Continuing from the south end of Court Street is a road leading upward
into the Fort Nonsense Area of the park. There, at the top of a steep
hill (the northern terminus of Mount Kemble), visitors may see a
restored earthwork originally built at Washington’s order in 1777.
How the name “Fort Nonsense” came into being is unknown. It does not
appear in any available written record before 1833, nor has anyone yet
authenticated the oft-repeated story that the Commander in Chief’s
reason for constructing this work was merely to keep the American troops
occupied and out of mischief. Washington’s real intention is disclosed
by an order of May 28, 1777, issued as the Continental Army moved to
Middlebrook (p. 11). In this he directed Lt. Col. Jeremiah Olney to
remain behind at Morristown, and with his detachment “and the Militia
now here ... Guard the Stores of different kinds ... Strengthen the
Works already begun upon the Hill near this place, and erect such others
as are necessary for the better defending of it, that it may become a
safe retreat in case of Necessity.” Other orders confirm the conclusion
that Fort Nonsense was actually built to serve a very practical purpose.
[Illustration: _Washington’s living and dining room in the Ford
Mansion, showing the “secretary” desk once used by him as the
American Commander in Chief._]
[Illustration: _The kitchen in the Ford Mansion, where Washington’s
official “family” and “all Mrs. Fords” tried to keep warm in January
1780._]
[Illustration: _“Fort Nonsense,” built in 1777 as a “retreat in case
of Necessity” for troops assigned to guard American military stores
at Morristown._]
As years passed, the original lines of this earthwork gradually crumbled
away. Their present appearance is the result of research and physical
restoration work completed by the National Park Service in 1937.