Fort Meigs (2)

Fort Meigs (2) (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1861 in Prince George's County, Maryland. Named Fort Meigs after Major General Montgomery C. Meigs, (Cullum 846), quartermaster general of the Army. Fort abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war. Also known as Camp Meigs (1). History One of the ring of Union fortifications surrounding Washington DC during the U.S. Civil War, see Washington DC Fort Ring. Established in 1861 as a major fort with a perimeter of 500 yards and emplacements for 25 guns. A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Meigs and Extension, Capt. E. Schubert commanding.–Garrison, one company Ninth New York Independent Battery–3 officers and 50 men; a detachment Ninth Company Unattached Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers, I officer, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 49 men. Armament, five 12-pounder guns, two 12- pounder field howitzers, five 32-pounder barbette, four 8-inch siege howitzers, one Coehorn mortar, one 10-inch mortar, two 30-pounder Parrotts. Magazines, three; two not dry, one dry and in good condition. Ammunition, full supply and serviceable. Implements, complete and in good condition. Drill in artillery, New York Battery, fair; Massachusetts detachment drilled only as infantry. Garrison only sufficient for a guard." The fort was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war. Current Status No remains and no markers. Location: Within the triangle formed by Benning Rd, Marboro Pike and Southern Ave SE, Prince George's County, Maryland. The map point is approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 38.87351 Long: -76.92941 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 282' See Also: Washington DC Fort Ring Washington DC Defense System - U.S. Civil War Sources: Cooling, Benjamin F. III and Owen, Valton H. II, Mr. Lincoln's Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington, Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN 0810863073, ISBN 9780810863071, 334 pages. Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 137. NPS Civil War Defenses of Washington - Appendix E: General Reports About the Defenses USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 530960 Links: North American Forts - Fort Meigs Visited: No