Governors Island

Governor’s Island is a large island situated directly in New York Harbor south of the tip of Manhattan. In recent years, Governor’s Island has been converted and used as a New York City park; but for a majority of its history Governor’s Island served as a key military installation for the city.  Under Dutch and British rule, Governor’s Island was known as Nutten Island until 1784 when the name was changed under American rule. [1] Based upon newspaper sources from the time it appears Governor’s Island continued to be referred to as Nutten Island into the 1790’s. [2]  References to Governor’s Island as Nutten Island can be seen as late as the 1850’s.[3]  While there is reference to the name change itself in the historiography, the continued use of the name Nutten Island to refer to Governor’s Island seems to be unmentioned in the historiography on Governor’s Island.

Though Governor’s Island was largely isolated from the rest of the city by the harbor, throughout its history the island played a part in shaping the political and social atmosphere of the city.  In a city that was somewhat insulated from the larger whole of the nation, Governor’s Island helped to connect the city to its larger national identity.  A newspaper article originating from New York City in 1757 demonstrates this well.[4] The article is contemporaneous with the French and Indian War, and speculates what a French attack on New York would look like. The article demonstrates that in the mindset of 18th century New Yorkers an attack on their city by the French was a real possibility.

Interestingly the author says that Nutten Island would employ what he calls a modern invention of fighting in an entrenched position. The author then states it would be impossible for the French to attack the garrison on Nutten Island, insinuating then that the French would be unable to gain a victory in the harbor.  In the author’s imagining of this attack, the French force would encompass the main part of the French navy. Governor’s Island had a significant garrison at the time. [5] However, this garrison was by no means large enough to withhold a large-scale attack by the French unless such an attack was expected and the British navy and army had ample time to respond. The author’s unrealistic prediction in the outcome of a French attack may have served a larger purpose.  The odes to British military prowess would serve to increase patriotism and support for the war effort, and ease tensions in the city stemming from the possibility of attack, or the possibility of losing the war.

                       View of Fort Jay

It is not only in the French and Indianan War that New York saw itself as an obvious strategic target, but also in the American Revolution, and War of 1812.  New York City only served as a battleground in one war, in the Battle of Brooklyn, during the American Revolution. [6] In all three wars, New Yorkers and the nation speculated that New York was a target.  The Battle of Brooklyn was a major loss for the fledgling continental army that could have easily cost the Americans the war.  Governor’s Island contained some fortifications that were utilized by the Continental army; attacks on the approaching British fleet by fortifications on Governor’s Island may have helped to slow the speed in which the fleet took the city.  Without the rudimentary earthworks assembled on Governor’s Island and the use of cannon it is possible the British fleet would have been able to reach the main force of Washington’s army before it escaped.

It is likely that the loss of the continental army during the American Revolution made it clear that New York was in need of greater defensive fortifications. There is evidence that moves to increase the defense of Governor’s Island occurred within the next decade after the end of the American Revolution in 1784.  The defensive structures on the island existing from prior to the American Revolution went largely unrepaired after the war.[7]  The move to create defense did not go into full swing until 1794 when it seemed another war with Britain or France might be a possibility. [8] The move to build defenses on Governor’s island in 1794 appears to have been common knowledge at the time for Americans based on newspaper sources. [9] The newspaper source is from Vermont in 1794, and outlines effort to pick the optimal place to lay groundwork for new fortifications on the island.

It is interesting that the source originates from a newspaper source outside of the immediate New York area. The origin of the source suggests that the defense of New York City was considered a matter of national interest and security at the time. The interest in Governor’s Island outside of New York suggests that America as a whole was aware of the city’s importance as an area of commerce, and its importance as a control point for the Hudson river.  Governor’s Island and the city were not attacked during the War of 1812 but the building of defenses on the island prior to the war indicate  New Yorkers and Americans as a whole were well aware of a possibility of war in the future.

Fort Jay was completely built by 1801 and had a stationed garrison. [10] Construction on Castle Williams began in 1807 and was complete in 1811. [11] Both forts served as a part of the larger part of a series of defensive fortifications of New York Harbor. [12] It is fair to speculate that if the city did not invest in the fortifications that New York would likely be a target during the war of 1812, since the nation’s capital was burned. Fortifications on Governor’s island likely helped to deter decisions to attack New York City.

Sources from the time show that there was an influx of soldiers into Governor’s island shortly before and during the War of 1812. [13] The amount of newspaper articles available during the War of 1812 appears greater than the times immediately preceding and following it.  The increased publication on the troop movements concerning Governor’s Island would have likely served to reinforce New Yorkers sense of security during the war, as publications did during the French and Indian War.  Knowing information about new troops arriving at Governor’s Island would seem to be arbitrary information for most New Yorkers, but the volume of articles still available from the time suggest that it was of importance to New Yorkers.

           Castle Williams in the 1910’s

Governor’s Island serves as an indicator for the anticipations and expectations of the nation. During the American Revolution and the time shortly before it cannon were repositioned and removed from Governor’s Island. An interesting occurrence of this is in 1774 where a newspaper claims that Governor’s Island had cannons pointed at the battery, located in the southern tip of Manhattan. [14] The article seems to be the only one the mentions these cannons pointed at New York during this time which may indicate that the article is a fabrication. If it is a fabrication then Governor’s Island was used as a way of furthering tensions between colonists and the British and igniting a war. If the cannons were pointed at Manhattan, it indicates that that the garrison saw the possibility of insurrection in the city and wished to quell it. In either case, Governor’s island would have served a one indicator that war was coming in America during the time.  Another article from 1781 mentions the removal of all cannon from Governor’s Island. [15]  During this time the city was being used as a central point for British war effort, this either indicates that the British thought either that New York would not be attacked or retaken, or that if the Continental army was able to attack the city that the war would already be lost.  The evacuation of the British in 1783 indicates the latter option.  The removal of cannon from Governor’s island in 1781 helps to show how the British viewed their position in New York City. The fact that the newspaper article appears to be an excerpt from an intercepted British letter also indicates that Americans may have had some interest in this time in attempting to liberate New York.

                Present Day Castle Williams

Governor’s Island continued to play a significant role in the defense and identity of the city throughout the 19th century. After the War of 1812 Governor’s Island did not play a particularly significant role in defending the city, but it did continue to provide benefit to the army and America as a whole. During the Civil War Governor’s Island was used to hold Confederate prisoners of war. [16] Governor’s Island was used as a base of the U.S army until 1966, when control of Governor’s Island was relinquished to the U.S coast guard.  In 1996 all coast guard instillations on Governor’s Island were closed and the military history of the island came to an end. Control of Governor’s Island was given to New York City in 2003 and since then Governor’s Island has been used as a national park.

Sources

Advertisement. Daily Advertiser. New York, New York.  05-06-1790. Newspaper

“April; Thursday; Commissioners; Fortifications; Governor’s; Island”. The Farmer’s Library. Rutland, Vermont. 04-23-1794. Newspaper

As in Case of an Attack by the French on This Place, Much Mischief May be Expected. The New-York Gazette. 06-27-1757. Newspaper

 

Extract of Another Letter, Dated Dan River, February 18th and 19th, 1781 The General Advertiser.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 03-10-1781

OUR QUARANTINE LAWS.: Legal Decision of Judge Birdseye. Powers and Duties of the Health Officer of the Port of New-York. New York Daily Times.  08-23-1856 Newspaper

Smith, Edmund Banks. Governor’s Island: Its Military History Under Three Flags, 1637-1913.  New York, New York. 1913

Sunday; Governor’s Island; Hudson; Backus; M’ Clelland. The Columbian. New York, New York. 06-23-1812. Newspaper

“Wednesday Night; Cannon; North-Battery; Men; Boats; Day; Difficulty; Governor’s Island”. Boston Post-Boy. Boston, Massachusetts.  09-12-1774. Newspaper

“Yesterday; Fourth of July; Anniversary; Independence; United States; Governor’s Island”. The Daily Advertiser; Political, Historical, and Commercial. New York, New York. 07-05-1786. Newspaper

Yocum, Barbara A. Castle Williams : historic structure report : Governors Island National Monument, National Parks of New York Harbor, New York, New York. n.p.: Lowell, MA : National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Historic Architecture Program, Northeast Region, 2005., 2005.

Yocum, Barbara A. 2006. Fort Jay : historic structure report : Governors Island National Monument, National Parks of New York Harbor, New York, New York. n.p.: Lowell, Mass. : National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Historic Architecture Program, Northeast Region, 2006., 2006.

[1] Smith, Edmund Banks. Governor’s Island: Its Military History Under Three Flags, 1637-1913.  New York, New York. 1913.

[2] Advertisement. Daily Advertiser. New York, New York.  05-06-1790. Newspaper

[3] OUR QUARANTINE LAWS.: Legal Decision of Judge Birdseye. Powers and Duties of the Health Officer of the Port of New-York. New York Daily Times.  08-23-1856 Newspaper

[4] As in Case of an Attack by the French on This Place, Much Mischief May be Expected. The New-York Gazette. 06-27-1757. Newspaper

[5] Smith, Edmund Banks. Governor’s Island: Its Military History Under Three Flags, 1637-1913.  New York, New York. 1913.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Yocum, Barbara A. 2006. Fort Jay : historic structure report : Governors Island National Monument, National Parks of New York Harbor, New York, New York. n.p.: Lowell, Mass. : National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Historic Architecture Program, Northeast Region, 2006., 2006.

[8] Ibid.

[9] “April; Thursday; Commissioners; Fortifications; Governor’s; Island”. The Farmer’s Library. Rutland, Vermont. 04-23-1794. Newspaper

[10] Yocum, Barbara A. 2006. Fort Jay : historic structure report : Governors Island National Monument, National Parks of New York Harbor, New York, New York. n.p.: Lowell, Mass. : National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior

[11] Yocum, Barbara A. Castle Williams : historic structure report : Governors Island National Monument, National Parks of New York Harbor, New York, New York. n.p.: Lowell, MA : National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Historic Architecture Program, Northeast Region, 2005., 2005.

 

[12] Smith, Edmund Banks. Governor’s Island: Its Military History Under Three Flags, 1637-1913.  New York, New York. 1913.

[13] Sunday; Governor’s Island; Hudson; Backus; M’ Clelland. The Columbian. New York, New York. 06-23-1812. Newspaper

[14] Wednesday Night; Cannon; North-Battery; Men; Boats; Day; Difficulty; Governor’s Island. THE Boston Post-Boy And Advertiser.  Boston, Massachusetts. 09-12-1774. Newspaper

[15]  Extract of Another Letter, Dated Dan River, February 18th and 19th, 1781 The General Advertiser.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 03-10-1781

 

[16] Smith, Edmund Banks. Governor’s Island: Its Military History Under Three Flags, 1637-1913.  New York, New York. 1913