Fort Davis (7)

Fort Davis (7) (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War fort established in 1861 in Washington DC. Named Fort Davis after Colonel Benjamin F. Davis, who was killed at Brandy Station 9 Jun 1863. Fort abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of Fort Davis

Established in August 1861 as an earthen fort with a perimeter of 220 yards and emplacements for 22 guns.

A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Davis, Lieut. D. D. Dana commanding. – Garrison, one-half company Ninth Unattached Company Massachusetts Volunteer Artillery–1 commissioned officer, 1 ordnance-sergeant, and 32 men. Armament, five 6-pounder field guns, three 24-pounder barbette, three 8-inch siege howitzers, one Coehorn mortar. Magazines, two; dry and in good order. Ammunition, full supply. Implements, complete and serviceable. Garrison not drilled at artillery."

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

Current Status

Some remains in Fort Davis Park in Washington DC.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 531562

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Location: Fort Davis Park, Washington DC. Maps & Images Lat: 38.86639 Long: -76.95056 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 295'

See Also:

• 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 134.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Davis
• NPS Civil War Defenses of Washington - Appendix E: General Reports About the Defenses
• NPS - Fort Davis

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