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

IN the attack on Fort Wagner. in Charles
ION haroor, August II, 1853.
Fort Lyon.
Fort Lyon is on the old Mount Vernon
| road, about one and a half miles south OF
Alexandria, and stands 10 feet above the
level. In the original plan Of the defenses
THIS Tort was the extreme left Of the line,
out subsequently Forts Weed, Farnsworth,
" Rorke and Willard were extended on the
iett toward the river. Its function was to
hoid the heights south Of Hunting creek.
from which Alexandria could be shelled,
and the left Of the line exposed With the
exception OF Fort Runyon.it was the largest
OF all the forts: Its entertainments inclosed
nine acres, and its guns commanded the
waterway to Washington The ground
upon which the fort is situated was heavi-
~ timbered before the war. but the brawny
members of the 9th New York Infantry
| soon cleared It away
The regiment established its camp here in
August, 1861, calling it Camp Dickinson In
honor of Daniel S. Dickinson a prominent
| citizen of Binghamton, n. Y. The first
| work on the fort was performed by the
members of the 9th. The following, among
| other commands, subsequently occupied the
fort at different time during the war: The
10Th and 69th New York Infantry, the 4th
and 10th New York Heavy Artillery, the
I'd Battalion, New York Artillery, the 34th
Massachusetts, Infantry and Pennsylvania
Bucktails Forts Weed, Farnsworth,
horke and Willard We're originally out
works Of this fort, and were then known
as redoubts A, B. c and D. The arma-
ment of the fort consisted of forty-one
guns, which were manned by $40 gunners.
The fort was named after General Nathan
ial Lyon, who was killed at Wilson Creek,
Mo, August Q, 1861
Fort Weed.
Fort Weed stands on the west side of old
Mount Vernon road, little north of its
junction with gravel road, being about
seven and a half miles from the Capitol
and one and a half miles south of Alex
andria. In its rear is Fort Lyons Forts
Farnsworth and O'Rorke being east of it.
This fort was originally an outpost or sup
porting battery of Fort Lyon. and was
then known "Redoubt A The old
works are now part of the farm Of Mr..
Ballinger, whose pleasant dwelling house is
in their midst. The fort was named in
honor Of Gen. Stephen II. Weed, a native
of New York city and a graduate of the
Military Academy, who was killed at Get
tysburg. This fort was built by detach
ment of the 34th Massachusetts. Capt. An
drew Potter having charge Of the work.
Fort Farnsworth.
Fort Farnsworth is seven and half miles
from the Capitol. and one and half m les
south Of Alexandria, 1t is situated in the
northeast angle formed by the junction of
the Grand and old Mount Vernon roads.
The fort is near the east side Of old Mount
Vernon road, nearly opposite to Fort Weed
with which. as well as Fort O'Rorke, on the
south, 1t is connected with a line of rife
pits. Originally it was known 'redoubt
D.: an outpost of Fort Lyon. which is near
by, to the northWestward. T day the old
works are covered by a growth of young
trees. many of which are evergreers The
fort was named after General Z. j. Farms
worth, who entered the service as a quar-
termaster Of the 9Th Illinois Cavalry and
was killed at Gettysburg July l. 1888 In
the rear of the old fort is an historic, pic
turesque old mansion house that was built
many generations ago by Rev. Bryan Lord
Fairfax. 1t was the headqualt tiers of Cen
eral Richardson when he was in command
OF the forts herea bouts. The place Is now
owned by Mr.. Henry johnson, whose
father, Court Johnson, bought it some fifty
county, New York. The Johnsons were
loyal during the war. This fort was COM
pleted by a detachment of TIE Bath Massa-
chusetts Infantry, Cap ain William Bacon
having charge of the work.
Fort O'Rorke.
Fort O'Rorke Is reached from Alexandria
by way of South Patrick street. Hunting
creek bridge and Gravel road. 1t can also be
reached with about equal facility by way of
Telegraph road. 1t occupies the northeast
angle formed by the junction Of Gravel and
Old Mount Vernon roads, and the old works
are plainly visible from the point of the
angle. From Alexandria it is distant about
one and one-half miles. Originally it was
an outpost of Fort Lyon. which stood on
the Mount Vernon road, a short distance to
the northeast, and was known as "Redoubt
c. Fort Farnsworth was to the westward
and Fort Weed to the northwestward with
both of which il was connected by lire of
rifle pits The fort was named in Septem-
Der, 1863, after Colonel Patrick Henry
y Rorke, 14Oth New York who was killed
at Gettysburg July 9, 1863. The work on
TINS tort was completed by detachments of
d l1 "ith Massa chusetts Infantry, under the
direction of Charles L. Chandler The
earthWorks are in a fair state of preserya-
tIon. They are distant from Washington
ABOUT seven and half miles
Fort Willard.
Fort Willard bore the distinction of occu-
pylng the extreme left of the defenses. and
was originally an outpost of Fort LYONS
ana was then known as "Redoubt D." IF
occupied the spur of the ridge that termi
mated at the river road, and was separated
from Forts ORorke and Weed by a gravel
ROAD, having old Mount Vernon road on IT'S
west side. 1t covered Hunting Creek bridge
the io"iands toward the Potomac and river
road and greatly strengthened Fort Ivon
Fort Foote, the extreme right of tho Inc
ana was Immediately opposite across the
river. Fort Willard was one of the small
er Iorts' ana mad an advance battery 1t
was named In September, 1863 in honor of
Major L. Willard, who was killed at Get
tysburg, July 2, 1SG3 A small frame build
ing, which was used as officers quarters
curing ing me war, sun stands in the midst
OF the old works, which are in fair STATE
Of preserva ton. The rifle pits. which ex-
tended to the river road. and beyond are
fairly well preserved, and are visible from
the road coming northward The fort is
eight miles from the Capitol and stands
about one hundred and sixty feet above The
level of the Potomac. The fort was COM
pieted by attachments of the 34th Massa-
chusetts Infantry.
SOUTH OF THE ANACosTIA
Constructions Between Fort Mahon