Evening Star Newspaper, September 19, 1892, Page 14

HE MORAL FORCE of the secessionists fighting » | ec gle for the supremacr ‘would be of short du be whipped in the the war would th end. Washington tock importance of 7 ault by the i rly in May, 186 the troops in this citr, was the ere fortification Heights; and when the army entered Virginia on the month Forts Elisworth, jon of troops of the FORT STEVEN FROM A WAR-TIME PHOTO. he npproach to the | Lb the protection of ym the P he idea of a sys @t once commence @ general plan of defense. pleted, was skill and enterps the army. The work was a hug for the line of forts encircled some thirty-five miles in iength. earried under the direction Barnard, chief eer of the ar his personal and devoted atten ; ter. The forts were constructed of ea ber and some masonry, in th and careful menner. Dombproofs and mag: witn ditches, fring | Bie range forest trees, were cut away, and in some Bouses and barns were the country was heavily timbe tricate topography, great fm the work, and before the Ist of Jan: 1862, the entire defensive line, consisting < about fifty different works and mounting nearly 500 guns, was, though not completed, fm an advanced condition. It was not, how- ever, until the summer ¥an up against @ part of them, to his sorrow | end confusion, that the works were in an; thing like a finished shape. When completed the works comprised sixty-two fc forty-four supporting bat fngan armament of quite 1,000 cuns, some 16,000 ‘men being required to properly man | them. ' f 1864, when Early | ‘THE FIRST FORTS BUILT. As before stated, the first forts located were those om Arlington Heights. ‘The troops rowed the river on the night of the 23d of May, and work was on Forts Bunyon and Corcoran before daylight of the Mth. These two forts, with Forts Albany, Benn Ellsworth, near Aletandria, were iy Pleted by the time Gen. McDowell's army ad- Wanced on Manassas, The cluster of ¢ manding heights four miles west of Alexa: commenced om- and six miles from ngton—Munson’s, Upton’s, Hall's and M: hills—formed a po- sition of considerable military importance, and h of that | jest and best routes b app | city. | dria road, immediately south of its junction Fort Willard, below Alexandria, and ter- minating with Fort Smith, opposite George- comprising twenty-nine forts and eleven wrte'Ethan Allon and Marcy, at the Vir- Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy, end of the Chain bridge, with their five jes for field guna. 8. Those north of the Potomac, between that river and the Anacostia, commencing with FortSumner and terminating with Fort Lin- n, nineteen forts, four batteries armed with y guns and twenty-three batteries of field guns. 4. Those south of the Anacostia, commencing with Fort Mahon at Benning, and terminating | with Fort Gueble at Oxon run, nearly oppo- Alexondria, twelve forts and one armed te battery. Whale most of the heavy labor on the fortifi- cations was done by hired laborers and con- is & good part of it was the work of the ots, In fact, it became the aim and duty soldiers who were quartered in the forts make them as strong and perfect as possible. ‘The works on the Virginia side were almost en- tirely constructed by the army, and many 8 who honors Washington with his on this oceasion can point with pride to the part he took in securing to the eity pro- | tection from the threatened ravages of the |enemy. The cost of the work, exclusive of ment, amounted to considerably more million dollars. At first there was m observed in the naming of tho forts, argely left to the whim or caprice of vate ine Desenses tom During othe Qar_ meq = Gyound the. Gapital Grectedy on. in August, September and October, 1862, and worked on the trenches during that time. The twenty-fourth and one hundred and seventeenth New York aiso worked on the fort in 1862. In May, 1864, the fort was occupied by Capt. Allen’s ‘sixth company, Massachusetts heavy . It was armed with three 8-inch howitzers, seven 24-pounder sea coast guns, two 24-pounder field howitzers, eight 10-pounder its and one 10-inch and one 24-pounder Calhoun mortars. The fort was named after Col, Edward Dickinson Baker of the seventy- first Pennsylvania (popularly known as the first California), who was killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., October 24, 1861. A short distance east of this fort was Fort Davis, while Fort Wagner stood to the westward. Fort was named for Gen. Job Bar- the accomplished engineer officer, who planned and superintended the construction of 1¢ line of forts forming the defenres of Wash- —. He was born in Massachusetts in 1815 end died in 1882. This fort was built by the troops in 1861 and is today among the best pre- served of the old works, the earthworks having suffered only from the natural waste of rains, They are on the land belonging to Mr, 8. B. Corbett, afew hundred yards west of Fort Barry. Mr. Corbett says that he intends pre- serving them. The armament of the fort con- sisted of three 8-inch sea coast howitzers, five 82-pounders, three 24-pounder siege guns, thrée 24-pounder field guns, three 30-pounder Par- Totts, one 10-inch siege mortar and one 24- Pounder Calhoun mortar. Detachments of the ‘hird battalion, New York artillery, and four- teenth Massachusetts, among other troops, oc- cupied the fort at different times during the rs who happened to take part in their ‘om. Henee there was a conglomern- s. tion of eognomens, They were named indis- ties and individuals, usetts, a Fort Buffulo, nia. &e. But the construction defenses had not progressed very far e the idéa was conceived of giving them es of distinguished soldicrs who lost in defense of the flag; and an order from the War Department in the 1861 car old forts. iting comrades to reach these ng relics of the great war by the short- Tux Stan will conduct them thith with the stirring life of thirty years ago the old walls. In relating the story of rts end batteries it is belioved that their on in alphabetical order will meet with vor than if they were taken up as they ear on the map, following the circuit of the FORT ALBANY. This fort is on the Georgetown and Alexan- with the Columbia road. It is about three miles from the Capitol and half a mile south of Arlington National cemetery. Mount Zion Baptist Church, a plain brick structure, and a number of negro huts now occupy the old works, Forts & the eastward, Forts Scott and Richardson to the south, Forts Barty and Craig to the west and Forts M con- built immediately after our men 2 of the Virginia soil by Gen. New York troops—the seventh, ifth and twenty-fifth regiments, who passed the Long bridge with Runyon’s New Jer- gade, and was named in honor of the capital city of their state. The following Dis- trict of Columbia volunteers aided in the Capt. Smead’s National Rifles, Capt. Powel z ickets toward Constitutional r lucted under the iston of Capt. B.S. Alexander of the en- cer corps. The armament of the fort con- ted of eighteen guns, as follows: Thirteen der barbette, two 6-pounder fleld and pounder howitzers. These were man- ned by 183 gunners, ‘The fort was garrisoned and occupied by the following among other organizations during the war: Detachments of the sixteenth Maine, fourteenth Massachusetts A), Bfty-sixth Pennsylvania, sefenth, one hundred and forty-sixth, one hundred and sixty- second and one hundred and sixty-fourth Ohio National Gnard, fourth New York heavy artil- batteries Band D, fifth, and G, first United ; | States artillery. An account of Fort Alexander is given in connection with the description of Fort Sum- ner in this article. FORT BAKER. scarcely anything left of the ucture, Fort Baker, which was one of the largest and most com- plete of the forts within the defenses There is now once proud st were early occupied by our troops as adv Posts. Aftar the retreat of our army from run these hills were occupied by the enemy, who erected slight earthworks upon them. In October, 1861, the enemy having withdrawn, under cover of his Quaker guns, which completely fooled Little Mac, the hills ‘were again taken possession of and fortified by our men, the works known as Forts “Mun- fon,” “Buffalo,” “Ramsay” and “Taylor” being soon after thrown up. But these works, though always thereafter garrisoned, were ‘speaking, © part of the regular line of of Washington, its perimeter being nearly [500 yards, The old works were well pre- tom year ago, when they were lev- eled in the course of running streets through a newly platted subdivision. T, Sist and strects southeast pass through the old ‘The site of the fort was a hill in the outskirts of Good Hope, on the south the Bowen road, opposite the present Diacksmith shop. It was 296 feet i bedrest i Hy tet Hl war. Fort Bayard was situated on River road, abouta mile west of Tenleytown, on the prop- erty of Phillip Buckey, and was named in honor of the dashing young colonel of the first Penn- sylvania cavalry. George D. Bayard, who was Killed @¥ Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. It was built in 1861 by details from the Pennsylvania reserves. A portion of the old work is still preserved, which is in plain view from the roadside. The armament consisted of two 12-pounder howitzers and four 20-pounder Parrotis. In May, 1864, the fort was farrisoned, by detachments of the first New Hampshir! heavy artillery and one hundred and sixty-third = 7 hundred and seventieth Ohio National ar FORT BENXETT, This fort occupied the eastern point of tho bluff that overlooks the Virginia end of the Aqueduct bridge from the westward. Whatare left of the old works are obscured by the trees that have grown since the war. Fort Bennett was named after Cept. Michael P. Bennett, twenty-eighth New York, who superintended its construction. The troops in this fort had the benefit of practice on two 8-inch howitzers and three 24-pounder smooth bores, which com- prised the armament. Seventy-five gunne were required for these guns. Company F, fourth New York beavy artillery, was here in the spring of 1862. Tho works of old F Smith and Strong wore in the immediate v ity—the former to the westward and the latter to the southwestward, Fort Berry stood in the southwest angle formed by the Columbia and old Fails Church roads, about two and a half miles south of the Long bridge, and about the sai jauce from the Aqueduct bridge, Not a vestige of the old works remain. The home of Mr. 8. B. Cor- bett, built since the war, occupies the site of the officers’ quarters in the fort. The cedars at the west end of the house were planted by officers of the first Connecticut hexvy artillery. The works of old Fort Barnard, 309 yards to the westward, are visible from the south porch. The little old’ shanty in the yard south of the house, is a war-time relic, and wiil be recog- nized by those who occupied the old fort thirty years ago. This fort was built in the spring of 1863, the work being largely done by contra- bands. It was one of the smaller forts, and among its rrmament wete two eight-inch siege howitzers and two four anda half inch Rod mans. Old Fort Richardson is half a mile the eastward, while Forts Craig and McPher- son are the satne distance to the northward. Among the troops toat occupied this fort dur- ing the war were detachments of the one hun- dred and thirty-sixth, one hundred and _forty- second and one hundred and sixty-sixth Ohio National Guard, a platoon of the third battal- ion New York artillery and the first Connecti- cut heavy artillery. ‘The fort was numed after Gen. Hiram George Berry, colonel of the fourth Maino infantry, who wag killed at Chan- cellorsville while gailantly leaffing his division ‘against Jackson's victorious troops. Fort Buffalo was built by the twenty-first New York, who named it after the city of Buffalo, where the regimont was recruited; anda very creditable structure it was, with embrasures for seven guns. The christening occurred -on October 24, 1861, and the cere- monies were quite imposing and interesting. This fort, in conjunction with Forts Munson, Ramsay and Taylor occupied the range of com: of the works, which were ly begun by Sickles’ New York brigade. |The eighth — ‘Massachuset Wy artillery occu; 1864, The fort was named iP Gen Me: ino general order dated September 80. 1861. ‘To the sout was Fort Gueble, “ran the gaunt- let” of this fort in his flight for life after the tragedy. bloody 2 Fort Cass stood in front and a little to the right of Fort Whipple. ‘The spot is now occu- pied by the new brick stables in the northwest corner of the cavalry camp at Fort Myer. No trace of the old works remain. It was origin- ally called Fort Ramsay, but was renamed by Gen. McClellan in honor of Gen. Lewis Cass, in general order number forty-five, dated November 16, 1861. It mounted thirteen guns of various makes and calibers. Company I, sixteenth Maine infantry, was detailed fot artillery service here in the fall of 1362, as was also a company of Wisconsin artillery. Tho famous iron brigade, composed of the nine- teenth Indiana und’ the second, sixth and seventh Wisconsin, camped in the vicinity of this fort in the latier part of 1861, and helped to build it and other forts on Arlington Heights, FoRT CORCORAX, This fort is reached by way of the Aqueduct bridge and is on the north side of the Ballston road, half a mile south of the village of Rose- lyn. There is little left of this famous and for- inidable work, the advance of time having made telling inroads on it, it being in the midst of a growing section. Two or three farm houses are built on the site, behind which asection of the rifle pit stands, ina dilapidated condition, This fort was one of the first of the works form- ing tho defenses of Washi gton that was constructed, It was built mainly by the mem- bers of the sixty-ninth New York, after whose distinguished colonel, Michael Corcoran, it was named. The work was constructed under the direction of Capt. D. P. Woodbury, corps of engineers, U. S.A. ‘This forthad an armanent of some twenty-five heavy guns, among them being twelve 8-inch howtzors and three 3-inch Parrotts. In addition, various light batteries formed part of the garrison during the war. ‘The main object of the fort was the protection of the Aqueduct bridge, which had been con- verted by the authorities into a military bridge, forming’an important part of the defenses of Washington. Among other troops that gurri- soned this fort during the war were detach- ments of the second and sixteenth Maine, the Iron brigade, thirteenth, twenty-cighth, forty- first, ninety-first, ninety-seventh and one hun- dred and first New York and battery E, second manding hills to the westward of Arlington Heights, being nearly central to the concave line of the defensive works proper from Chain bridge to the mouth of Hunting creek. It was first occupied by Gen. McDowell preparatory to his advance to thefield of the First Bull Run. After his retreat upon Washington it was occu- a as an advance position by the rebels. On ‘ir withdrawing therefrom, in October, 1861, it was taken ion of and fortified by Gen. possess McClellan, the works being maintained during the entire’ war. The ridge is broken into s number of hills, which were known respect- ively, ranaing from south to north, as Mun- son’s, Upton’s, Hall's and Miner's hills. But the fortifications were principally confined to Munson’s and Upton’s hills and two other minor eminences in their immediate vicinity. ‘The works on Munson’s Hill were never named. Fort Ramsay was on Upton’s Hill, Fort Taylor was near the latter on a piece of high ground gracd. by a man named Taylor. end Fort Buffalo was situated very near the Taylor place $f ground originally owned by one of the Miner family, Miner's Hill proper being some distance to the northward. These works were intended for field artillery, and were quite rub- stantially built. The ground occupied by Fort Buffalo is now the property of Mrs. Margaret Lichau, Tho three of which were Sinch sicge’ howitzers, three 24. pounder sea coast guns, five 6-pounder field guns and one 24-pounder Calhoun mortar. It was named in honor of Col, Benjamin F. Da- vis of the eighth New York cavalry, who was killed at Beverly Ford, Va, June 9, 1863. It was occupied at different times the war by detachments of the seventeenth Maine (in winter of 1862) and ninth company, Massachu- setts heavy artillery (summer of i8¢4). ‘This | ais pk at one time was owned by ex-Mayor les J. Bowen, but was originally a part of the extensive estate of the Youngs of Nonsuch. Redoubt Davis is described in connection with the sketch of Fort Sumrer. Also an account of Fort de Kalb is given in the sketch of Fort Smith, FORT DE RUSSY 7 occupied @ very commanding point on the Military road west of Brightwood, overlooking the valley of Rock Creek and controlling the country roads to the westward, The elevation is 954 feet. The fort was named after Col. Gustavus A. De Russy, fourth New York heavy artillery, whose command mainly constructed it. Ithad two supporting batteries—Seward and Kingsbury, the one on the right and the other on the left flank. ‘Battery Kingsbur; stood on the north side of the Military road, close to Rock Creek, and the works are visible from the road. It was named in honor of Col. Henry W. Kingsbury of Connecticut, who was mortally wounded at Antictam. Battery Smead was named after Capt. John R Smead, fifth Cnited States artillery, who was killed at Cen- treville, Va, Tt was located at the Junction of Milk Ford and Military roads, on an eminenco grerlooking Broad branch, opposite the resi- dence of the Inte B. Swartz. Twas hold dur- ing Early’s investment by company I, one hundred and fifty-first Ohio National Guard, Capt. Chany. The earthworks are in a good This fort was named in honor of Col. Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth of the New York Fire Zouaves, who was killed in the Marshall House, Alexandria, May 2%, 1861, while removing a confederate flag that floated over the building. This fort occupies a commanding position on Suter’s Hill, in West Alexandria, between the Telegraph road and Leesburg pike, three-quar- ters of a mile west of Huff's run. Fairfax res- ervoir, which supplies Alexandria with water, now oocaples 9 pet of this hill, The fort ia six and a half miles from the Capitol and stands 149 feet above the level of the Potamac. Some of the old works are visible from the highways, the riflo pits that connected them with Fort Williams to the westward being particularly rominent on the open hillside north of the Felegraph road. The remains of one of the Innettes at Mr. Andrew Jamieson’s house, one mile and three-quarters from Huft’s bridge, is eee Prominent. This was one of the irst forts planned in Virginia, work having been begun on it about daylight on the morn- ing that Ellsworth’s command entered Alexan- May 24, 1861. Capt. H. G. Wright, Who afterward became a general officer of distinc- tion in the army, was the engineer who planned and superintended the early work on the fort. The works were mostly constructed by thé Fire Zouaves and the seventeenth New York infantry, the latter command garrisoning it at the time McClellan organized the Army of the Potomac in August, i861. It was also oc- cupied at different times by detachments of Gol. ‘Tyler's Connecticut regiment, the third battalion New York artillery, battery D, second United States artillery, and Col Lansing's seventeenth United States infantry. ‘The arm- ament of the fort consisted of twenty-four guns, as follows: Two 30-pounder and two 10-pounder Parrott rifles, tweive 8-inch seacoast h zors, four '24-pounder siege guns, on pounder fleld howitzer, and three 6-pounder guns. The fort was amply provided with mag- azines and bomb proofs, Fort Ethan Allen, which oc: commanding position on the Vit the Chain bridge, was named by Gen. McClel- lan in honor of the brilliant commander of the Green Mountain Boys in the revolution, It was originally called Fort Baker, in honor of Col E. 5, Baker of tue fret California, the members of whose regiment helped in the construction of the work. The old earthworks, a part of | which escaped tie ravages of time. are about halfa mile south of the bridge. On the high hill immediately west will be noticed the eart works of old Fort Marcy. When Gen. Keyes’ division was transferred to Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy, in October, 1861, the men ealied the state of preservation. The Swartz farm was known as “Camp Halt” in the carly days of the war, and was a favorite resort for eminent | town. Forts place Prospect Hill, because of the fine view it presented of their old camp over at Tenley- Ethan Allen and Marcy, strictly MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF FORTS. Fort Corcoran wero Fort Haggerty on the Fort Bennett on the north. and Morts on the west and the south. cast, Forta Smith, Strong Fort Woodbury on Font cRAIG Is situated a quarter of a mile north of the Columbia road, near the. village of Ar- lington. It is a few rods west of Fort Mc- Pherson-and half a mile south of Fort Tilling- hast. ‘The fort was one of the smaller ones and the old works wore fairly well preserved. They old works are in a good state of preservation, and are well protected from the ravages of the weather by a generous growth of young trees. FORT BUNKER HILL. This fort is now within the limits of the flourishing village of Brookland. The fort was built by the eleventh Massachusetts, and was named after Boston’s famous old revolutionary fort. During Early’s investment of the city in 1864 the fort was garrisoned by company B, Maine coast guards, detachments second com- pany, New fampshire heavy artillery, and one hundred and fiftieth Ohio National Guard, and battery G, third United States artiliery. The armament consisted of thirteen guns of various kinds and calibers, am them being two thirty-pound Parrotts and a ten-inch siege mortar. On_ its right stood Fort Saratoga, while Forts Hemmer and Totten were on the left to the westward. hag" dr w yards to the northward. — a army es had Georgetown, on road, a few huni Tords north of Baw Ost road, ‘on the premises ir. of the old works, which stood on the spot now oceupied by the barn and other outhouses in the rear the residence. ‘Ihe bat was named by Gen. McClellan in honor of Col. James Cameron of the seventy-ninth New York Highlanders), who was killed at First Bull in, July 24, 1861. Its armament consisted of two forty-two pounder James and two Parrott rifled nmsante of Sxet company, Kew Hampeniro heavy ‘artillery and fe Srenps Gash eoniooans Was ba ee w treet Carrell is on’ the west aide of Nichols avenue, 8 little north of the mouth of Living- about one anda half miles south of the Navy Yard bridge. A few yards south of the fort, on the spar at the end of the, piatean, was a stockaded i maine of the old work cavalry rendezvous care oe et Tt was always k are now oceupied by the residence and out- houses of Mr. George Pettis. The armament s A BLOCK HOUSE. guns, one 24-pounder field pounder Pafrotts, one 10-inch wander Calhoun mor- after Lieut. Presle: O. Craig, a native of 3 Massachusotia, dotach- ment xt Maine rtillery daty here inthe fall of 1862, , FORT CRAVEN, U. 8, artillery. In the immediate vicinity ot | citizens who camo over from Washington in large numbers to enjoy the beautiful scenory and study the formation of the infant army. Buell’s division was camped hero in those days, ‘Thero was great activity in Fort De Russy dur- ing the anxions days of Early’s investment, and the garrison did its duty nobly under the direction of Capt. John Norris, provisional Pennsylvania heavy artillery. The guns (some of which were of heavy caliber) were manned by the men of battery A, first Wisconsin heavy artillery, Capt. Spear, and battery L, nin New York heavy artillery, Lieut. Howe. Two companies of the one hundred and sixty-third Ohio National Guard also formed part of the rison. A division of the sixth army corps uuacked behind this fort the night before the battle, and the rebels threw up curthworks in front. 'A detachment of the seventy-sixth New York occupied tho fort for a brief ‘period in 1862, Fort De Russy is perhaps the best preserved of all the works within the defenses of Washington, Its ramparts are very little changed from tho old days of bustle and ex- citement. The works are within the limits of Rock Creek Park, and steps will be taken to- ward preserving’ them for all time. Fort Stovens was hardby to tho eastward, while Fort Kearny stood on the other side of Broad Branch valley to the westward, FORT DUPONT is cast of the Anacostia on Boone's Ridge, in the angle formed by the juzetion of Bowen and Ridge roads, and is most directly reached by way of the Navy Yard bridge and Good Hope. It is three anda half miles from the bridge and is elevated above the river about 800 feet. The fort was named after Admiral Dupont, the hero of Fort Pulaski, and was constructed mainly by detachments of Sickles’ excelsior brigade and the seventeenth Maine. It mounted ‘nine guns, three of which were eight-inch siege howitzers, three twenty-four- pounder siege guns, one eight-inch siege speaking, formed no part of the dofenses of ‘ashington, but were of the utmost importance asa tete de ‘pout to the Crain bridge. They were connegted with lines of riffe pits, whicl also extended to the banks of the river. which, with auxiliary batteries, commanded a portion of the Leesburg pike, as well as the numerous Taynes and approaches to the works. A strong stockade, with large gates, was placed across the Leesburg pike as security against ‘sudden dashes of cavalry. ‘The first labor on this work was done by the thirty-third New York, but othefcommands aided in completing it. Amon these may be mentioned the “Iron Brigade (nineteenth Indiana and second, sixth and sev- enth Wisconsin). the eleventh Thode Island, the seventy-ninth and one hundred and thirty third New York, the twenty-second Connec eut and the “Philadelphia Drigado” (sixty- ninth, seventy-first, seventy-second and one ‘hun and’ sixth Pennsylvania), It irty-four guns, eleven being — 30+ rifled Parroits, three is now owned by Mr. father, Court Jolineon, ———. Brat, } . : : THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, S ER.“19, 1892—PART TWO. — — — —_ —e forty-two-pounder | An account of Redoubt Cross may be-found | {t is Mr. Brown's intention to guard them | hereabouta The James, six twelve-pounder field p ‘one | in the description of Fort Sumner. ‘against devastation. In the rear of the honse Henry Johnson, 1 thirty- and one twenty-four- YoRT Davis is an old building used asa workshop, which | bought it somo fifty years ago, coming here Pounder Calhoun mortar. In 1862 the fort was | 15 on the Bowen road, about three miles | WAS occupied as officers’ quarters du: ing war- | from Queen's county. New York. The Johnsons Secupied successively by companies C, D and | * O* time. On the right of the fort is Fort Meigs, | were loyal during the war. This fort was com- H, fourth Néw York heavy artillery, detach- | Cast of the Navy Yard bridge It was origi-| while Fort Davis is nearly on the left. pleted by a detachment of the thirty-fourth Mas- ments of the eighty-cighth Pennsylvania and | nelly intended as an outwork to Fort Ba- sachusetts infantry, Capt. Wm. Bacon having | company F, seventeenth Maine, ‘These troops | ker, and its armament consisted of twelve guns, FORT ELLSWORTH. charge of the work. did much toward c: the construction FoRT FOOT. andria, and occupying the extreme right of the defenses, is Fort Foote, It is about six miles south of Washington and can be reached by boat or by land. This fort bears the distinction of being the only one of the defensive maritime works that was constructed with a view to per- manency, and is a fine specimen of ‘‘semi-per- manent” field works, It was designed as a water battery for the defense of the river, in conjunction with Battery Rodgers, on Jones’ Point, below Alexandria, the intention being to have floating obstructions in the channel. ‘The fort was built in the spring of 2863, and was named September 4 1604, after, Adimiral Andrew Huil Foote, a native of Connecticut, EDG who died Juno 22, 1862, of wounds received at the bombardment of Fort Donel n., Deb, ruary, 1862. Company B, ne Const Guard, and second comp mpshire heavy artillery _¢: rt atalifferent times in i864. The site of the Wn ak Rozier’s Bluff before the war, The earthworks are now in about the same ¢ they were in wartime, a detail of so! 8 being present to guard and pr Anaccount of Fort franklin is given in con- nection with that of Fort Sumner, Fort Gaines was built by the Ponpsylvania Reserves in 1861, and was origin: to be a lunette. Its armament consisted of five 32-pounder seacoast guns and one 43, inch rifled gun. Among the troops that garrisoned this fort were detachments first New Hampshire heavy artillery, one hundred and sixty-third and one hundred and seventieth Ohio national guard, fifty-ninth New York and fourth New York heavy artillery. A part of the old work is yet preserved, frhich will be found on the Lougborongh road, a quarter of a mile west of the fenleytown read. “The fort wan built on theDavis place, and the old family mansion, which was in the rear and still stands, was used by the officrs as headquarters, The prop- eriy 18 now a part of the tract recently pur- sed for the site of the Methodist Univer- sity, and itis probable that what is left of the old ‘fort will be preserved for all time, The old works are reached by way of Goorge- town and Wisconsin avenue and Lougboroagh road, ‘The electric cars run within a quarter of amile of them. Forts Reno, Bayard, Sim- monsand Mensficld and Battery Kemble’ were in the immediate vicinity. Battery Garesobe is described in connection with Fort Reynolds, Fort Grebie was a powerful work, well sup- plied with magazines and bomb proofs. It oc- cupied the extremity of the plateau, overlook- ing the Potomac, that ended ’ somewhat abruptly atthe mouth of Oxon run. It stood on the premises of Lucius Barry, but the place now belongs to Mr, James Beyer, and quite a remnant of the old earthworks are now found in the midst of the outhouses and gardens. A neat summer house now graces the spot once oc- cupied by the fort lookout. ‘The fort mounted seventeen guns of various kinds and calibers, one of them being a 30-pounder rifled P: rott. It was garrisoned at different times in 1862 by companies B and F, fourth New York heavy artillery, and company A, seventeenth Maine infantry, and these troops did consider- able toward completing the works. Capt Woreester’s seventh company Massachusetts heavy artillery was here in May, 1864. The fort was named by a general order of the War Department in honor of Lieut. John T. Greble, a native of Philadeiphia, one of the first sacri- fices of the war, who was killed in the badly managed movement on Big Bethel, Va., July 10, 1861. ‘The great cavalry rendezvous, known during the war as “Camp Stineman,” vas near here on the Livingston road to the eastward. Fort Haggerty, a small work, was situated a short distance south of the Virginia end of the Aqueduct bridge, near the bed of the old canal. A portion of the old works are yet visible. Its armament consisted of four 24-pounder smooth bores, mounted on barbette carriages, It was named after Lieut. Col. James Haggerty of the sixty-ninth New York Irish regiment, who died of wounds received at the First Bull Run, where he rende: st d service. FORT JACKSON, x The tete-de-pomt at the south end of the Long bridge, named by courtesy Fort Jackson, was early constructed by the sevqnth New York and Runyon’s Jerseymen, under the direction of Capt. B, S. Alexander, corps of engineers, U. 8. A. No remnant of the fort is Visible today, but it stood close by the river side. Heavy piekots and picket gates crossed the pike and railroad. The fort mounted four guns, which were manned by sixty gunners ‘The fort was occupied at various times by de- tachments of the thirteenth and fourteenth New Hampshire, fourteenth Massachusetts, seventh, tventy-first and one hundred and seventy-eighth New York and Veteran Reserve ‘orps. BATTERY JAMESON. ‘This powerful battery was situated on a blu overlooking the Anacostia, about forty rods east of Fort Lincoln. ‘The old work is in «fair state of” preservation, A wire fence running through it separates the Boyle and Arrington Properties. The rifle pits, which extended west to Fort Lincoln and east and south to the Anecostia, are still standing. The old works aro just outside the District line, and are h | Teached from the Baltimore pike by way of a byroad which is taken near the eastern side of the reform sehool grounds. A large tract of land in this vicinity including what is left of Fort Lincoln and Battery Jameson has been bought by a syndicate and laid out into a villa site called “Fort Lincoln Heights.” Fort Kearny stood a little north of Grant road, a mile cast of Tenleytown. The old works are now cuvered with scrub pine and are not visible from any direction. They are immedi- ately in the reafof Mr. Thomas O'Brien's large mausard roofed frame building. The fort was named in honor of that splendid soldier, Gon. Philip Kearny, who was killed at Chaniilly, Va., September 1. 1862. The fort was built in the surnmes of 1862 by Col. Fowler's fifteonth ew Jersey. Its armament consisted of one eight- 12-pounder Whitworths and four 10-inch siege mortars, This was cno of the largest and most complete of the forts in its appointments. Af- ter the buildings connected with it were all com- pleted there were eit outside of the fort and two within, The latter were built oflogs and covered with earth, so as to be bombproof. ‘Those outside were 100 fect long by 20 wi 20 high, made of boards buttoned. Detach- ments ‘of the one hundred and thirty- eighth and ono hundred and_sixty-ninth New York and fourth Now York hea artillery, the fortieth second Massachusetts heavy attillery and the eleventh, one hundred and twentieth, one hun- dred and twenty-sixth. one hundred and twenty- seventh and one ‘hundred and twenty-ninth Pennsylvania were the that garri- soned this fort. The ong hundred and twenty- seventh Pennsylvania and the fourth New York and heavy artillery were massed here and at Fort Marcy Ty after the Second Bull Run. ‘the ite or Maryland side of the river a tory Martin Scott : Fort Farnsworth is seven and a half miles Capitol and one and a half miles south dria, » It is situated in i e i H 4 thes | On the left bank of the Potomac, below Alex- | by the junction of Ridge and Receiving Rescr. vais eatin shoes tented shalt aah aed Georgetown, | The old works are tm e talr state | Of proservation. It was armed with | pounder guns, and was garrisaped at different mes by detachments of the second United States artillery. New Hampshire heavy urtil- lery end siath New York independent battery, &c. The battery was named for Gouverneur Kemble of New York, formerly of the West Point foundry, where most of the heary uns have been made for the army and navy. Battery Kingsbury is referred to im the ao count of Fort De Russy. Redoubt Kirby ts mentioned in the descrip- tion of Fort Sumner. Fort Lincoln was «itaated on the Baltimore pike two and « half miles east of the city. The istrict reform school building® now occupy the site of the old works, nota vestige of which are visible today with the excey of s small section of one of the angles that still exists ina battered state outside the eastern fence. The | spot was known as “Mount Pleasant” before the | war and was calied “Camp Union” before the | erection of the fort. it was here the gallant Barney's guns were posted in 184, that were se WICK, 1892 Jannoying to the British redconts as they | adi d along the plain from Bladensburg. | The tort was built during the summer of 1861, by the first M: setts, the ground being | broken on Aug It wasa powerful work, | the armament convicting of thirty-four heavy | Guns of various kinds and calibers, ‘The fort Was named in honor of President Lincoln, id | Joe Hooker's brigade, which was composed of and eleventh Massachusetts, second New Hampshire and twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, Were the first troops to occupy this section. | Battery D, first Rhode Island artillery, com- | pany A, Meine coast guards, and detachments | of New Hampshire heavy ‘artillery and one | hundred and fiftieth Ohio National Guard, {occupied the fort during the time of Early's investment. Major Darling, seventh Michigan cavalry, with about 500 men commanded the FORT SLEAER, (From a war-time photograph. } cavalry outposts, and bis command had « brush with the enemy's cavairy boyond Bladensburg on the afternoon of July 12. T. 8. Paddock had command of the fort at time. Forty rods east of this fort, at the ex- tremity of this part of the line of defenses, siood Battery Jameson, the old parapets being in a fair state of prosorvation, PoRT LYON is on tho old "Mount Vernon road, about one and a half miles south of Alexandria, and stands 170 fect above tide level. In the original Plan of the defenses this fort was the extreme left of the line, but subsequently Forts Weed, Farnsworth, O’Rorke and Willard were ex- tended on the left toward the river. Its fune- tion was to hold the beights south of Hunting creek, from which Alexandria could be shelled and the left of the line exposed. With the ex-. ception of Fort Runyon it was the largest of all the forts. Its embankments inclosed nine acres and its guns commanded the waterway to Washington. The ground upon which the fort is situated was heavily tinal before the war, but the brawny members of the twenty- seventh New York infantry soon cleared it away. This regiment established ite camp here in August, 1*61, calling its camp “Camp Dickinson” in honor of Daniol 8. Dickinson, © prominent citizen of Binghamton, N.¥. The first work on the fort was performed by the members of the twenty-seventh. The follow- ing, among other commands, subsequently occupied the fort at different times during the war: The twenty-sixth and sixty-ninth New York infantry, the fourth and tenth New York heavy artillery, the third battalion New York artillery, the thirty-fourth Massachusetts infantry and the Pennsylvania Bucktails. Forts Weed, Farnsworth, O'liorke and Willard were originally outworks of this fort, and were then known as Redoubts A, B, Cand D. Tho ment of the fort consisted of forty-one which were manned by 570 gunnera, The was named after Nathaniel Lyon, Gen. FORT M'PHERSON, Pleasantly situated in the southern extremity of the grounds of Arlington National cemetery was Fort McPherson, The old works, which i A large force of men are at work on it with that object in view, andere jong its embra- sures will be bristling with heavy ordnance of: modern pattern. ‘The fort was named after Gen. James Birdseye McPherson of @hio, who was killed noar Atlanta, Ga, July 22, 1864, It was nover armed. Fort Mahon occupied an isolated hill, elevated 170 feet above the river. at the easternedge of the viliage of Benning. It was faaked on the west by the Anacostia jand on the south by Benning road. It was | regarded as au auvance t to Benning Suarded by = | bra ‘The bridge itself was tete-de-port for infantry. a -~ Se, iad CONFEDERATE EARTHWORKS ON MUNSON'S HILL. UNION SHAKPSHOOTERS IN THE FOREGROUND, FROM A WAL-TIME PHOTO.