Fort Delaware was built on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River in the mid-19th century to defend Wilmington and Philadelphia, but it became famous as a Civil War prisoner-of-war camp.
Now it is a historic state park visited by sightseers who travel by ferry from Delaware City, Del., south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, to the island where tens of thousands of Confederate POWs were held.
It is also part of an economic development plan - with two sister forts, Delaware City, and the ferry - to encourage tourism.
In 1997, Fort Mott in New Jersey and Fort DuPont in Delaware - once parts of a three-fort defense system - were added to the route of the Delaware River and Bay Authority ferry, then dubbed the Three Forts Ferry.
Now a coalition of New Jersey and Delaware state, county, and city officials has taken the next step, jointly planning the first "Weekend on the Delaware" event, set for Saturday and Sunday, with tours and living history demonstrations.
"The Three Forts Ferry provides a tourism link," said Beth Timberman, a Salem County freeholder and chair of the county Transportation, Tourism, and Agriculture Committee.
"Through joint marketing partnerships, we believe that we can leverage the coalition's limited financial resources to increase usage of the ferry, which will bring more tourism revenue to both sides of the Delaware River."
Delaware City is "emerging as a destination for both heritage and ecotourism," said Mayor John W. Martin.
The three-fort excursion provides a "unique and exciting experience for visitors that spans two centuries and two states," he said.
Working together is crucial, said Salem County Deputy Administrator Robin Weinstein. "We need to promote everything from a regional perspective," he said. "We're tying the area together with different packages to see what works - biking, birding, living history."
Fort Delaware was not always a tourist spot.
About 33,000 Confederate troops, high-ranking officers, and political prisoners were held on the narrow piece of land from 1861 to 1866. About 2,700 died there.
The heat and humidity could be stifling and flies were everywhere. Dysentery and scurvy, even smallpox, ravaged hundreds of gray-clad prisoners of war in their crude barracks.
"Am on guard duty at the Rebel Barracks, disagreeable because of the stench," Union Pvt. A.J. Hamilton wrote of standing watch over the lice-covered Confederate prisoners he called Johnnies (short for "Johnny Reb"). "Many of the Johnnies are sick, three of them died."
The following day, June 15, 1863, Hamilton penned another diary entry: "Went over to Jersey to bury some Rebs."
Years ago - when Forts Delaware, Mott, and DuPont were active - ferries connected them, transporting people and supplies. Today, the Three Forts Ferry carries sightseers.
Fort DuPont is located at the original Chesapeake and Delaware Canal near Delaware City. During the War of 1812, its cannons were mounted on the shore to defend the Delaware River against the British.
Permanent fortifications were added during the Civil War and strengthened in the 1870s with 15-inch Rodman guns and a concrete powder magazine. During World War II, it held 1,000 German and Italian POWs.
On the New Jersey side, in Pennsville Township, Fort Mott was built in the 1870s with two gun emplacements and two magazines. Troops were stationed there until 1922, and the fort was acquired by the state as a historic site and park in 1947.
"Fort Mott's staff and volunteers will be demonstrating what life was like at the fort during the years it was in operation" this weekend, said the fort superintendent, Vince Bonica.
The three state parks and Delaware City are being jointly marketed by a coalition that includes officials from the city and the forts, the DRBA, Salem County, the Pennsville Economic Development Association, Main Street Delaware City, the Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation, the National Park Service, the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Delaware Tourism Office.
"This coordinated marketing effort by a united bistate coalition will be more viable and effective in promoting the region," said DRBA Commissioner Ceil Smith. "As a resident of Salem County, I know the region has a lot to offer."
The coalition will reoffer the event in October. On Saturday and Sunday, while living history demonstrations and tours are held at the forts, Delaware City will hold a festival. Fireworks are planned in the city Saturday.
"The connection between these three military heritage sites and their link via the Delaware River provides rich possibilities for further development of tourism in Delaware City and Salem County," said Stephanie Przybylek, executive director of the Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation at Fort DuPont.
"Creating new tourism opportunities could certainly attract military history enthusiasts, but also people who enjoy spending time in the natural environment and visiting waterfront locations."
WRITTEN BY: Edward Colimore with original article at The Philadelphia Inquirer available by clicking on the title of this entry
