Advanced Redoubt at Fort Barrancas
The Advanced Redoubt of Fort Barrancas was built between 1845 and 1870 as part of a defense network for the Pensacola Navy Yard. Forts Pickens, McRee, and Barrancas protected the entrance to the harbor; the Advanced Redoubt was constructed to defend the northern side of the peninsula on which the navy yard was located. The Redoubt is unique among the early American forts at Pensacola in being designed solely for resisting a land-based assault. For this mission, the Advanced Redoubt was designed well.
The design of the Advanced Redoubt (an enclosed work protecting a strategic point), exhibits the idea of defense in depth. As an attack began to beat back the defenders, the attacking solders would meet new obstacles to their progress. The goal was to make an assault as costly as possible and to exhaust the attacking troops before they could gain access to the fort and the navy yard beyond. The modern visitor approaches the Advanced Redoubt from the east and south, coming first to the side and rear of the fort. However, an enemy would most likely have come from the west, down the peninsula.
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