Fort Creighton, Chattanooga

Civil War Field Fortifications

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Detached Magazines

Fort Creighton, Chattanooga

Fort Creighton was originally constructed as an element in the Federal lines around Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Siege of Chattanooga after the Battle of Chickamauga. Sited on high ground east of the town, Fort Creighton was an irregularly shaped bastioned field work enclosed on three sides by parapet. All four bastions and two of the curtains were prepared to receive an armament consisting of about fourteen pieces of light artillery mounted en barbette. The gorge and sally port were protected by two strong blockhouses.

Fort Creighton's magazine was centered on the terre-plein well away from the parapet to protect the structure of the fort and the armament from accidental explosions and where troops passing ammunition and powder could easily reach the four ramps leading up to the barbette level of the parapet. The magazine itself was square or modestly rectangular in shape and protected from vertical fire and horizontal fire passing over the parapet by a covering mass. Its gallery entrance was positioned to open onto the terre-plein in a direct line with the angle formed by one of the bastions and the gorge.

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