Evening star., 1938-02-27
Summer Screen.
By Joseph S. Edgerf0u.


n VOW that the rolling brown
nj woods of Rock Greek Park
" have been stripped by winter
many casual visitors to the
park are surprised to discover on the
unclothed slopes evidences Of a grim
mer day in the history of the city
which remain shrouded in the green
wells of summer
Those who drive across the park
along Military road to the west, when
crossing Rock Creek over the single
arch concrete bridge have only to
raise their eyes to the skyline of the
hill to the left to see a frowning,
embrasured rampant which in the
summer is entirely lost amid the
foliage.
Mellowed and softened by the pas
sage OF nearly three-fourths of CEN
tury this old earthwork still pos
sesses a stern and forbidding ap-
pearence against the chill of winter
sky through the bare arms of forest
trees and underground.
So it is all the way across Rock
Greek Park, along the general line of
Military road, and in a great chain
encircling Washington and AleXan-
dria. Where man has not come, in
his peaceful pursuit of home and city
building, to destroy the traces of his
former martial trade of digging forts,
battery positions and infantry para
pets, these grim reminders of war
days in Washington have emerged
from their summer hiding places on
wooded hilltops and ridges.
MANY sections of the old Civil
War Notifications have vanished
beneath the misunderstanding tide of
city growth. Isolated forts have been
preserved in the chain; some have
been cleared Of the forest growth of
hall century and made easily access
sible to the sightseer. The remain
Ing western half of Fort Stevens, just
west of Georgia avenue and a little
north OF Military road, has been par
TALLY restored to its Civil War condi-
ton. The eastern half of the fort and
its outworks have been obliterated, and
the site. including the battlefield to its
front, submerged under a tide OF
homes
There is a different story in Rock
Creek Park, however Here, ex-
cept for the quiet, patient efforts of
nature to reclaim her own, each rifle
trench, battery and covered way re-
mains clearly visible beneath the brush
and dried leaves. Between Rock
Creek and Daniel road mostly just
to the north of Military road can be
found virtually all of the various
types of earthworks which went to
make up the chain of fortifications
around Washington during the war
days of 1861-1865. It is a section
typical Of the whole and is of more
than ordinary interest in that it fig
ured in the only battle fought in the
District of Columbia-the repulse of
the attack by Confederate Gen. Jubal
E. Early in July, 1854. Although this
battle centered in front of Fort Ste
vens, where President Lincoln stood
under enemy fire, there also were
minor actions as the attack slid of
across the Rock Creek section and
Early began his retreat toward the
Virginia mountain passes.
THERE were, Of course, works be-
tween Rock Greek and Fort Ste
vens, but they have disappeared, al
most without exception, as result of
the growth of the city to the north.
Even Military road has been moved
from its original position along a part
of the distance between Rock Greek
and Georgia avenue. There were three
battery positions between Rock Greek
and Fort Stevens; one between Mill
tary road and Milk House Ford road:
the two others south of Military road
between Sixteenth street and the
creek. Irregularly placed infantry
trenches protected their flanks and
covered the gaps. The westerly posi-
ton, just outside the present park
boundary, near the dead end of Mon
tague street NV, was known as Bat
terry Sill. 1t commanded the little
valley through which Military road
descends to Rock Creek
The first work west of Rock Creek
Is just to the south of Military road
on the military crest of the hill COM
manding the former bridge, which was
short distance upstream from the
present concrete span. This position
comprised a battery position for field
guns, with short f1anking infantry
trenches.
There were gaps between the ends
OF these infantry trenches and Bat
- terry Sill, to the east, and the next
work to the west, Battery Kingsbury.
on the densely wooded hill to the
north of Military road. Battery
Kingsbury was an outwork of Fort
=, De Russy one of the few of the Civil
: War forts which has remained en-
= tirely undisturbed since the close of
: the war nearly 70 years ago. The
principal work between Rock Greek
= and Daniel road, Fort De Russy, is
. well worth a visit. It is easily ac-
= cessible by foot by way of a bride
path starting just northeast of the
~ intersection of Military and Daniel
roads and running east up hill into
the thick woods.
= THE forest has conquered Fort
De RuSsy. Trees and shrubs
grow in its moats and on its para
pets. on its gun platforms and in the
sunken pits of its magazine and bomb
= proof shelter. But all these details
d Of the old earth works remain dis
tinct despite the passage of the years.
b Continuing through the woods
: about 200 feet north of the fort, you
Z, will find an outer infantry trench,
d half surrounding Fort De Russy in the
form of a giant horseshoe. Contin-
uing to the southeast along this
trench, approximately 1000 feet from
the fort. you will find yourself in
the smaller, f1shhook- shaped Battery
Kingsbury.
It is pleasant stroll through the
woods along this trench line, even