Civil War: 150 Years

Fort Warren on Georges Island is designated a National Historic Landmark due to its prominent role in the American Civil War. Fort Warren served two main functions during the war: a training camp for Union troops and a depot for Confederate prisoners.

Notable regiments from Massachusetts have connections to Boston Harbor Islands:

• an Irish heritage unit trained on Long Island (MA 9th Infantry)
• the second Colored Service Troop regiment raised in Massachusetts mustered out of service on Gallops Island (MA 55th Infantry)
• the “Webster Regiment” composed the lyrics to the famous song “John Brown’s Body” at Fort Warren (12th MA Infantry).

Additionally, many of the more than 160,000 Massachusetts troops who served the Union shipped out to the South through the islands of Boston Harbor.

Join us in commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War (fought from 1861 to 1865). We have special events planned for each of the five years of the commemoration. Visit Fort Warren and see what has been described as the most important Civil War site in New England. Visit the Georges Island visitor center. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA.

To learn more about what was happening during the Civil War in Boston Harbor and beyond check out the Fort Warren Weekly Dispatch [1].