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Mathew Brady, famous Civil War photographer, took this picture of , In 1861, before it was enlarged and called Fort Stevens, this was Fort Massachusetts. on the hill in the background. His camera stood about where the Alexandria rail- It was here that President Lincoln visited the front lines and was exposed to enemy road station is. The Washington Masonic Memorial now occupies the fort area. fire. The site is one of the established parks in the northwest area of the District.

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This is a Civil War photograph of the Marshall house in Alexandria, reportedly , which overlooked the Potomac just south of Alexandria, was one the site of the first bloodshed. Col. Ellsworth was said to have been killed here of the strongest fortifications. The cannon pointed downstream was a "whopper." May 24, 1861, attempting to remove a Confederate flag from atop the building. It weighed 25 tons. All traces of this Washington defense point have disappeared. Restoring Alexandria’s CivilWar Forts 90 YEARS AGO, about this time By William J. Moyer or two—Fort Ellsworth and or Fort of year, Washington was emerging Ward—before it is too late. Fortu- fromJUSTa long case of the jitters. gan in earnest on a line of fortifications itary decided, it probably would be nately. photographs and working plans The Civil War had been increasing which eventually encircled the city, from the south. Consequently, 31 forts of the forts are available, and recon- in fury for more than a year and a and the Capital breathed easier. The and at least 10 batteries were concen- struction would not be difficult. They half, and the trend was far from fa- line began at Fort Willard, a few miles trated on the ridges between would be picturesque additions to the vorable for the Union forces. The below Alexandria, extended northward Chain Bridge and Fort Willard. city's historical riches. Capital had been living in dread of in a zig-zag course to Chain Bridge According to present-day standards, Ellsworth was located behind the Confederates surging over the hills to and. on this side pf the river, continued the forts were hardly worthy of the present site of the George Washington the south, with their blood-curdling around the city, ending at , name. They were earth-and-log- Masonic Memorial. It was named for Rebel yell, and taking the city. which stood on the hills behind the walled inclosures and contained huts Col. E. E. Ellsworth who, some say. was Soon after the war started in April, present site of Bolling Air Force Base. and tents for men and supplies. the first Union officer killed in the war. 1861, Union troops occupied Alexandria Interspersed among the forts were But time and the bulldozers of res- He was slain May 24. 1861. in Alex- and established a so-called defense line numerous batteries. When the war idential, industrial and commercial ex- andria by a Southern sympathizer. the Virginia side of the Potomac. ended in ’65, the city’s defenses con- pansion have obliterated most of them. Ward, in those days, was more than on there, But it was doubtful whether the line sisted of 68 forts and batteries contain- Here and an outline remains. a mile northwest of town on the old could stop a strong assault. ing 807 cannon and 98 mortars. That is why the Alexandria Planning Braddock road, but it now also is within Finally, in the late fall of ’62 work be- If a full-scale attack came, the mil- Commission is intent on restoring one the city limits. PAGE 10—THE WASHINGTON STAR PICTORIAL MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 22, 1933