Defenses of Washington DC During the Civil War

Some Forts of Arlington Heights Virginia

Few people know about the extensive Defenses of Washington.  By the end of the US Civil War, Washington DC was the most fortified and protected city in the world.  Nearly 70 forts and 90 artillery batteries surrounded the perimeter of the US Capital.  For if one would consider that it was an island among those who had rebelled with the states of Virginia seceding and Maryland remaining a slave state.   These Defenses of Washington are noted by a Commonwealth of Virginia historical marker and complemented by other historical markers erected by the Commonwealth  and the US National Park Service and localities. On the southern side, Arlington House was used as the headquarters.   It would be here that General Amiel Weeks Whipple and President Abraham Lincoln would often meet to have lunch and the President get the briefing while wrapping his arms around Whipple’s two sons.

When the war first began in earnest with the bombardment and siege of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina harbor,  Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort to the Confederates.   Back in Washington DC, the Union Army soon went across the Potomac River and occupied the high ground of Arlington Heights (also known as part of the Custis-Lee estate) and quickly built fortifications at both Long Bridge (Fort Runyon) and Aqueduct Bridge (Fort Corcoran) to stop any invasion across those river crossings.  It was thought then to be sufficient protection, until the Battle of Bull Run.

Fort Cass, a lunette, had been built on Arlington Heights as a defense from an attack from the west. After the Union Loss at the First Battle of Bull Run, the US Army leadership convened and decided to augment the perimeter defenses.   General George B McClellan would designate where and General John Gross Barnard would design and oversee the construction of the fort.

It would be 1863 before the fort that would ultimately become Fort Myer would be built.  Fort Whipple was built on the most Northeastern part of Arlington Heights overlooking  Washington DC.  Designed by General Barnard, it was considered an outstanding design for a fort.  Placement was determined where General Amiel Weeks Whipple had ordered an observation balloon aloft to recon what the Confederates were doing to the west.

An excellent map of the Defenses of Washington has been produced by the US National Park Service showing the sites and which locations are managed by the NPS.

Additional reading about the Defenses of Washington and the battle of Fort Stevens is presented by The Civil War Trust 

During the Civil War the City of Alexandria Virginia was a center of activity for the Union.  Since then the city has done a fine job to preserve and present its Civil War heritage with the restoration and preservation of Fort Ward with a museum and the more recent effort to construct the Civil War Bike Trail with the cooperation of Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia.

Images of America – Fort Myer tells the story of the one and only remaining active fort from the Defenses of Washington.  Over 200 historical photographs are included in the book.

Another book which details all the defenses – the forts and batteries with maps, photos from private collections is the revised version of Mr Lincoln’s Forts that is written by Benjamin Franklin Cooling and Walton Owens.   Another interesting read is the book just published in November 2011 is Civil War Northern Virginia 1861 (The History Press) (Civil War Sesquicentennial) written by William S. Connery.

Why I Wrote the Book

“Images of America – Fort Myer” became a reality on 13 JUN 2011, one day before the US Army’s birthday – very appropriately mind you. As the FIRST BOOK ever about this historic US Army Post with origins back to the US Civil War when it was known as Fort Whipple and part of the nearly 70 forts which surrounded and defended the US Capital – “The Defenses of Washington”. Fort Myer continues that duty uninterrupted until today from the heights of Arlington.  What’s on the acres has changed.  There’s no more drill field where the thundering hooves of the nearly 1,500 horses carried their Cavalry troopers or pulled their cassions with field artillery.   There’s no more trolley line.  Instead it’s the home of the elite units of the US Army.

The reason I wrote the book? Besides breaking new ground, which has become my hallmark, especially within the last decade, it needed to be done. This fort has been the site of many events which have molded or changed the world around us, and no one is aware of it and those milestones and contributions, until now. With over two years of research based on a foundation of working and walking among the US military since 2000, the result is over 200 historical photographs which cover from the 1860s to the 1960s.   The book also fills a void in the US Army story and as one of those who bought the book said “You set the bar high and you jumped over it.”   -  a nice critique for a first work.

Thanks to General Albert J. Myer and his visionary initiatives, the fort continued to be used after the War Between the States as the home for the Signal Corps School.   It was later General of the Army Philip H.  Sheridan upon a petition to the US Congress turned it into a military reservation and showcase for the US Cavalry -  The Remount Service begun in 1909 and the Front Royal Depot from 1911 provided Fort Myer with a fresh source of horses to keep the Army moving.

THE Key item in the book is a note from Abraham Lincoln which I discovered during my research. Until I found it at the National Archives sandwiched between two photographs, no one, not even the Fort Myer historian knew of its existence. It opens up another branch of the Lincoln Legacy Tree and published for the first time in my book.

Highlights of some of the milestones at Fort Myer include:

• Birthplace of military aviation,
• Birthplace of the National Weather Service,
• Home of the US Army Signal Corps School,
• The JEEP was tested and approved on Fort Myer,
• Home of the US Army Band since 1942,
• Home of the Old Guard since 1948
• Society Circus (which I believe evolved into “Spirit of America”) 

The impact that General George S. Patton had with his four tours on Post is amazing.   The book helps remember South Post Fort Myer which served strongly as where the WACS and 12th Infantry were located during World War II.   South Post also is where the MP School was established and a chapel was built that would be replicated over 500 times across the US Army (many of which are still providing a place of worship for the Soldiers, their family and friends.

(*The Soldiers of the  US Army’s 3d Infantry Regiment who’s dual mission includes defending the Capital and performing the ceremonial work in Arlington National Cemetery and around the Capital region including White House, Pentagon, Andrews AFB, etc.)

The real treat are the over 200 historical photographs which chronicle over time the first one hundred years of this historic US Army Post.   Many of which have never been seen before or published.

John Michael
“Preserving the memories so others will remember…” ™

Fort Myer and the Society Circus

Few people know the early contributions of General George S. Patton, Jr.   He’s known for his robust accomplishments in World War I commanding the US Army’s Light Tank Corps and in World War II commanding the 3d Army.

While at Fort Myer, Patton left his mark on the US Army and the post with some of his contributions continuing until today.   Few people know about his involvement in the construction of  the Old Post Chapel – the icon of the installation, the tennis courts.   But then there’s the “Society Circus” – a concept that began as a way for the Soldiers to continue to hone their skills, demonstrate their talents while raising money for the Army Relief Fund.

It began during the “between the wars” period when Patton returned from his successes in Europe in the US Army Tank Corps.  He once again returned to his beloved cavalry where he had earlier distinguished himself by designing “The Patton Sword” – M1913 which was produced by the Springfield Arsenal – some 34,000 swords were produced and the cavalry outfitted.   However this time it was “The Society Circus” which some say has evolved into today’s  “Spirit of America” which still is produced and performed by Soldiers from Fort Myer as they take the show “on the road”

Back then, for ten weekends during the late Spring and all Summer, the horsemanship skills of the cavalry along with vignettes depicting events or places in history were presented.

This augmented the ceremonial duties which the Soldiers executed which included final honor support at Arlington National Cemetery.

Several historic photographs within the book “Images of America – Fort Myer” provide a small glimpse of this segment of history on this unique US Army Post with origins during the US Civil War when it was known as Fort Whipple.     An autographed copy of the book can be purchased here on the website.

General Amiel Weeks Whipple

An 1841 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, NY, he was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts.  His first assignments took him across the country among them was determining the route of the transcontinental railroad.

His mapping skills and talent were key in the US Civil War when he served as chief topographical engineer with the Army of the Potomac under General George B. McClellan.

Later he would command the defenses of Washington using the Custis-Lee mansion – Arlington House – as his headquarters.  During that time he befriended President Abraham Lincoln who would drive over from Washington DC to meet with General Whipple, often having lunch and getting a briefing from the General while Lincoln wrapped his arms around Whipple’s two sons.

General Whipple wanted a combat role and commanded a division at the battles of Fredericksburg and later Chancellorsville.   It would be there that a sharpshooter would shoot him while he was mounted on his horse.  He would be taken back to Washington DC where on May 7, 1863 would succumb from his wound.    Later Abraham Lincoln would attend his funeral, not as the President but a friend.

In the book “Images of America – Fort Myer”the closeness of these two men is shown in an unpublished note from President Lincoln to General Totten which nominated General Whipple’s son to West Point.

General Whipple would later be honored when a fort was placed where he ordered an observation balloon sent up to observe combat activity to the west.  Fort Whipple would  ultimately  evolve and grow in use and importance after the Civil War and become Fort Myer.

Defend the Capital

The year 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the US Civil War.   A few days in April of 1861,  Fort Sumter had surrendered after continual pounding of artillery on the fortification…

Those in Washington DC, when they heard of this, began to make plans to erect fortifications which would “Defend the Capital” in case of attack by the Confederates.

Jefferson Davis had already been inaugurated as President of the Confederacy and slowly the secession of Southern states had begun.

The two river crossings – Aqueduct Bridge and Long Bridge were among the first to have fortifications put in place.  By the war’s end, 70 fortifications and 90 artillery batteries would surround Washington, DC.   Among those would be Fort Whipple – built in 1863 and named after General Amiel Weeks Whipple, it occupied the high ground at Arlington Heights overlooking the Nation’s Capital.   In essence it was the second line of defense, backing up Fort Cass as part of the Arlington Line.   Arlington House, also known as the Custis-Lee mansion was the headquarters for all the defenses of Washington during the US Civil War.   President Abraham Lincoln would cross the Potomac River to meet here with General Whipple to get briefed on the progress of the actions.

All of the fortifications and batteries are very well located, diplayed and discussed in a book written and recently updated entitled “Mr. Lincoln’s Forts”  by Benjamin Franklin Cooling III and Walton H. Owen II.

In the book – “Images of America – Fort Myer”   you will also find more about this historic time in America and the developments, events, people and views that impacted the US Army, the United States of America and the world.

Fort Cass Virginia

After the fall of Fort Sumter, South Carolina to the Confederates,  it was decided that the Nation’s Capital  was in need of defenses.  Among the first fortifications were built were the ones

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