Evening star., 1914-05-18

Sumner, overlooking the river. and
ending with Fort Lincoln. on the East
ern branch. The fourth group en1-
braced those south of the Eastern
branch, commencing with Fort Mahan,
above Benning, and terminating with
Fort Greble, nearly opposite Alexan-
| dria- 1t is the northern line OF de-
lenses from the Potomac near Little
/ Falls to the Eastern branch which has
suffered most from the growth OF
Washington. While only few of these
| forts have been utterly efaced. num-
Der have been in part leveled and some
have been built on but even in the
| cases of some of those built on, as
Fort Reno, one can find here and there
mounds and depressions which were
/ part of the earthwork. Forts Slocum,
Slemmer and Saratoga have passed
away, but relics or traces remain OF
Forts Lincoln, Thayer. Totten' Stevens
| De Russy, Kearney, Gaines, Simmons
Mansfield. Sumner and Bayard. Along
the ridge beyond the Eastern branch
and bending southwark are numerous
fort remains, each one in a command
ing position as to expanse of view.
The first civil war forts of Washing
ton were isolated works covering the
main approaches to the capital by
bridge or road From this beginning
was developed a forttfcatfon system
by which. according to the report Of the
chief engineer of the defenses OF
Washington, Gen. J. G. Barnard, every
prominent point at intervals of 500 or
l. COO yards was occupied by an in
closed field fort and every important
approach or depression of ground un-
seen from the forts swept by bat
terry of field guns, and the whole con-
nected by rifle trenches. which were, in
fact. lines of infantry parapet furnish
ing emplacement for two ranks of men
and affording covered communication
along the line. while roads were open
ed wherever necessary so that troops
and artillery could be moved rapidly
from one point Of the immense periph-
cry to another and under cover from
point to point along the line
As seen from this, and as we'll known
to many persons, these forts were con-
nected by military roads. The first
part OF this road system was built in
the fall of 1851. from the works at
Chain bridge-Forts Ethan Allen and
Marcy and their f1anking batteries and
connecting trenches to the right Of the
Arlington lines at Fort Strong. Fol
lowing this there was built a road be-
hind the Arlington lines to the rear OF
the Hunting creek defenses on the
ridge and highlands south of Alex
andria road was built in the fall
Of 1862 linking up the works west of
Washington overlooking the Potomac
with those in the valley Of Powder
Mill run. and eastward to Fort Stevens.
five and one-half miles. 1t is q part of
this road to which the name Military
road clings. The roads were continued
to the Eastern branch and thence west
and southerly along the Anacostia
ridge When the war closed thirty
two miles of military road had been
built.
The Star in an editorial of welcome
to the G. A. R., September 19. 1892.
said:
"In revisiting the sites of the exten-
sive and costly fortifications which
were constructed about Washington
the veteran will find that the in
f1uences of peace have almost entirely
conquered the formidable armament of
war :. The rain and the wind have
crumbled the threatening piles of
earth, nature has thrown over the
signs of mans preparation for mortal
combat a mantle Of grass and vines,
shrubs and bushes, and if the sword has
not been beaten into the plowshare at
least the woodwork Of grimly menac-
ing forts has been converted into fire.
wood or the building material of negro
shanties Upon the very spot occupied
some thirty years ago by cannon the
unconscious picnicking party may
lunch with merrymak1ng
The plan of restoring these forts
where they have not been closely built
over, appropriately marking the sites
where the city has grown above them.
and linking up the forts and fort sites
with a great drive is an idea that is
full of historic sentiment and signif-
canoe.