Fort Woodbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Woodbury |
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| Part of the Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C. | |
| Arlington County, Virginia | |
 Fort Woodbury
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| Coordinates | 38°53′24.6″N 77°05′01.6″W / 38.890167°N 77.083778°W |
| Type | Earthwork fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Union Army |
| Condition | Residential Area |
| 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 Woodbury was an important fort built during the American Civil War. It was part of a big group of forts called the Arlington Line. These forts were built in Arlington County, Virginia, to protect Washington, D.C. from attacks by the Confederate Army. Building the Arlington Line started in May 1861. Work sped up after the Union Army lost a battle called the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861.
What Was Fort Woodbury?
Fort Woodbury was a special type of fort called a lunette. A lunette is a fort shaped like a crescent moon or a half-moon. It had a wall about 275 yards long. Inside, there were 19 spots for 13 guns. The fort stood on one of the highest hills in Arlington. Today, this area is known as the Courthouse neighborhood. It was also close to where Fort Myer is now.
Who Was Major Woodbury?
The fort was named after Major D.P. Woodbury. He was an engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Major Woodbury was the person who designed and helped build the entire Arlington Line.
Fort Woodbury's Legacy Today
Even though Fort Woodbury was taken down in 1865, its name lives on. A tall apartment building called Woodbury Heights was built in the 1980s near where the fort used to be. It was named after the fort.
There is also a special historical marker that tells people about the fort's location. You can find this marker at North Court House Road and 14th Street North. The marker explains that Fort Woodbury was a lunette built in August 1861. It also mentions its size and that it was named for Major D.P. Woodbury.
