American Forts - Architectural Form and Function

Robinson's copiously illustrated history of American defence architecture includes more than 100 original drawings - many of which have not been published previously - and paintings (eight by noted landscape artist Seth Eastman) that can carry the imaginative reader to some of this country's most outstanding fortifications. The text's focus on the way architectural form responded to defensive function, physiographical influences, and regional limitations is complemented by military plans, charts and diagrams.

The volume is the first known architectural history of fortifications in the new World. Although its emphasis is on American defence structures, the study does not neglect those built by Europeans. Robinson carefully explains the ways in which developments in English, Spanish, and French fortification affected the construction of forts in America.

Beginning with some of the enclosures constructed in the cities of antiquity, Robinson follows defence architecture's evolutionary path to colonial America's land frontier forts. The book treats the simplest early forts built of logs and earth and the highly evolved stone and masonry forts such as Fort McHenry and Fort Sumter, as well as the western fortifications built after the Civil War when new types of warfare had made walls or ramparts superfluous.

An essential part of the work is a discussion of Sebastien-Le-Prestre Vauban and the prestige of the French school of military architecture. Vauban influenced architectural theory and practice in America from early colonial times through the nineteenth century. Much of his influence may be seen in the work of such military engineers as Pierre Charles L'Enfant, Jean Foncin, Simon Bernard, and others who served in this country.

This book is an important treatment of a subject that has long fascinated students of art and architecture and of military and architectural history. The drawings will appeal to those persons for whom place-names such as Fort Laramie, Fort Snelling and Fort Leavenworth evoke strong images and for whom historic site preservation and regional history are major concerns.

The book is written in English and is illustrated with ca. 120 drawings, plans and maps. One of the best reference books on American forts published so far!