Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09

walton, but obscured by heavy growth Of
trees and will be found on the side Of
Ballstons road, about a mile southwest of
the Aqueduct bridge Fort Morton is
across the road 1t Is reached by following
the line of rifle pits along the margin of the
road for a few hundred yards. The old
works are within the limits Of the new
villa of Fort Myer Heights, the streets are
already being run through, so that the prob
abilities are that there will be soon no trace
of the old fort left. The fort mounted thir-
teen guns as follows: Five 24-pounder siege,
three 30-pounder PARROTS, four 6-pounder
rifles and one 24-pounder Calhoun mortar.
The fort was named by General Mcclellan
after Gen. D. P. Woodbury. of the Engineer
Corps, who, in 1862, was in command of the
section Of defenses in the vicinity of Alex
andria. 1t was occupied at various times
by detachments of the 10Th Maine 4th New
York Heavy Artillery, 14th Company Mas
sachusetts Heavy Artillery, 18th Connect-
cut
Fort Cass.
Fort Cass stood In front and little to
the right OF Fort Whipple. The spot is now
occupied by the new brick stables in the
northwest corner of the cavalry camp at
Fort Myer. No trace Of the old works re-
mains. 1t was originally called Fort Ram
say, but was renamed by General McClel-
Ian, in honor of General Lewis Cass in gen.
1t mounted thirteen guns of various makes
and calibers. Company I, 18th Maine In
fantry, was detailed for artillery service
here in the fall of 1862, as was also a COM
pany OF Wisconsin artillery. The famous
Iron Brigade, composed of the 10Th Indiana
and the 3D. 9Th and It'll Wisconsin, camped
in the vicinity of this fort during the latter
part of 1861, and helped to build it and
other forts on Arlington Heights
Fort Whipple.
Fort Whipple stood on an elevated pla-
teau, northwest Of the Arlington House,
overlooking the city of Washington, and
commanded an extensive radius of country
In every direction. 1t was one of the finest
field works ever constructed, and was COM
pleted early in the war No trace Of the
old works are now visible, but 1t stood on
quarters. Fort Cass stood Immediately In
front The fort was named after A. w.
Whipple, native OF Massachusetts, who
commanded section of the Notifications,
in the vicinity Of the Shain bridge, In 1862
and who died IN this city in May, 1853, of
wound received at Charlottesville. The
spot has now long been known as Fort
Myer. At the close of the war the fort
was converted into a camp of instructions
for officers and men of the signal service of
the army, and placed In command of Cen
eral Albert Myer, whose name 1t assumed.
The signal service having abandoned the
H.,
mand of the army, transferred 1t into
cavalry camp, or barracks, which II has
been continued ever since. Forts McPher-
son. Craig, Tillinghast, Cass and Woodbury.
were in the immediate vicinity
Fort Ramsay.
On Upton's Hill, flanked on the north by
-Annandale road. and some six miles south
of Washington, was Fort Ramsay. 1t did
not form a part of the regular line of de-
lenses 1t was an advanced position carly
occupied in conjunction with other works
in the vicinity, from which the movements
of the enemy could be watched The fort
was orinigally known as Fort Upton" but
renamed by General Mcclellan in a gen
eral order dated November Ii, 1861, in
honor of General George Douglass Ramsay
a native of Virginia, who was chief ord
nance officer OF the army. The name was
previously given to one Of the works on
Arlington Heights afterward known as Fort
Cass. The fort was constructed very early
in the war and its armament consisted Of
eleven guns SIX of which were 3O-pounder
PARROTS, the others being smooth bores Of
different kinds and calibers. 1t stood IN
front of the old Upton mansion on the road
side, but there is nothing now to indicate
that the place was ever used for warlike
purposes. The old house was occupied by
the officers for headquarters, the lookout
on the roof being used as a signal station.
II Is sthl in good state Of preservation.
. nc place was owned by Mr.. Charles II.
Upton, Union man. The property is now
owned and occupied by Mr.. John B. Bloas
OF washington. 1t stands some 400 feet
above the level Of the Potomac. Half
mile to the westward were Forts TAYLOR
ana Buffalo. and Fort Munson was nearly
mile 10 the south. The 9th Companv Mas
sachusetts Heavy Artillery, occupied the
Iort during the winter Of 1868. the COM
pany being relieved in April, 1863. bv the
18th Company Of the same regiment Tn
'front.' OF Fort Ramsay. the west side Of the
Leesours road, and south of Annandale
road, IN the rear Of Mr.. BittinRer's house
are some old earthworks which must have
oeen thrown up to protect the advance
guard. "iee
Fort Buffalo.
Fort Buffalo was built by the 21st New
York, who named 1t after the city of Buff
falo, where the regiment was recruited.
and very creditable structure It was. with
embrasures Of seven guns. The christening
occurred on October "A, 1851, and the cere-
monies were quite imposing and interest