Fort Ward (Virginia) facts for kids

Fort Ward
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Fort Ward's restored Northwest Bastion
Location in Alexandria Show map of Alexandria Location in Northern Virginia Show map of Northern Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, Virginia
Area	35 acres (14 ha)
Built	1861
Built by	Union Army Corps of Engineers
NRHP reference No.	82004538
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 26, 1982

Fort Ward
Part of the Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C.
Alexandria, Virginia
Gateway near the path between the museum and remnants of the fort
Type	Earthwork fort
Site information
Owner	City of Alexandria
Controlled by	Union Army
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Stabilized
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 Ward was an important Union Army fort during the American Civil War. It is located in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.. This fort was the fifth largest built to protect the capital city during the war. Today, most of its original earthen walls are still standing, making it a well-preserved historical site.

Why Fort Ward Was Built

Life in Virginia Before the War

Before the Civil War began, the area around Alexandria was mostly farmland. It was very close to Washington, D.C. This land used to be part of D.C. but was given back to Virginia in 1847. Most people lived in the city of Alexandria itself. The rest of the area had scattered farms and fields.

Protecting Washington, D.C.

After the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for soldiers to stop the rebellion. This made many Southern states, including Virginia, decide to leave the Union. Virginia voted to secede on May 23, 1861.

Union Army leaders worried that Confederate forces might place cannons on the hills in Virginia. These cannons could easily fire on government buildings in Washington, D.C. To prevent this, they decided to occupy Northern Virginia. They also planned to build forts along the Potomac River. These forts would protect the bridges connecting Virginia to Washington, D.C.

Union Troops Arrive in Virginia

On the night Virginia voted to secede, Union Army troops began crossing into Virginia. Thousands of soldiers marched over the Long Bridge and Chain Bridge. They quickly took control of the important areas.

The occupation was mostly peaceful, except in the city of Alexandria. A Union officer named Elmer E. Ellsworth was killed there while taking down a Confederate flag. He was one of the first soldiers to die in the Civil War. Because of this event, Union soldiers stayed in Alexandria throughout the war.

The First Battle of Bull Run

Map of Civil War forts near Alexandria, showing Fort Ward (around September 1861)

While forts were being built along the Potomac, plans were made for a much larger ring of forts. These new forts would protect Washington, D.C., from all directions. However, this work was stopped by the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861. Many soldiers who were building forts had to go fight in the battle.

After the Union Army lost at Bull Run, there was a panic. People worried that Confederate forces would attack Washington, D.C. Soldiers quickly built temporary defenses.

Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan took command of the Union Army in Washington on July 26, 1861. He was very concerned about the city's weak defenses. McClellan ordered many more forts and trenches to be built. He wanted them strong enough to stop any attack. Alexandria, with its important port, was a key area to defend.

Building Fort Ward

Fort Ward was named after James H. Ward. He was the first Union naval officer to die in the war. The fort was designed to be 540 yards around and hold 24 cannons. Later, a very large 100-pound Parrott gun was added. In 1863, the fort was made even bigger, expanding to 818 yards with room for 36 cannons.

Gen. John Newton was in charge of building the forts south of Four Mile Run. He managed the workers and supplies. Many of the people who helped build Fort Ward were formerly enslaved African Americans, known as "contrabands." They worked to build these defenses to protect Washington, D.C.

Fort Ward never saw any actual battles or attacks. After the war ended, the fort was taken apart in November 1865. However, many African Americans who had helped build the fort continued to live in the area for many years.

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site

Today, Fort Ward is a 45-acre park called the Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. It is located in Alexandria, Virginia. The site has a museum with exhibits about the Civil War. It also has a library focused on the war.

Fort Ward is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site often hosts events like reenactments of Civil War battles. Visitors can see a reconstructed officer's hut, a ceremonial gate, and a rebuilt part of the fort called the northwest bastion.

Images for kids

• 

  Washington D.C. Fortifications map (1865)

• 

  Union soldiers cross the Long Bridge during the occupation of northern Virginia following that state's secession from the Union.