Fort Richardson (Arlington County, Virginia)
Arlington County · Virginia · Civil War
History & Significance
Constructed in September 1861 immediately after the Union Army's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run in late July 1861, Fort Richardson served as a critical defensive position for Washington, D.C. Named for General Israel B. Richardson, whose division was stationed to guard against attack via the Columbia Turnpike, the redoubt occupied the highest point of the Arlington Line on a commanding ridge. The fortification measured 316 yards in perimeter and mounted 15 gun emplacements, including a 100-pound Parrott rifle capable of sweeping fire from Fort Ellsworth to Fort DeKalb.
It housed bomb-proof shelters and two ammunition magazines adjacent to a military encampment. The fort was one of 38 fortifications on the Virginia side of the Potomac River; twenty-two formed an outer defensive ring around Washington known as the Arlington Line.
After the war ended in 1865, the Army returned the property to its original owners, in some cases providing compensation for wartime damage and use. Today, remnants of Fort Richardson's earthen south wall and ditches remain well-preserved on the grounds of the Army Navy Country Club.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Civil War-era Union defensive fortification built 1861
- Earthen walls and ditches preserved on site
- Housed 15 gun emplacements including 100-pound Parrott rifle
- Part of Washington, D.C. defensive ring protecting the capital
- Ridge-top location offers views across Arlington County
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Richardson_(Arlington,_Virginia)
- https://arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/120
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=39726
- https://www.loc.gov/item/2018667040/
- https://www.loc.gov/item/2011647355/