Battery Vermont

Battery Vermont (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War gun battery established early in 1861 in Northwest Washington DC. Named Battery Vermont in G.O. 18, 30 Sep 1861, presumably after the State of Vermont. Battery abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war. Battery Vermont Location History of Battery Vermont One of the ring of Union fortifications surrounding Washington DC during the U.S. Civil War, see Washington DC Fort Ring. Established early in 1861 with emplacements for three 32 pounder seacoast cannons. Battery Vermont was constructed before the Virginia shore of the Potomac was occupied by Union troops. It had a good view of the Leesburg turnpike. In December 1863 a Commission recommend the substitution of rifled guns for the 32 pounders, to bear on Leesburg turnpike but by 1964 that had not happened. A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Battery Vermont, Lieut. George Rollins.–Garrison, one company First Maine Heavy Artillery– 1 commissioned officer, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 27 men. Armament, three 32-pounders. Magazines, one; not dry; wants repairs. Ammunition, full supply and serviceable. Implements, complete and serviceable. Drill in artillery, fair. Discipline, fair. Garrison is sufficient." The battery was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war. Current Status No remains, no markers. USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 531300 {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Three locations cited in Northwest Washington DC (1) MacArthur Blvd, Loughboro RD (2) Palisades Lane and Manning Place (G) GNIS Coordinates (using) Maps & Images Lat: 38.9375 Long: -77.11111 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 180' 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 141. Links: North American Forts - Battery Vermont NPS Civil War Defenses of Washington - Appendix E: General Reports About the Defenses Visited: No