Dummy Spreads

Washington’s Civil War Defenses hen Dickinson visited Forts Ward and Barnard in 1918, they were already sixty-year-old ruins, but visible. Today, Washington’s Civil War forts are almost Wone hundred and fifty years old and when extant, barely visible. The earthwork forts, whose trenches Dickinson captured in his Fort Barnard drawing, are far softer mounds today, almost indistinguishable from their surrounding landscape, and in the case of Fort Barnard, nothing remains at all. It became a public park and playground at the intersection of today’s South Pollard Street and Walter Reed Drive in Arlington. Fort Ward, on the other hand, became a City of Alexandria historic site, and as a result, is the only fort with exten- sive reconstruction and a museum with interpretive programs. Arlington’s Fort Whipple The Union army’s defeat at the Battle of Bull Barnard’s report described Fort Barnard as was the only fortification location to become a permanent military establishment—today’s Run (Manassas) in July 1861, demonstrated the occupying a commanding position. “It covers the Fort Myer. urgent need for a well-trained army and far greater head of ravines, in which large bodies of troops can On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began with the battle of Fort Sumter. President fortification for the capital city. Major (later Major be collected and concealed in a favorable position Lincoln immediately issued orders for the fortification of Washington, which was virtually Brevet General) John Gross Barnard of the Army for making flank attacks upon an enemy’s columns Corps of Engineers assumed leadership of the city’s assaulting our lines between it and Fort Craig, or defenseless and surrounded by hostile Virginia and Maryland. This call to military mobiliza- defense system. A commission formed to study the attempting to penetrate the valley of Four-Mile tion spurred Virginia’s secession from the Union a few days later, increasing the capital city’s enemy’s possible approaches to the city and soon Run. Taken in connection with its outworks and vulnerability. Lincoln’s administration quickly seized strategic military footholds on Virginia reported that a defense system for Washington rifle-trenches, the ground may be considered well soil, in Alexandria and Arlington Heights, ahead of the Confederate Army. Washington was could be divided into four groups of fortifications: occupied, though the work itself is rather small.” those south of the Potomac from Fort Lyon below (Barnard, 21) soon ringed by such hasty earthen footholds that required a great deal of manpower to con- Alexandria to Fort DeKalb opposite Georgetown; Fort Ward occupied an even more important struct. But glaring vulnerability remained between these forts, and it would take time to fill those related to the Chain Bridge; those north of the position for it defended the Leesburg and the gaps with additional forts, batteries, and rifle trenches. Over the course of the four-year Potomac from Fort Sumner to Fort Lincoln; and Alexandria Turnpike (today’s Route 7), in addition war, the original, makeshift forts evolved considerably to become a remarkably airtight sys- those south of the Eastern Branch (Anacostia River) to connecting roads, and also overlooked “the coun- from Fort Mahan to Fort Greble. (Barnard, 18) try northwardly and westwardly towards Fort tem of defense. 42 • Washington Sketchbook Washington’s Civil War Defenses • 43 entire defense ring. Southern leaders saw an oppor- retreat as more Union soldiers arrived. Only July 12 tunity to attack Washington, which they hoped he engaged in skirmish fire, and as soon as it was would cause panic and relieve pressure on General dark, retreated to Virginia. (For President Lincoln’s Lee at Petersburg. In early July, Early’s forces of presence at the battle, see p. x.) fourteen thousand men crossed the Potomac River At the end of the war in 1865, the forts were and ransomed Frederick, Maryland for two hundred dismantled for their valuable materials, including thousand dollars. The Confederates under Major wood, and most of the land was returned to prewar General Lew Wallace also defeated a Union force owners. Fort Reno became a Freedman’s village. near the Monacacy River close to Frederick. Grant Today, the National Park Service and the National immediately released reinforcements for Capital Parks-East oversee a number of the former Washington, but the favorable outcome for the cap- forts. Those with partial reconstruction include Fort ital city probably resulted from weather conditions. Stevens, Fort Ward, and for Foote. Fort Ward, In unprecedented heat, Early’s troops underwent a named for Commander James Harmon Ward, from DeKalb and towards Bailey’s and Ball’s Cross miles of military roads joined these fortifications. grueling and much delayed march to Washington’s Hartford, Connecticut, who was the first Union Roads.” (Barnard, 21) [add signal corps story here.] northern Forts Stevens, Slocum, and DeRussy, naval officer killed in the war, offers day-long bus When forts went up, trees came down and This concentrated effort to build and rebuild which gave time for the arrival of Union reinforce- tours of a selection of the forts encircling played an important role in defending the outpost, Washington’s circle of defenses resulted in unpleas- ments. Lt. General Early saw his predicament of iso- Washington (see Resources, p. x). ❖ for the outward facing branches made passage ant and even dangerous conditions for the home- lation from Lee’s army and diminishing routes of impossible. One eyewitness of the tree-felling owners affected, particularly those living on enemy process wrote: soil. Anne S. Frobel’s Civil War diary gives an almost daily account of the Union Army’s atrocities …[T]he choppers would begin at the foot of the hill, and reign of terror for local residents just south of the line extending for perhaps a mile, and cut only Alexandria (see bibliography). part way through the tree, and in this way work up In the end, Washington passed a peaceful Civil to the crest, leaving the top row so that a single War, which Potomac Army veterans assigned to the blow would bring down the tree—then, when all city’s defenses described as “soft assignments.” was ready, the bugle would sound as a signal, and (Cooling, 13) Only one skirmish in July of 1864, the last stroke of the axe be given, which brought scratched the surface of this perfect record. down the top row; these falling on those below Confederate Lt. General Jubal A. Early led an attack would bring them down, and…the forest would fall from the north on Fort Stevens. Lt. General Ulysses with a crash like mighty thunder. (Cooling, 6) S. Grant’s progress in the South at Petersburg By the end of the war in 1865, sixty-eight required reinforcement from Washington’s well- forts, ninety-three batteries, and eight hundred and trained artillery regiments, who were then replaced thirty-seven guns in rifle trenches protected by untrained soldiers and new recruits. Thus only Washington in a connected defense system. Thirty about nine thousand soldiers defended the city’s 44 • Washington Sketchbook Washington’s Civil War Defenses • 45.

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