Northern Virginia II

Last Update: 17/NOVEMBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Potomac River Fort
(1676 - 1682), Alexandria
A VA colonial militia blockhouse built on Hunting Creek (Cameron Run) as a defense against Susquehannock Indians. (NOTE: what is known today as Hunting Creek was known as Little Hunting Creek then.)

Jones' Point Fort
(1795), Alexandria
A Federal fort once located on Jones Point, it was never finished, and was reported abandoned and in ruins by 1807. Site is believed to be in Jones Point Park behind the old lighthouse (1856). The area known as Battery Cove was infilled before WWI.

Bailey's Crossroads Redoubt
(1861), Bailey's Crossroads
A CSA earthwork was located just northwest of town along Leesburg Pike. No remains.

Vienna Fort or
(1861 or 1862 ?), Vienna
The remains of a star-shaped earthwork are located at the VFW Post on Center Street. It has not been determined whether this was a USA or CSA work, as it is not shown on most period maps.

Civil War Defenses of Alexandria and Washington, D.C.
(1861 - 1866), Northern Virginia
(See also MARYLAND and DISTRICT of COLUMBIA pages.)

Alexandria City:
Fort Ward (park & museum), fifth largest of the forts surrounding Washington (815 yard perimeter), it had 24 guns in 1861, rebuilt and enlarged in 1864 with 36 guns (10 vacant platforms) mounted in five bastions. Construction on the star-shaped earthworks was not fully completed until one month after the war. The NW bastion was restored in 1964, and an Officer's Hut and Headquarters Building have been reconstructed. Located at 4301 West Braddock Road. Another website for Fort Ward.
Fort Worth (28 guns, three vacant platforms) (no remains), located on Seminary Heights one and one-half miles west of Fort Ellsworth, and one and one-half miles south of Fort Reynolds. (463 yard perimeter)
Fort Williams (park) (15 guns) (no remains), located on Cooper's Hill between Forts Worth and Ellsworth, site of CSA General Samuel Cooper's house "Cameron", which was destroyed to build the fort. (250 yard perimeter)
Fort Ellsworth (20 guns, seven vacant platforms) (no remains), located on Shuter's Hill at King St. and Callahan Dr., on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Temple. (618 yard perimeter)
Fort Dahlgren (1861 ?) (no remains), located adjacent to Fort Ellsworth, on the north face of Shuter's Hill facing King Street.
Blockhouse No. 1 (1864) (2 guns) southwest of Fort Ellsworth near Cameron Run.
Blockhouse No. 2 (1864) (two guns), located on Duke Street between Fort Williams and Fort Ellsworth.
Blockhouse No. 3 (1864), located on King Street (VA 7) at I-395, between Fort Ward and Battery Garesché.
Battery Rodgers (1863 - 1869) (no remains), a six-gun coastal defense work (330 yard perimeter), and was the only work (along with Fort Whipple/Myer and Fort Foote in Maryland) that was retained after the war. It was located at the east-end of Jefferson Street. No marker, townhomes now occupy most of the site.

A five-gun battery (1864) was located at the "Old Distillery" southwest of Fort Ellsworth, between Blockhouse No. 1 and Blockhouse No. 2. Two batteries (15 guns total) were located between Fort Williams and Blockhouse No. 1. Two batteries (eight guns total) were located between Fort Williams and the Theological Seminary on Seminary Heights. A four-gun battery was located to the left of Fort Worth. Three batteries (24 guns total) were located between Forts Worth and Ward. A six-gun battery was located in front of Fort Ward. A six-gun battery was located to the left of Blockhouse No. 3.

A stockade and two blockhouses were built around the yard and machine shops of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, known during the war as the U.S. Military Railroad Complex, located in the area bounded by South Payne, South Alfred, Duke, and Gibbon Streets. The Quartermaster Depot and Government Wharves were stockaded, located in the area bounded by North Fairfax, North Union, Oronoco, and Queen Streets. A small blockhouse (1863) was built at the tollgate on the Hunting Creek (Cameron Run) bridge, located at Henry and Church Streets (now the I-95 and US 1 interchange). Gated palisades were erected across several streets in the city.

Camp Andrew (1861), established for Massachusetts troops.
Camp Banks (1862 - 1863), established for paroled and exchanged prisoners.
Camp Briggs (1863 - 1864), established for draftees.
Camp California (1861), located by the old Fairfax County Courthouse, established for western troops that served east.
Camp Franklin (1861), located on the grounds of the Theological Seminary on Seminary Heights.
Camp Keyes (1861), located on Upton's Hill.
Convalescent Camp (1) (1861), originally located on the northeast face and base of Shuter's Hill.
Camp Misery (1862 - 1865), originally called Convalescent Camp (2), established after 2nd Manassas for convalescents, stragglers, and recruits. It was later renamed Camp Distribution (1) in 1864 as General Grant's central supply depot for the 1864 campaigns.
Contraband Barracks, barracks for freed slaves and black soldiers, located at Prince and South West Street.

Arlington County:
Fort Ethan Allen (park) (45 guns, four vacant platforms), a bastioned earthwork, still remains at Glebe and Military Roads. (736 yard perimeter)
Fort C.F. Smith (park) (1863) (19 guns, six vacant platforms), located on Arlington Heights one mile west of Key Bridge, at North 24th Street and North 21st Road. (368 yard perimeter)
Fort Bennett (five guns), an outwork of Fort Corcoran, located at North Quinn Street and North 21st Road. (146 yard perimeter)
Fort Strong (15 guns, two vacant platforms), originally named Fort DeKalb until 1863. Located at at Lee Highway and Wayne Street. (518 yard perimeter)
Fort Corcoran (five guns, five vacant platforms), a bastioned earthwork located at North Key Blvd. and North Ode Street. (576 yard perimeter)
Fort Haggerty (four guns), an outwork of Fort Corcoran, located on North Arlington Road between 19th Street and Wilson Blvd. (128 yard perimeter)
Aqueduct Bridge Tęte-du-Pont (1862), a fortified infantry post protecting the southern bridgehead of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal aqueduct across the Potomac River. There were also three small blockhouses here. The water was diverted from going over the aqueduct and the bridge served as a planked wagon road throughout the war (present-day Key Bridge - US 29).
Fort Morton (1) (six guns, four vacant platforms), near Fort Corcoran. (250 yard perimeter)
Fort Woodbury (13 guns, one vacant platform), a lunette to the rear of the present-day Arlington County Courthouse. (275 yard perimeter)
Fort Whipple (1862 - 1867) (29 guns, 18 vacant platforms) a bastioned earthwork located in Arlington National Cemetery. (640 yard perimeter) No remains. Became a permanent post in 1872 and renamed Fort Myer in 1881 (see below).
Fort Cass (13 guns, one vacant platform), a lunette located on what is now Fort Myer Reservation, just south of 10th Street North and Wayne Street. (288 yard perimeter)
Fort Tillinghast (13 guns, one vacant platform), a lunette located at Arlington Blvd. and 2nd Street North. (298 yard perimeter)
Fort McPherson (1864 - 1865), never completed, remnants located in Arlington National Cemetery.
Fort Craig (1) (12 guns, one vacant platform), a lunette located at South Courthouse Road and 4th Street South. (324 yard perimeter)
Fort Albany (eight guns, four vacant platforms), once located near South Arlington Ridge Road and South Nash Street, site now under Shirley Highway. (429 yard perimeter)
Fort Richardson (1) (14 guns, three vacant platforms), remnants located on the grounds of the Army-Navy Country Club golf course. (316 yard perimeter)
Fort Berry (1863) (four guns, six vacant platforms), located at South Monroe and 17th Street. (215 yard perimeter)
Fort Barnard (park) (19 guns, three vacant platforms), located at South Oxford and 22nd Street South. Remains still exist. (250 yard perimeter)
Fort Reynolds (park) (13 guns, one vacant platform), originally named Fort Blencker until 1863. Located on 31st Street South, east of South Woodrow Street. (300 yard perimeter)
Battery Garesché (eight guns), located near Fort Reynolds. (166 yard perimeter)
Fort Jackson (1), an unarmed tęte-du-pont located at the south-end of 14th Street and Long Bridge. The gates were rebuilt in 1864, but the railroad had already cut through the work by then, reducing the effectiveness of the barrier.
Fort Runyon, the largest of the bastioned earthworks (12 acres, 1484 yard perimeter), located about one-half mile southwest of Jefferson Davis Highway and Boundary Drive. Only two guns were listed as still mounted in 1865.
Fort Scott (park) (10 guns), a lunette, remnants still exist on Fort Scott Drive. (313 yard perimeter)

A six-gun battery was located to the left of Fort Barnard. Three batteries (10 guns total) were located between Forts Barnard and Richardson. Four batteries (22 guns total) were located between Forts Richardson and Craig. A three-gun battery was located in front of Fort Craig. Two batteries (10 guns total) were located between Forts Craig and Tillinghast. A four-gun battery was located to the left of Fort Whipple. Two batteries (12 guns total) were located between Forts Tillinghast and Cass. Two two-gun batteries and two six-gun batteries were located in front of Fort Ethan Allen. Two batteries (8 guns total) were located on the south-side of Hawkins Run, north of Fort Ethan Allen.

Camp Arlington (1861 - 1862), located at Arlington Heights.
Camp Custis, located on Arlington Plantation.
Camp Graham, a cavalry camp.

Fairfax County:
Chain Bridge:
Fort Marcy (park - NPS) (20 guns, one vacant platform), originally named Fort Baldy Smith, located on the north-side of Hawkins Run. (338 yard perimeter)

An eight-gun battery was located in front of Fort Marcy. A two-gun battery was located to the right of Fort Marcy.

Seven Corners:
Fort Buffalo, located at US 50 and VA 7, now office buildings since the 1950's.
Fort Ramsay, originally named Fort Upton in 1861. Located on the 1100 block of John Marshall Drive on Upton Hill.
Fort Taylor, located near Broad and Roosevelt Streets.

A battery was located on Perkins Hill.

near Bailey's Crossroads:
Fort Munson (Munson Hill Park).

Huntington:
(considered a part of the Defenses of Alexandria)
Fort Lyon (38 guns) (no remains), located at James Drive and Kings Highway (937 yard perimeter).
Fort Farnsworth (1862) (10 guns, three vacant platforms), near Fort Lyon. (255 yard perimeter)
Fort Weed (1862) (11 guns, one vacant platform), originally named Redoubt A until 1863, located at Monticello Road and Fort Drive. Remnants still exist (?) (253 yard perimeter)
Fort O'Rorke (1863) (13 guns, three vacant platforms), located at Fort Drive and Park Place. (160 yard perimeter)
Fort Willard (park) (1862) (16 guns, two vacant platforms), located near the mouth of Hunting Creek (Cameron Run). (240 yard perimeter)

A six-gun battery was located to the right of Fort Willard, and a five-gun battery was located to the left of Fort Willard. A six-gun battery was located to the left of Fort O'Rorke. A six-gun battery was located between Forts O'Rorke and Farnsworth. A six-gun battery was located between Fort Lyon and Hunting Creek (Cameron Run).
Battery Hill Redoubt, remnants exist at undetermined location (Fort Weed ?).
Camp Early, remnants exist at undetermined location.

Lewinsville:
Camp Beckwith (1861 - 1864), a cavalry camp. Attacked by the Confederates in 1863.

Langley:
Camp Pierpont (1861), a Union camp located 12 miles east of Dranesville.

Many of these sites are located in various parks; others were not preserved and have been built over with houses or condos.

Fort Myer (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1872 - present), Arlington County
Originally Fort Whipple (see above), it was enlarged and became a permanent post in 1872, renamed in 1881. Many of the present structures were built after 1895. Since 1908 the post has become the quarters of the Army Chief of Staff. Also in 1908 Orville Wright demonstrated his new airplane to the Army from the post parade ground. The post became a Regular Army mobilization center during the two world wars. There are no remains of the original Civil War work. Of interest here is the Old Guard Museum.

Camp Russell A. Alger
(1898), Dunn Loring
A Spanish-American War training camp located west of Falls Church along the railroad, on the property once known as "Woodburn Manor".

Camp Ordway
(1916), Arlington County
A temporary encampment for Negro troops of the DC National Guard during the Mexican Border Crisis. Located at Radio, near Fort Myer.

¤ COAST DEFENSES of the POTOMAC RIVER (partial) (see also Fort Washington, MD)

¤ Fort Hunt (National Park)
(1898 - 1933, 1942 - 1946), near Mount Vernon
Located on Sheridan Point, it was a subpost of Fort Washington across the Potomac River. Endicott batteries include Battery Robinson (1901 - 1917), Battery Sater (1904 - 1920), Battery Porter (1901 - 1917), and Battery Mount Vernon (1898 - 1917). The U.S. Army Finance School was located here briefly in 1921 - 1923. Fort Hunt was reactivated and used as a military intelligence center and POW camp during World War II. The park is administered by the National Park Service.

Of special interest please see Baltimore-Washington NIKE Missile sites (1954 - 1974).