San Deigo Historic Site 62 FORT ROSECRANS

Reservation for the Army of the outermost three miles of Point Loma was ordered in 1852, in response to a recommendation made by General Henry Halleck five years earlier, even before the treaty was signed cedingCalifornia to the United States. However, possession of the property was not taken until 1870.

The fort is named for General William Rosecrans, who came to San Diego with Alonzo Horton in 1867, and became interested financially in the development of New San Diego. He had achieved fame as a Union commander in the Civil War. He died in 1898, the year the post was established, and it was thought appropriate to name it in his honor.Until after World War II San Diego was defended against naval attack by guns in emplacements on the bluffs.