Forts 1,2 & 3

Throughout Cambridge there are three plaques that commemorate the site of a Fort erected during the Siege of Boston. Although most sites have no traces of these forts today, these sites remain significant to the history of the Revolutionary War and Cambridge’s role in it.           

The Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775 when British soldiers marched through Cambridge toward Lexington and Concord to seize gunpowder and arrest Patriots, Sam Adams and John Hancock. After the British lost the Battle of Lexington and Concord thousands of New England militiamen marched to Cambridge to fight in the war for independence, making Cambridge the headquarters for the American war effort. By July of 1775, General George Washington took command of the militias gathered in Cambridge.

Although Cambridge did not see any direct fighting throughout The Siege of Boston, the soldiers stationed here laid much of the groundwork that lead to the evacuation of Boston by the British on March 17, 1776. Under the command of Washington, the Continental Army began to develop as a more professional military force and learned to prepare for the coming conflicts. As a part of this preparation, they built several forts around Cambridge to keep the city safe from any British attacks. General Putman and his militia from Connecticut constructed many of the forts around the city.

Although these forts were not large and lacked sufficient weapons, their construction was great practice for what General Washington plan to fortify Dorchester Heights which lead to the evacuation of the British troops in Boston.

 

Back to Interactive Map