Fort Weed

Fort Weed (1862-1865) - A U.S. Civil War Fort first established as Redoubt A of Fort Lyon in 1862 in present day Alexandria, Fairfax County, Virginia. Named Fort Weed in September 1863 after Brigadier General of Volunteers Stephen H. Weed, (Captain, 5th U.S. Artillery) who was killed at Gettysburg on 2 Jul 1863. Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of Fort Weed

Fort Weed was also one of 33 forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac River that made up an outer defense line for Washington DC known as the Arlington Line.

Established in 1862 as one of four redoubts in advance of Fort Lyon. After the battle at Gettysburg all four redoubts were were renamed for Union officers killed at that battle. The four newly created forts were Fort Weed, Fort Farnsworth, Fort O'Rourke and Fort Willard. Together with Fort Lyon these forts created a line across the southern approaches to the city of Alexandria.

Fort Weed (originally Redoubt A of Fort Lyon) was built by elements of the 34th Massachusetts Infantry under the direction of Captain Andrew Potter. The original redoubt was built with a perimeter of 253 yards enclosing one magazine, a bombproof and emplacements for 12 guns. Armament included three 24 pounders, two 12 pounder howitzers and six 30 pounder Parrott rifles (one vacant platform).

The fort was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Current Status

No remains of the fort and no period guns or carriages visible.

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Location: Monticello Road and Fort Drive in Alexandria, Fairfax County, Virginia. Maps & Images Lat: 38.78929 Long: -77.07832 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

See Also:

• Fort Lyon
• Fort Farnsworth
• Fort O'Rourke
• Fort Willard
• Arlington Line - U.S. Civil War
• Washington DC Fort Ring
• Washington DC Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:

• 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 801-802.
• 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, page 65-66.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Weed

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