Newport Barracks

Newport was an infantry recruiting center for Ohio and Kentucky and furnished equipment and soldiers for the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

The two schools, the other being located at Fort Columbus, Governors Island, in New York Harbor, were the United States Army's institute for musical training before and during the American Civil War.

Not only was it approved but Captain J R Irwin of the Quartermaster Department who was sent to Newport to hasten the undertakings, requested money to purchase some additional land, erect officers and laundress quarters and build a hospital.

On 7 January 1845 Irwin informed General Thomas Sidney Jesup that the new hospital was ready for patients, the enlisted men were in their barracks and two sets of officers quarters needed only a stockade to finish them.

These waterfronts included several acres and were given free to the government, with the stipulation that in case the barracks was ever abandoned the property would revert to the city.

In light of that factor, the Secretary of War purchased 112 acres (0.5 km2) on a hill above the Ohio River three miles (5 km) east of Newport which became Fort Thomas.