fort sumner consisted of a blockhouse, magazine, and barracks on the summit of munjoy hill, where fort sumner park is now, and a "water battery" (battery near a body of water) or "detached battery", probably where fort allen park is now and an upgrade of the revolutionary war fort allen. the battery was rebuilt in 1798 and 1808. the secretary of war's report for december 1811 describes a battery "at the north end of the town... of five guns mounted and four 18-pounders mounted on travelling carriages". this probably refers to the detached battery, which may have been on the fort allen site. fort sumner lessened in importance with the construction of fort preble and fort scammel in 1808. fort allen was rebuilt in 1814 with city resources, adding a magazine and barracks due to the british capture of eastport and castine in the war of 1812.