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


Captain CLANCY. The earthworks are In
good state Of preservation. The Schwartx
farm was known as Camp Halt in the
early days of the war. and was fNyorite
resort for eminent citizens who came over
from Washington In large numbers to en-
Joy the beautiful scenery and study the
formation Of the infant army. Buell's d.
vision was camped here in those days.
There was great activity in Fort De Rus
sey during the anxious days Of Early's In
vestment, and the garrison did its duty
nobly under the direction Of Captain John
Norris. Provisional Pennsylvania Heavy
Artillery. The guns, some of which were
of heavy caliber, were manned by the men
of Battery A, list Wisconsin Heavy Artil-
lery. Captain Spear, and Battery L. 9th
New York Heavy Artillery, Lieutenant
Howe. Two companies of The 163d Ohio Ma
tional Guard also formed part of the gar
rison. A division Of the 9th Army Corps
bivouacked behind the fort the night be-
fore the battle, and the rebels threw up
earthworks in front A detachment Of the
10th New York occupied the fort for a brief
period In 1862. Fort De Russey Is perhaps
the best preserved Of all the defenses In
Washington. Its ramparts are very little
changed from the old days Of hustle and
excitement. The works are within the lin
its Of Rock Creek Park, and steps Will be
taken toward preserving them for all time
Fort Stevens was hardly to the eastward,
while Fort Kearney stood on the other side
Of Broad Branch valley to the westward.
Fort Kearny.
Fort Kearny stood a little north Of Grant
road, a mile east of Tenleytown. The old
works are now covered with scrub pine and
are not visible from any direction. They
are Immediately in the rear Of Mr.. Thomas
O'Briens large mansard-roofed frame build
ing. The fort was named in honor Of that
splendid soldier. Gen. Philip Kearny, who
was killed at Chantilly, Va. September 1.
1862. The fort was built in the summer OF
1862 by Col. Fowler's 18th New Jersey.
It's armament consisted of one S-inch siege
howitzer, three 42-pounder James. three 32-
FOUNDER seacoast, three 2i-pounder siege
and 41a-inch rif1ed guns. 1t commanded
the upper valley Of Broad branch. In May,
1854, the fort was garrisoned by detach-
ments of the 151st and 1880 Ohio National
Guard. Fort Reno was on the LETT, While
Fort De Russey was to the right, across
Broad branch
Battery Terrill.
Battery Terrill (named after Gen. w. r.
Terrill, killed at Perryville, KY, October 3.
1862, supporting redoubt for field guns
stood on the hill to the westward, now
owned and occupied by Maj. Armes. Con-
necticut avenue cut through a portion OF 1t,
and there is no trace of the work now le1t.
Fort Reno.
This fort was mainly built by McCalrs
Pennsylvania reserves and was originally
called Fort Pennsylvania" 1t received its
cognomen in 1862, in honor Of Gen. Jesse
L. Reno, a native Of Virginia, who was
killed at South Mountain. 1t was situated
back of Tenleytown and east of the Brook
Vile pike 1t occupied the highest ground
in the District of Columbia, being 429 feet
above the level 1t overlooked the valley
In front and on both TANKS. commanding
with it's guns the wide open plain on either
side Of the river road, and with it's 100
tant hills in advance of the line between
Fort Sumner. in the west, and Fort De
Russey to the east. The fort mounted
twenty guns, among them being S-inch
siege howitZers 24-pounder seacoaSt howit-
Zers. 10O-pound and 3O-pound PARROTS and
1O-inch siege mortars. The following troops.
under command of Col. John M. c. Marble,
151st Ohio National Guard, defended Fort
Reno against Early's attacks: Companies
and G, 151st Ohio National Guard, Maj.
J. L. Williams; Company A, LIST Wisconsin
Heavy Artillery, Capt. w. M Spear; de-
tachment Company L. 9th New York Heavy
tons Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps;
Colonel Giles Brigade -four regiments).
Veteran Reserve Corps; Colonei Thompson's
1st Provisional Regiment. The LIST Bri-
gade 1st Division, 10Th Army Corps. was
held in reserve in the rear. Battery Reno
which stood 300 yards north of the fort,
was built in the winter of 1862 by the 117th
New York, and chrstened "Redoubt Flip
tic Probably the first secret society
formed in the army was organized in the
fort in 1861. On the oath Of September Of
that year, lodge Of Free MasonS was es-
tablished in the Sd Pennsylvania Reserves,
the only Masonic lodge, it is said, that ex-
listed in the Army of the Potomac during
the war warrant for the establishment
of this lodge was granted by George G.
Whiting. grand master of the Grand Lodge
of the District of Columbia, and was named
the Potomac Lodge" The colonel of the
regiment. Col. Horatio Gates Sickles, was
appointed worshipful master; Lieut.. Col.
William S. Thompson, senior warden, and
Capt. w. d. Curtis of Company B, junior
warden. The lodge continued to hold meet
ings in the field circumstances permitted,
during the entire term of service Of the
regiment.
Fort Gaines
Fort Gaines was built by the Pennsy,-
vania Reserves in 1861, and was originally
intended to be a lunette. It's armament
consisted of five 32-pounder coat guns, and
one 4ls-inch r.fied gun. Among the troops
that garrsoned this fort were detachmenes
of the list New Hampshire Heavy Artillery,
163d and 10th Ohio National Guard, 59th
New York and 4th New York Heavy Artil-
lery. A part Of the old works is still pre-
served. which will be found on the Lou h-
borough road, quarter of q mile west of
the Tenleytown road. The fort was built
on the Davis place, and the old family
mansion which was in the rear, and sti
stands, was used by the officers as head
quarters The property is now a part Of
the tract recently purchased by the Meth
odist University, and 1t is probable that
what Is left Of the old fort will he pre-
served for all time. The old works are
reached by way Of Georgetown and Wis
consin avenue and Loughborough road. The
electric cars run within a quarter of a
mile of them. Forts Reno, hayward, Sim
mons and Mansfield, and Battery Kemble
were in the immediate vicinity.
Fort Bayard.
Fort Bayard was situated on River road
about a mile west Of Tenleytown on the
property Of Philip Buckley, and was named
in honor of the dashing young COLONEL of
the list Pennsylvania Cavalry George D.
Bayard, who was killed at Fredericksburg,
Va, December IS, 1862. 1t was built in
1861 by details from the PENNSYLVANIA re-
serves. A portion Of the old works is still
preserved, which Is in plain view from the
roadside. The armament consisted Of two
12-pounder howitzers and four 2O-pounder
PARROTS. In May, 1854, the fort was gar
risoned by attachments of the 1st New
Hampshire Heavy Artillery and 1880 and
l1Oth Ohio National Guard.
Fort Simmons.