Fort Marcy (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Marcy |
|
|---|---|
| Part of Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C. | |
| Fairfax County, Virginia | |
Fort Marcy as it appeared during the Civil War
|
|
 Fort Marcy
|
|
| Coordinates | 38°56′06″N 77°07′34″W / 38.93500°N 77.12611°W |
| Type | Earthwork fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Union Army |
| Condition | Park |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1861 |
| Built by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1861–1865 |
| Materials | Earth, timber |
| Demolished | 1865 |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Fort Marcy was a special fort built by the Union Army to protect Washington, D.C. during the American Civil War. Today, you can visit its remains as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Fairfax County, Virginia. It's managed by the National Park Service.
History of Fort Marcy
Fort Marcy is located about half a mile (0.8 km) south of the Potomac River. It sits on a hill called Prospect Hill. You can find it near the Chain Bridge Road, which connects Chain Bridge to Langley and McLean, Virginia. If you're driving, you can only reach it from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Parkway.
The fort was built with a perimeter of 338 feet (103 meters). Once it was finished, it had 18 guns. It also had a large 10-inch (25 cm) mortar and two smaller 24-pound (10 kg) Coehorn mortars. These weapons were pointed towards the south and west to defend against attacks.
Building the Fort
Construction of Fort Marcy began on September 24, 1861. It was first called Fort Baldy Smith, named after General William Farrar Smith. His troops started building it right after crossing the Chain Bridge.
Many different groups helped build and finish the fort. The 79th New York Highlanders and the 141st Pennsylvania worked on it. The famous Iron Brigade also helped in the fall of 1862. About 500 "contrabands" (enslaved people who escaped to Union lines) also helped with the construction. The 152nd New York worked on the trenches, which are still well-preserved today. The fort was not fully completed until the fall of 1862.
Naming and Garrison
The fort was later named Fort Marcy to honor Randolph B. Marcy. He was a respected soldier from Massachusetts. He was also the father-in-law and chief of staff to General George B. McClellan.
During the war, different troops were stationed at Fort Marcy to guard it. These included soldiers from the 4th New York and 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. The 130th Pennsylvania Infantry also served there.
An interesting fact is that the "Iron Brigade" was formed at this fort in the summer of 1861. This famous group included the 19th Indiana, the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin Regiments. The 24th Michigan joined them later. These units stayed together throughout the war.
After the War
When the Civil War ended in 1865, the forts around Washington, D.C. were taken apart. This system of forts is now known as the Fort Circle Parks. The wood and other materials from the forts were sold. The land was then given back to its original owners from before the war.
Images for kids
-
Entrance to Fort Marcy Park, with information signs
