Billingsport Range

Tadeusz Kościuszko, the brilliant military engineer, probably never imagined his Fort Billingsport becoming a park between oil refineries. Yet, here at Billingsport Range, that’s precisely what we find. Billingsport Range in Paulsboro, New Jersey, may seem an unlikely spot for a Revolutionary War fort. The air might carry the scent of industry, but close your eyes for a moment and imagine the year 1777. The Continental Congress, in their wisdom, saw this point on the Delaware River as key to Philadelphia’s defense. They purchased this land, the first land purchase by the newly formed United States, to build Fort Billingsport. Kościuszko, the Polish engineer who would later become a hero of the American Revolution, designed the fort to protect a series of chevaux-de-frise, underwater obstacles meant to stop British ships. Construction began, overseen by Robert Smith, the ingenious mind behind the river defenses. Sadly, Smith died in 1777 before seeing the fort’s completion. The fort was to be a formidable structure, a 700-foot earthwork with a high parapet. However, shortages of materials and manpower led to a smaller, less robust fort than originally planned. Despite its shortcomings, Fort Billingsport played a vital role in the Philadelphia campaign. After the British captured Philadelphia in September 1777, their supply lines via the Delaware remained blocked. Fort Billingsport, along with Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin, stood in their way. The British, under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Stirling, attacked Billingsport on October 2nd. Outnumbered and facing the might of the British army and navy, Colonel William Bradford, commander of Fort Billingsport, made a difficult decision. With just 112 men remaining after desertions, Bradford ordered his men to spike the cannons, burn the barracks, and evacuate. They escaped in rowboats just moments before the British arrived. The British then dismantled the fort, clearing the first line of river defenses. Although the fort was lost, the delay bought valuable time for the Americans. The British advance was stalled, allowing the defenders at Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin to prepare. While the original Fort Billingsport is long gone, its legacy remains here at Billingsport Range. This unassuming park holds the echoes of a pivotal moment in American history. It’s a reminder of the sacrifices made and the strategic importance of this once-vital location.