Fort Slocum, New York was a US military base occupying Davids Island and Hart Island at the western end of Long Island Sound. The fort was named for Major General Henry W. Slocum, who rose to corps command in the American Civil War, fighting for the Union in both the Eastern and Western Theaters, including the battle of Antietam and Chancellorsville, the Gettysburg Campaign, and the Atlanta Campaign.

Military use of these islands appears to date back to at least 1862, when De Camp General Hospital was located on Davids Island [1], housing as many as 2,538 occupants in 22 buildings. A prison camp was established on Hart Island in 1856 [2]. Both were used to house Confederate prisoners of war. It is unclear if the name Fort Slocum was used during this period.

After the Civil War, Davids Island was converted to a coastal artillery defense post [3]. In 1921, the battery included 4 12-inch mortars, 4 3-inch pedestal guns, and 2 3-inch anti-aircraft guns [4].

From 1951 to 1962, Fort Slocum (Davids Island) was the home of the U.S. Army Chaplain School [5]

Hart Island was sold to New York City in 1868, for use as a burial ground (potter's field) and for various purposes by the New York City Department of Corrections . The US Military has continued, however, to make intermittent use of Hart Island over the years. It was used during World War II by the US Navy for a disciplinary barracks.

From 1955 to 1960, Fort Slocum housed a Nike Ajax air-defense battery [6]. The missiles were stored in underground silos on Hart Island and the radar and control base was on Davids Island [7], [8]. Fort Slocum is currently (2005) abandoned, but Hart Island continues to be used as potter's field [9].

Sound off, one, two

According to The Cadence Page, the famous "Sound off, one, two" marching cadence was invented at Fort Slocum in 1944.

Other uses of the name

Fort Slocum was also the name of a Civil War fort defending Washington, D.C., although it was named for a different Slocum (Colonel John S. Slocum of Rhode Island, killed at the First Battle of Bull Run). [10]. The Library of Congress web site contains two photographs titled, Officers, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, Fort Slocum, April, 1865. Since that regiment was never stationed north of Baltimore, Maryland, it is likely that the Fort Slocum referred to was the one in Washington, D.C.

External links

• 1920 map of Fort Slocum, Fort Totten, and Fort Schuyler (PDF)
• Coast Defense Study Group