Fort Marcy, Virginia
Fairfax County, Virginia · Virginia · American Civil War
History & Significance
Fort Marcy and nearby Fort Ethan Allen were built to protect Leesburg Pike and Chain Bridge, with construction beginning in 1861. Originally called Fort W.F. Smith after Major General William F. Smith, whose division troops crossed Chain Bridge on the night of September 24, 1861, and immediately commenced construction of Fort Marcy and Fort Ethan Allen.
The fort was named in honor of Randolph B. Marcy, a distinguished soldier, father-in-law, and Chief of Staff to Gen. George B. McClellan. The fort was not entirely completed until the fall of 1862.
When completed, the fort had a perimeter of 338 feet and mounted 18 guns, a 10-inch mortar and two 24-pounder Coehorn mortars. The famous Iron Brigade originated at this fort in the summer of 1861, composed of the 19th Indiana, the 2nd, 6th and 7th Wisconsin Regiments, with the 24th Michigan added after the Battle of South Mountain.
Detachments of the 4th New York Heavy Artillery, 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery and the 130th Pennsylvania infantry were among the troops that performed garrison duty here during the war. After the Civil War ended Fort Marcy was returned to its original owners, the Vanderwerken family. Its remains are now administered by the National Park Service as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Civil War earthwork fortification with well-preserved gun emplacements
- Named for Randolph B. Marcy, McClellan's chief of staff
- Part of Washington D.C.'s defensive ring built 1861
- Original 18-gun battery and mortar positions visible
- Administered by National Park Service on the George Washington Memorial Parkway
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-marcy.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Marcy_(Virginia)
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=42258
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/washingtons-civil-war-defenses-and-battle-fort-stevens
- https://historynet.com/capital-defense-washington-dc-in-the-civil-war/
- https://npplan.com/parks-by-state/washington-d-c-national-parks/civil-war-defenses-of-washington-park-at-a-glance/civil-war-defenses-of-washington-fort-marcy/