A report was completed in 1859 which showed the existing coastal defence fortifications and proposals for new works. As can be seen from this table the only existing fortifications were Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle and Fort Montague. Fort Nassau which was the existing Naval Yard and stores was a small star fort.
BAHAMAS
Proposed and Existing Armaments in the Bahamas 1859 Report (TNA WO 55/1550/12)
NAME OF WORKS
1. False Point Battery
2. West of False Point Battery
3. West of False Point 2
4. West of False Point 3
5. Long Rock Battery
6. Fort Charlotte
7. Fort Finscastle
8. Potter’s Bay
9. Fort Montague
10. Naval Yard Battery
11. Baillou Hills Battery
PRESENT GUNS
New Battery
New Battery
New Battery
New Battery
New Battery
Four 32-pdr guns
Nine 24-pdr guns
One 13-inch Mortar
One 10-inch Mortar
Three 18-pdr guns
Two 8-inch Howitzers
New Battery
Four 24-pdr guns
Nil
Nil
PROPOSED GUNS
Three 68-pdr guns
Eleven 32-pdr guns
Thirteen 32-pdr guns
Ten 32-pdr guns
Eleven 32-pdr guns
Five 68-pdr guns
Fourteen 32-pdr guns
Eight 24-pdr guns
Five 8-inch Howitzers
One 13-inch Mortar
One 10-inch Mortar
Three 68-pdr guns
Two 8-inch Howitzers
Four 32-pdr guns
Eight 32-pdr guns
Five 32-pdr guns
Three 10-inch Mortars
Eight 32-pdr guns
CURRENT BARRACKS
New Barracks
New Barracks
New Barracks
New Barracks
New Barracks
New Barracks
New Barrack
New Barrack
New Barrack
Nil
Nil
PROPOSED BARRACKS
30 men
40 men
40 men
30 men
50 men
300 men
30 men
20 men
40 men
Nil
Nil
Surprisingly none of these new fortifications was built although the Bahamas was identified as being a location that required a British garrison. These were primarily Afro-Caribbean soldiers from the 1st and 2nd West Indian Regiments, who were based in Fort Nassau and Fort Charlotte.
By 1885 the Garrison was reduced to two Companies of Soldiers, and by 1891 there were only ninety two officers and men from the West Indies Regiment on the Island. The Garrison was withdraw that year because Nassau had been linked to the undersea cable network.
In 1881 a report outlined the proposed defences for Nassau Harbour in the Bahamas. (TNA MPG 1.867). This proposal envisaged three new batteries and new armament for two of the old fortifications. A Submarine Minefield was proposed for the western entrance, and a form of boom (obstruction) defence for the eastern entrance. The armament proposed was:
NEW BATTERIES
Hog Island West Battery with:
Five 10-inch RML, two shielded and three barbette
Two 64-pdrs
Hong Island Central Battery with:
Three 10-inch RML on barbette mounts
Hog Island East Battery with:
Five 6-inch RBL guns
OLD FORTIFICATIONS
Fort Montague with:
Three 64-pdr RBL guns
Fort Charlotte with:
Three 6-inch RBL guns
Three 64-pdrs
It would appear that none of these new batteries were built and none of the new armaments delivered.