take up 26-year old Flight Cadet Clarence A. Thompson, also of California.

Their mount is a UC-78 “Bobcat,” a military incarnation of the successful, twin-engine Cessna “T-50,” which first flew in 1939. The plane, a five seater covered in fabric, is quite suited to the task as a preliminary military trainer.

The two men climb aboard, and after a successful pre-check, the little plane leaves the runway, climbs into the sky… and vanishes without a trace. Searches prove futile, and the two aviators become another tragic ghost story of WWII.

We’ll never know what happened for sure, but what we do know is that hikers in the Pinelao Mountains come across the shattered wreckage of an aircraft… in April, 1974 - 31 years later. Recovery crews are able to ascertain it is the missing Bobcat, found some 90 miles north of where she took off on that fateful training mission.

Recovery personnel also find the remains of the two US Army Flyers. After being missing for three decades, the men are recovered, and are laid to rest, sharing a grave in San Francisco National Cemetery, overlooking San Francisco Bay from Fort Winfield Scott, the Presidio of California.

Today, we pause to remember 2nd Lt. Douglas McDow and Flight Cadet Clarence Thompson.

Your legacy and memory are safe here, and in the hearts of a grateful nation.

Be Thou At Peace.

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a day by day review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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[sandyhookhistory]

Honoring US Army Colonel Henry Harris, namesake to Battery Harris at Fort Tilden, NY - part of the Harbor Defenses of New York!

Follow the link for all the details!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/YJ7tnSmxM4qvHWsq/?mibextid=gik2fB

[sandyhookhistory]

Inferno At Sea – The Loss of the “Loodiana”

132 Years Ago, Today – (Mon) December 21st, 1891, New York Harbor:

Even with Christmas approaching, the world keeps spinning – and the commerce keeps flowing. Tied wharf side in New York Harbor, and ready for sea, is the Canadian barque “Loodiana.”

Although steamers are becoming more prominent and changing the maritime landscape forever, for now, the sail ships still rule the seas, and are still being built around the world. Loodiana is a new ship, built in Canada just two years prior in 1889. She’s pretty massive, too – 235 feet long, 44 ft on the beam, and drawing 24 feet of water. She tips the scales at 1820 tons.

Fully laden with petroleum, her crew of 37, with the captain’s wife aboard, cast off lines, and head down harbor, threading their way through the unending flow of ships going to and fro. They approach Sandy Hook, and rounds the tip of the peninsula, slipping along under the watchful eye of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Once they clear the channel and reach open water, the rudder goes to port, and she heads eastward, bound for London. 2,000 miles of open sea lie before the ship and crew. The Highlands, and Twin Lights, are the final farewell, and it’s certain that she was watched from the hillside as she crested the horizon.

Tragedy will strike, and she will never reach London. In many cases, ships sail from New York and simply vanish, such as the “Columbus” whom we spoke of yesterday (12/20). However, we do know it what happened to Loodiana, and it is horrifying.

Four weeks out, on January 16th, hurricane conditions have whipped up near the European coast. The British passenger steamer “Egyptian Monarch” is heading for New York when she sees a bright light in the distance. Drawing near, they come across a ship, burning stem to stern. We’ll never know how it started, but we do know that the cargo of petroleum ignited, and turned Loodiana into a raging inferno. The crew of Egyptian Monarch saw the captain and his wife, clothes on fire, clinging to the bowsprit.

It had to have been a gut-wrenching sight to observe.

The raging seas are too dangerous to affect a rescue, and Egyptian Monarch can do little but circle the flaming ship. After moving a few miles away to search for lifeboats, they return to the ship, by now just a smoking hulk. With nothing else to be done, and no survivors located, they turn and proceed on. Sometime later, the charred remains of Loodiana slip beneath the waves.

No survivors were ever found, and all 38 souls onboard were lost, burned alive - we pause today to remember them.

Loodiana remains another grim chapter in the maritime annals of Sandy Hook and New York Harbor, and another brutal reminder that the sea shows no mercy.

For further reading, the complete article from the New York Times, which we reference in Photo 3, may be found here:

https://www.wrecksite.eu/docBrowser.aspx?1542?5?1

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🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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[sandyhookhistory]

“Without A Trace – The Sail Ship “Columbus”

111 Years Ago, Today – (Sat) December 20th, 1912, New York Harbor:

The era of wood and sail, thousands of years old, has all but given way to the era of iron and steam. And yet, there are plenty of veteran sailing ships still plying their trades across the seas. One of them is the German “Columbus,” a wooden-hulled, three-masted cargo schooner. Although owned, and flagged, out of Germany, she’s American made. She was built at the Atkinson-Filmore shipyard in Newburyport, MA, north of Boston, and launched in 1876.

Even at 36 years old, she’s still a viable shipping platform. She’s 210 feet long, 40 feet on the beam, and she draws nearly 24 feet of water. She tips the scales at 1,470 tons. Today, she’s loaded with 9,000 barrels of fuel oil, and she casts off lines, bound for Bristol, England. She moves down harbor, and enters the Ambrose Channel. She passes a stone’s throw from the stricken schooner “L. Herbert Taft,” stuck fast on the Romer Shoals, where it wrecked yesterday. (Please see yesterday’s post).

As massive as she is, her large canvas sails would have been plainly visible around the Harbor and from Sandy Hook. She passes “The Hook” under the watchful eye of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Clearing the Ambrose Channel, she swings her rudder to port - before her is 2,900 miles of open sea. Those in the Highlands would have seen her slowly crest the horizon; the crew of the Columbus, in turn would have watched the Highlands, and the beams from Twin Lights, slowly vanish as well.

Columbus was never seen again. She vanished without a trace somewhere in the North Atlantic, taking All Hands – 20 Men – with her. We’ll never know for sure what happened.

It is worth noting that this ship was lost eight months AFTER the RMS Titanic disaster that previous April 15th. Even with greater diligence, ice patrols, and increased monitoring, disaster could still – and did – strike.

For perspective, of how savage and violent the sea can be, in 1912 alone, 720 merchant ships were lost in some manner or another. That is nearly two ships a day for an entire year.

Of that number, 72 - TEN PERCENT of the total shipping losses - went missing without a trace, the Columbus among them.

These are staggering figures when laid next to the facts that we are but two years away from World War One.

Today, we humbly remember the Columbus and her lost crewmen as we pause to remember that no matter the time, past, present or future... the Sea will ALWAYS be in charge.

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🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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[sandyhookhistory]

~ The Wreck Of The “L. Herbert Taft”

111 Years Ago, Today – Thursday, December 19th, 1912, New York Harbor:

The American cargo schooner, “L. Herbert Taft,” is ready to cast off lines. She’s a decent size ship – a wooden four-master, weighing in at 1,204 tons. Launched in 1901, the little sailing ship is still plying her trade as the nautical world continues to transition to steam. Now, laden with cement, she’s bound for Havana, Cuba. The warmer climate was no doubt on the minds of her crew of 11.

She heads for sea, and enters the Lower Harbor… and strong westerly winds and heavy seas. New York Harbor is an absolute nightmare during foul weather, and today is no exception. Two miles north of Sandy Hook, she’s nearing the Romer Shoal Lighthouse, and the safety of the Ambrose Channel. However, before the crew can react, the winds drive the ship onto the Romer Shoals – the natural, rocky outcropping surrounding the Lighthouse.

The L. Herbert Taft is stuck fast. Unlike other storms, this fortunately isn’t a howling gale, and the crew are able to signal for help. The U.S. Life Saving Service at Sandy Hook see the wreck, and rush to help. In short order, despite the conditions, All Hands are safely rescued. A pair of tugs also come to the aid of the stricken vessel, but under the pitching seas, they can’t pull her free. A third tug is also to no avail.

It is, regrettably, the end of the line for the L. Herbert Taft. Although not broken apart, she’s a total loss, and she remains in place for the next several years. Over time, her she’s dismasted and the wreck begins to break apart. Sometime during 1914-15, her wreck was dismantled, and for the most part, removed.

Another victim of New York Harbor… and another chapter in the maritime histories of New Jersey and New York.

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

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[sandyhookhistory]

Morning, folks!

Please enjoy the (Thursday) December 9th,1943 edition of Fort Hancock's soldier-run newspaper, the "Sandy Hook Foghorn" which was issued Eighty Years Ago, today! A weekly publication, the paper represents an incredible "snapshot in time" of the day to day life of the Soldiers of Fort Hancock during World War 2.

This amazing historic resource comes from the holdings of the Monmouth County Historical Association in Freehold, NJ, where they are available to the public.

The Foghorn had an entirely enlisted staff, with a small board of officers as advisers. Printed on-site, it told the stories of the Post and our sister site, Fort Tilden, in Breezy Point, across the harbor.

Due to the heavily censored nature of the day - and being on the front lines of the Battle Of The Atlantic - you'll see that specific units and persons are mentioned via nicknames that would be known only to those stationed there, thus providing no useful information to the enemy.

Rounding out the paper are articles on upcoming recreation events, movies, VIPs, and a handful of one-panel cartoons, drawn by military personnel and "syndicated" across the services. Nearly every ship and post had their own newspapers, telling of the daily life at each location, and major stories, photos, and cartoons were used as filler across the board. Please remember that these stories, articles, photos, and cartoons are products of the era, and should be viewed as such - and not responded to in an inflammatory manner when seen through the views of 2023.

Of note, with Americans pouring into the Service by the millions, the military intentionally drew upon each new recruit's professional background as much as possible. This was especially seen in the technical services, aaanndd... the media.

Those troops who had served in civilian journalism as reporters, printers, broadcasters, and photographers often found themselves right back where they came from, now working in the Signal Corps or running post newspapers, such as the Foghorn.

The images are a little fuzzy, but by zooming in, you should be able to read them. Enjoy!

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🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

Photos: Monmouth County Historical Association #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #foghorn #soldierrun #militarynews #randr #militaryjournalist #armynews #historicnewspapers #vintagenewspaper #forttilden #jerseyhistory #monmouthcountyhistory #highlandsnj #localnewspaper #localpaper

[sandyhookhistory]

Morning, folks!

Please enjoy the (Thursday) December 9th 1943 edition of Fort Hancock's soldier-run newspaper, the "Sandy Hook Foghorn" which was issued Eighty Years Ago, today! A weekly publication, the paper represents an incredible "snapshot in time" of the day to day life of the Soldiers of Fort Hancock during World War 2.

This amazing historic resource comes from the holdings of the Monmouth County Historical Association in Freehold, NJ, where they are available to the public.

The Foghorn had an entirely enlisted staff, with a small board of officers as advisers. Printed on-site, it told the stories of the Post and our sister site, Fort Tilden, in Breezy Point, across the harbor.

Due to the heavily censored nature of the day - and being on the front lines of the Battle Of The Atlantic - you'll see that specific units and persons are mentioned via nicknames that would be known only to those stationed there, thus providing no useful information to the enemy.

Rounding out the paper are articles on upcoming recreation events, movies, VIPs, and a handful of one-panel cartoons, drawn by military personnel and "syndicated" across the services. Nearly every ship and post had their own newspapers, telling of the daily life at each location, and major stories, photos, and cartoons were used as filler across the board. Please remember that these stories, articles, photos, and cartoons are products of the era, and should be viewed as such - and not responded to in an inflammatory manner when seen through the views of 2023.

Of note, with Americans pouring into the Service by the millions, the military intentionally drew upon each new recruit's professional background as much as possible. This was especially seen in the technical services, aaanndd... the media.

Those troops who had served in civilian journalism as reporters, printers, broadcasters, and photographers often found themselves right back where they came from, now working in the Signal Corps or running post newspapers, such as the Foghorn.

The images are a little fuzzy, but by zooming in, you should be able to read it. Enjoy!

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

Photos: Monmouth County Historical Association #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #foghorn #soldierrun #militarynews #randr #militaryjournalist #armynews #historicnewspapers #vintagenewspaper #forttilden #jerseyhistory #monmouthcountyhistory #highlandsnj #localnewspaper #localpaper

[sandyhookhistory]

~ William Alexander ~

We have a belated #harbordefensehappybirthday to celebrate!

Today, we honor Continental (U.S.) Army Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling who was born (most likely) on (Wed) December 4th, 1726 in New York City.

By all accounts, he was quite intelligent and well educated. He was the son of Scottish immigrants who fled Scotland after the Jacobite Rebellion. There was ancestral royal blood in the family, and he sought and held a highly controversial title of Lord Stirling. He lived a life befitting the title - and racked up the bill to go with it. Living in New Jersey and deeply in debt by the time the Revolutionary War broke out, the conflict provided a timely interruption to offload his monetary problems.

He became a Colonel in the New Jersey Militia, using his personal funds to outfit the 1st NJ Regiment; he was promoted to Brigadier General in March, 1776.

At the Battle of Long Island in August, the Patriots were quickly outflanked by the Redcoats. Seeing the disaster unfold, Stirling organized troops from Maryland into a well-executed, collapsing rear-guard action that allowed the majority of the American Army to escape. Scattering his men at the very end, he himself remained to be captured. The action was so successful, even the British acknowledged his gallantry.

Released in a prisoner exchange, Stirling was decisively engaged at Trenton that December. He was defeated at Short Hills, NJ in June of 1777, but won at Brandywine and Germantown, both in Pennsylvania. That winter, by accident, he was able to expose, and stop, a planned coup by General Horatio Gates to take command from George Washington. He’s forever part of New Jersey’s legacy for his part in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse on June 28th, 1778. The fight was savage and he took heavy casualties, but his troops held their ground.

By 1781, Stirling was assigned to command the forces in the northern frontier as the Continentals moved south to Yorktown. With the war all but over, Stirling, in poor health, died on active duty on January 15th, 1783, age 56. He was buried in famed Trinity Church in New York City.

However, his legacy of service would not be allowed to end there. With War Department General Order No. 194 on December 27th, 1904, he became the namesake to “Battery Alexander,” a two-gun 12-inch caliber disappearing battery at Fort Hancock, NJ. Construction began in 1898, and it was accelerated for the outbreak of the Spanish American War. Completion and transfer to the Coast Artillery was in July, 1899.

Battery Alexander is unique, as it is the two northern emplacements of what is called “9-Gun Battery” at Ft. Hancock. A total of six 12-inch guns and three 10-inch guns were emplaced there between 1896 and 1902. Battery Alexander’s guns face due north, and cover the west into Sandy Hook and Raritan Bay, as well as the approaches to the harbor from the southeast. The Battery enjoyed an exceptionally long service life of 43 years. The guns were finally salvaged for a scrap drive in early 1943. During the Cold War, the vacant emplacement was used as ammunition storage for 90-mm Anti-Aircraft guns until the Nike missiles came online in 1954.

Today, the Battery is in poor shape, with trees and vegetation growing through the concrete. The National Park Service has classified Battery Alexander as a “ruin,” meaning it will never, ever be restored or even preserved.

Although the emplacement may be vanishing, the incredible legacy of General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, the Battery that carries his name, and the service of the US Army Coast Artillerymen that manned it across four decades is in the safest of hands, here.

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

#visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #williamalexander #williamalexanderlordstirling #revolutionarywar #majorgeneral #continentalarmy #battleofmonmouth #monmouthcountyhistory #newjerseyhistory #namesake #whatsinaname #12inch #americanrevolution #scottishlord #americanrevolutionarywar

[sandyhookhistory]

~ Alfred Terry ~

We have a belated #harbordefensehappybirthday to celebrate!today, we honor U.S. Army Major General Alfred Howe Terry, born (Sat) November 10th, 1827 in Hartford, CT. He graduated from Yale Law in 1848, and became a clerk for the New Haven County Superior Court.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Terry raised his own Regiment, the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. They were immediately engaged at First Bull Run. He then raised a new unit, the 7th CT Volunteer Infantry. They went to South Carolina, fighting around Charleston where they captured Fort Wagner in September 1863, before proceeding to Virginia through 1864, where they fought at Petersburg.

Terry led his men into the teeth of the Confederate defenses at Fort Fisher, NC in January, 1865, then drove on Wilmington. Following the end of the war, he helped broker a treaty with the Indians in Wyoming in 1868 before serving as Military Governor in Atlanta. Returning to The West, his men were first on the scene after Custer’s massacre at Little Big Horn in 1876. He negotiated with Sitting Bull, and fought in the Nez Perce War in 1877.

His final command was the Military Division Of The Missouri, from which he retired in 1888. Sadly, he passed away just two years later on December 16th, 1890, aged 63. He was buried in New Haven.

However, his legacy of service would not be allowed to end there. With War Department General Order No. 134 on July 22nd, 1899, he became the namesake to Fort Terry on Plum Island at the entrance of Long Island Sound. It would form part of the defensive chain in conjunction with adjacent Forts Michie and H.G. Wright. Fort Terry would be armed to the teeth, with no less than 13 gun batteries between 1897 and 1946.

Today, the Fort exists in a bizarre limbo. Rather than public sale or transition to a park, Fort Terry and Plum Island were transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and since 1954, has been home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. Here, top secret testing on the threats and countermeasures to livestock is undertaken. The island is heavy guarded by the Department of Homeland Security. Many of the Fort buildings and nearly all the batteries sit in quiet isolation, neglected, but preserved from vandalism.

Not to brag or anything, but I am one of the very few people who can say they have been to Fort Terry. That was the “add-on” trip to the 2011 Coast Defense Study Group Conference in Narragansett Bay & New Bedford. We had to undergo a background check, a pat-down, and hawk-like security while we were there (not even allowed to go INTO the Batteries) but boy, was it worth it.

As of late 2023, there are talks of moving the Disease Lab to the mid-west, and preserving the island as a natural resource site, as opposed to private sale – and development. Our fingers are crossed, and we will keep you posted if we learn anything.

Today, we remember and honor Major General Terry’s incredible service. Hopefully, one day, all of us will be able to travel freely to Plum Island to enjoy it as a natural and cultural resource. In the meantime, however, General Terry’s legacy, that of the Fort that carries his name, and most importantly, the Soldiers who manned it, is in safe hands, here.

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

#visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #alfredterry #fortterry #plumisland #coastartillery #newyorkhistory #longislandsound #americancivilwar #fortfisher #sittingbull #majorgeneral #departmentofagriculture #homelandsecurity #blockislandsound #indianwars

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Voting ended onDec 15, 2023

[sandyhookhistory]

“The Death of John Colman”

414 Years Ago, Today - (Sunday) September 6th, 1609, Sandy Hook Bay & New York Harbor:

Famed and intrepid explorer Henry Hudson arrived with his ship, the “Half Moon,” arrived off what is now New York several days earlier. Several of his men are out in one of the ship’s boats, exploring the deep waters that we now know as Sandy Hook Bay and the Lower Harbor.

For reasons that will never be known, two canoes full of Lenape Indians arrive, and unleash a hail of arrows upon the sailors. One of them finds its mark, going through the throat of the Half Moon’s 2nd Mate, a man named John Colman. He falls dead into the bottom of the boat as the men furiously row back to the safety of the Half Moon.

The place of his burial – “on the beach” has been lost to history, and there are several candidates as to the location. However, the most plausible location was a spit of sand that was jutting out into these deep waters, adjacent to the Half Moon’s anchorage. It was thus named “Colman’s Point” in his honor. In turn, as the Dutch continued to expand their influence in the area, that spit would come to be known as “Sant Hoek.” We know it today… as Sandy Hook.

Today, we remember John Colman, and warmly reflect on the fact that our beloved Sandy Hook has been intertwined with our nation’s history, literally, since Day One.

And that's pretty awesome.

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

#newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #johncolman #henryhudson #ageofexploration #ageofsail #lenape #santhoek #colmanspoint #monmouthcountynj #monmouthcountyhistory #newjerseyhistory #njhistory #thisreallyhappened #jerseyshorehistory #newyorkhistory #newyorkharbor

[sandyhookhistory]

Part 3 of 3! (CONCLUSION) One last follow-up to the series for K9 Veterans Day. This lovely young lady is Lauren Bacall, world famous movie actress from the 1940's and on. From my research, this was taken at Santa Monica, California in 1943 by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, who shot for Harper's Bazaar. Not to get away from Miss Bacall, but, um... Look who's standing behind her. Here we see, yet again, a US Coast Guardsman, on beach patrol, with his trusty K9 companion. Were they assigned to be in the photo by the War Department? Or were they asked to step into the background as they made their rounds past the photoshoot? Who knows. But, this does clearly show that here at home, there were no longer peaceful, idyllic days at the beach during the early 1940's... If you went to the shore, The War was there, too. But so were our defenders. 🇺🇸❤️ 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photo: PubDom#visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #dogsfordefense #homefront #dogsofinstagram #dogs #k9 #k9unit #k9shep #militaryworkingdog #doggos #dogsofnewjersey #canines #doggosofnj #workingdogsofinstagram #K9VeteransDay (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBFdSKgvNB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sandyhookhistory]

Part 2 of 3! Sadly, at this time, no photos have yet been found of Fort Hancock's War Dogs, from the Army or the Coast Guard. Therefore, I offer these in their place. These photos are from the US Coast Guard and were taken during WW2, along various locations of the Atlantic Coast. Although not Fort Hancock, or perhaps even New Jersey, the sandy beaches, scrub trees, and waving dune grass are universal to nearly the entire Atlantic Shore, every inch of which was patrolled by boots, paws, and hoofs. It was noted by the US Coast Guard during the War that not only did the service animals help with the patrols, but greatly aided in boosting the morale of the Coast Guardsmen doing the work. No matter how bad the conditions, the men would care more for the welfare of their four-legged companions more than their own. 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: US Coast Guard, via public domain #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #dogsfordefense #homefront #dogsofinstagram #dogs #k9 #k9unit #k9shep #militaryworkingdog #doggos #dogsofnewjersey #canines #doggosofnj #workingdogsofinstagram (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBE_VRA39q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sandyhookhistory]

(Part 1 of 3) Good afternoon! As we continue our look at the 80th Anniversary of 1943, we must pause and remember that not only was the Battle Of The Atlantic fought at sea, but it was fought on every inch of the American Eastern and Gulf Coasts. From 1939 to 1945, ships were sunk by German U-Boats within view of our shores. From Maine to Florida, once-pristine beaches were littered with wreckage, oil slicks, and dead bodies that arrived with each new tide. And that's where our unique story is - on the beaches of Fort Hancock NJ, at the entrance to New York Harbor, where over 100 vessels sailed each day to take the fight to the Nazis. Protecting the harbor was one of the most important - and secret - parts of the War. And it was no easy job. By 1943, there were over 5,000 Soldiers (including the Army Air Corps), Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and civilian personnel stationed at Ft Hancock, part of some 30,000 troops guarding the entire Port. And whats amazing is not all of them stood on two legs. Some of them... stood on four. Belatedly, March 13th is #K9VeteransDay Dogs have played an integral part of the American military story from the American Revolution to the War on Terror. Here at Ft Hancock in World War 2, local dogs, painfully released by loving families living in the area, were donated to the "Dogs For Defense" program. They helped patrol Fort Hancock's streets and Gun Batteries with the US Army, and sniffed their way across miles of beaches and sand dunes with the US Coast Guard, paw-trolling for trouble - like German spies and saboteurs being sent ashore by U-Boats - often along side that other venerable four-legged US Warrior, the horse. Today, we offer our humble thanks to some of the most loyal - and bravest - of all American veterans. Please look very closely at the sign on the crate up above... ;) You should see a pretty familiar location! 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBERSkABUg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sandyhookhistory]

"Good Riddence To Winter" After yesterday's pouring rains and winds, we awoke to glorious sunlight... and 25 degrees and a flipping 20 or so knot breeze. Gorgeous as this view was, it was freezing. Let's put Winter 2022-23 in the books and push off for greener pastures .. and warmer temperatures. 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: (c) Tom, via Sandy Hook History, 20230319 #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #delawarestateparks #delawarebeachstatepark #freezingtemps #thawingout #nextstopspring #delaware #delawareparks #didntwanttoleave #hatetoleave #byebyewinter #stillcold #stillfrozen #endofwinter #bringonsummer #backtoworktomorrow (at Delaware Beaches State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_mBttOHEG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sandyhookhistory]

Good evening, folks. My apologies for radio silence today, but my wife and I are on a very well-earned getaway for our wedding anniversary. However, we're still on the job - we're on the loose in historic Lewes, Delaware, and we will have some amazing maritime and military history posts to share over the next few days. For example, I (inadvertently... honest!) brought her to several military sites, and she found us a few magnificent historic cemeteries to wander through (a favorite of ours). In the middle was seashell collecting and an amazingly successful day of chasing antiques. We wish you all a wonderful, safe, and peaceful Saturday evening. ❤️🍻 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photo: (c) Tom, Sandy Hook History, 20230318 #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #weddinganniversary #gratefulandblessed #mywiferocks #cemeterydate #graveyarddate #mutualinterests #gomezandmorticia #wadeandvanessa #powercouple #vetrepreneur #relationshipgoals #couplesgoals #vintagecouple #timetravelers #dateyourspouse (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp8vZkWAmRv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=