Fort Ward (Alexandria, Virginia)
Alexandria · Virginia · Civil War
History & Significance
When Virginia seceded, a possible Confederate blockade of the Potomac River posed a serious threat to the main supply line for the capital city of Washington, D.C. Commander Ward was placed in command of a flotilla of seven ships charged with keeping the river open to shipping, and while attempting to cover the withdrawal of a small Federal force at Mathias Point, Virginia, he was mortally wounded by gunfire from a Confederate sniper. The fort was named for US Navy Commander James H. Ward, killed at Mathias Point.
It was designed with a perimeter of 540 yards and platforms for 24 guns; later, a 100-pound Parrott gun was added, and in 1863, the perimeter was expanded to 818 yards with room for 36 guns. Built as a star fort structure, Fort Ward had bastions that would assure mutual fire support at different parts of the fort in case of a concentrated attack; the walls were constructed from compacted gravel and dirt, eventually reaching up to twenty-five feet high and up to fourteen feet thick.
On July 11, 1864, Confederate General Jubal A. Early approached the fort in an attempt to test the strength of the Defenses of Washington and decided to press his attack on the morning of July 12, but after several failed efforts, General Early withdrew across the Potomac River into Virginia. Throughout the Civil War Fort Ward served as a deterrent and never came under Confederate attack; it was abandoned in December 1865, and salvageable materials were sold at auction. In 1961, to commemorate the Civil War Centennial, the City of Alexandria undertook the partial restoration and preservation of Fort Ward.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Reconstructed Civil War-era earthwork fortifications
- Original cannons and period military artifacts
- Exhibits covering Union Army operations and Washington D.C.'s Civil War defense strategy
- Wooded grounds offering scenic walking paths
Sources
- http://www.alexandriava.gov/FortWard
- https://armyhistory.org/fort-ward-alexandria-virginia/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ward_(Virginia)
- https://www.alexandriava.gov/museums/history-of-fort-ward
- https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/100-0113/
- https://www.battlefields.org/visit/heritage-sites/fort-ward-museum-and-historic-site