The Washington times., 1903-03-15

OF Brig. Gen Isaac ingalls, Ste
vens, native of Massachusetts. who was
killed at Chantilly, Va. September 1,
1862. This fort. which bears the dis
tinction OF having been the scene OF
some stubborn fghting, Is situated on
Brightwood Avenue Seventh Street
Road OF Odd. in the northern outskirts
Of the village OF Brightwood. about Eve
miles north OF the Capitol and three
miles from Florida Avenue Cold Bound
airy street, A part OF the old works
are standing in a fair state of preserva-
ton. Fort Stevens being the principal
protector and defender OF the chief
highway leading into Washington. made
the position a very important one. The
Importance was augmented by the fact
OF the position being naturally weak,
inviting. as it did. the main attack Of
the enemy. It was regarded as the key
to the defenses OF the city. About
mile in advance OF the fort the cOun-
try rises to heights of from twenty TO
thirty feet higher than the crests Of the
work. furnishing to an enemy most ad-
vantageous positions for artillery Early
was quick in discovering this weakness
and concentrating his troops according
". But his plans were frustrated,
thanks 10 the timely arrival OF re-enforce-
ments. The fort was furnished with
powerful armament. mostly OF siege
guns. well protected by embrasures and
traverses. The extension OF the work
had a stockaded gorge. banked by
blockhouse 1t also contained an ex-
tensive bombproof.
Fort Sumner.
Fort Sumner was situated on Ryder's
By-road. at the head OF the receiving
reservoir. and half a mile north OF the
Conduit Road, on a high blunf called
River View. 1t was composed Of three
small works originally known as Forts
Alexander. Franklin. and Ripley. and in
tended to protect the reservoir and
Chain Bridge. The works were built on
the property OF Albert Lodge, but IL Is
now owned by the brothers Book. who. in
the process Of erecting new buildings.
| had to level a good part Of the parapets.
A portion Of them are yet preserved. Mr..
Lodges present residence is on the op-
posite side of the road Forts Mansfield.
simmons. Bayard. Reno. and Gaines
are to the eastward. not far of The
fort is best reached from Washington by
way OF Georgetown and the Conduit
Road 1t was named for Gen. Edwin
Vose Sumner, who died OF wounds re-
ceived at Antietam while leading the
Second Corps. and was largely built by
the I17th New York II was one OF the
largest OF the forts. and its armament
consisted OF three s-inch howitzers.
eight 32-pOunder and four 24pOunder
seacoast guns, two IOO-pounder rifed
PARROTS. and six 41a-inch rified guns.
six 6-pounder James, one 10-inch siege
mortar and two 24-pounder Calhouns.
Among the troops that garrisOned the
fort were detaChments or the Fifty
ninth and 1I7th New York. Fourth New
York Heavy Artillery. Ninth New York
Independent Battery. Company B. Maine
Coast Guards: 11Tth New York Battery.
First Ohio Artillery and 15lst Ohio Ma
tional Guards Redoubts Kirby Corigi-
nally called Fort Franklin. after Cen
William b. franklin and Cross (origi-
naIly called Fort Ripley. after Gen.
James W. Ripley were parts OF the fort
proper. Redoubt Davis (originally called
Fort Alexander in honor OF Capt. Barton
s. Alexander. Corps OF Engineers (who
superintended the cOnstruction) A
supporting battery stood on a blum
overlooking the Conduit Road and Po-
tomac River There was also a block
house on the roadside. This old earth
work is well preserved. and can be
reached from the Conduit Road by way
% a ravine. which is entered a couple
OF hundred yards 70 the westward OF
Dowling's Hotel. They are on the ridge
or the weG side of the ravine.
Named After Ethan Allen.
Fort Ethan Allen. which occupied a
commanding position on the Virginia
side of the Chain Bridge. was named
by General Mcclellan in honor OF the