The Defenses of Washington

At the start of the Civil War, Washington was protected by only one fort, Fort Washington, guarding the Potomac River approach. The capital city was uncomfortably close to Confederate forces operating in Northern Virginia. By 1864, a system of earthen fortifications had been completed. The forts were well garrisoned and armed with large numbers of guns of diverse sizes and calibers. The war ended in the spring of 1865, and a year later all but a few forts were abandoned and their brief service ended.

Fort Washington, Maryland · United States