Fort Craig (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Craig |
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| Part of Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C. | |
| Arlington County, Virginia | |
Map of Fort Craig and surrounding area, 1865.
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| Coordinates | 38°52′13″N 77°04′54″W / 38.870408°N 77.08165°W |
| Type | Earthwork fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Union Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1861 |
| Built by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1865 |
| Materials | Earth, timber |
| Fate | demolished |
| Events | American Civil War |
Fort Craig was a small fort built by the Union Army in September 1861. It was located in Arlington County, Virginia, during the American Civil War. This fort was a type of lunette, which means it was shaped like a crescent moon.
Fort Craig was an important part of the forts that protected Washington, D.C.. It stood less than a mile from Arlington House. This was the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, which the Union Army occupied. The fort was used throughout the entire war.
This fort was part of a group of defenses called the Arlington Line. It connected to Fort Tillinghast to the north and Fort Albany to the south. Fort Craig helped protect the capital city from attacks coming along the Columbia Turnpike. It also guarded the route over the Long Bridge on the Potomac River.
Building Fort Craig
Workers built Fort Craig on local farmland in August 1861. It was named after Lt. Presley O. Craig. He was a soldier in the 2nd U.S. Artillery Regiment. Lt. Craig was killed during the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.
The fort faced southwest and had a perimeter of 324 yards. It had places for 11 guns and two magazines (places to store ammunition). The fort's weapons included four 24-pound guns and one 24-pound field howitzer. It also had five 30-pound Parrott rifles and a 10-inch mortar. A 24-pound Coehorn mortar was also part of its defenses.
Different army units were stationed at Fort Craig. These included the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery and the 138th Ohio Infantry. The 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery and the 16th Maine Infantry also served there.
What Happened to Fort Craig?
In June 1865, after the war ended, the army ordered Fort Craig to be taken apart. The land was then given back to its original owners. Today, there are no visible signs of the fort. The area where it once stood is now a neighborhood with homes.
However, a historical marker shows where the fort used to be. You can find it near the intersection of South Courthouse Road and 4th Street South in Arlington. The marker has a map showing the fort's location. It also says: Here stood Fort Craig, a lunette in the Arlington Line constructed in August 1861. It had a perimeter of 324 yards and emplacements for 11 guns.
