Fort Washington (1)

Fort Washington nps

Fort Washington (1) (1809-1946)

Fort Washington (1) History

The first Fort Washington was completed in 1809 and guarded the Nation’s Capital until it was destroyed by its own garrison in 1814. Twelve days later Major Pierre L’Enfant was sent to construct new defenses but worked on the fort for only a brief period before Lieutenant Colonel Walker K. Armistead replaced him. The fort was completed on October 2, 1824. Extensive remodeling was performed in the 1840s and the first guns were mounted in 1846. The masonry fort was occupied by soldiers from the 1st U.S. Artillery, 3rd U.S. Artillery and 4th U.S. Artillery during its early history.

U.S. Civil War

Except for a few guns at the Washington Arsenal, Fort Washington was the only defense for the Nation’s Capital until the Civil War when a circle of temporary forts was built around the city. Battery Rogers and Fort Foote were the only seacoast forts in the system and armed with large Rodman and Parrott cannons. Fort Washington was garrisoned as the outer defense for the city. Companies of the 1st U.S. Artillery and 4th U.S. Artillery as well as numerous state artillery units passed through the post during the war. In 1872 the garrison was removed and additional property purchased to construct a new defense system. Funds for the project was withdrawn and the post was abandoned for the next twenty years.

Endicott Period

A new defense system, consisting of rifled steel guns in concrete emplacements was authorized in 1886 and work began at Fort Washington in 1891. The next year ground was broken for Battery B, later named Battery Decatur but work was suspended on this battery until development of a disappearing carriage for 10" guns was complete. Work resumed in 1896 on Battery Decatur and later on three other similar batteries. On 6 Jul 1899 Battery Decatur, Battery Emory, Battery Humphreys(2) and Battery White were accepted for service. In 1902 Battery Meigs was accepted for service as a 12" mortar battery with eight mortars. All in all, eight Endicott Period batteries were built and accepted at Fort Washington between 1896 and 1905.

Fort Washington (1) Endicott Period Battery (edit list)

Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Battery Cost	Notes
Battery Meigs	8	12"	Mortar	1898-1902-1902-1914	$ 117,000
Battery Decatur	2	10"	Disappearing	1893-1899-1899-1918	$ 128,492
Battery Emory	2	10"	Disappearing	1897-1898-1899-1929	$91,432
Battery Humphreys (2)	2	10"	Disappearing	189?-1899-1899-1928	$ 93,207
Battery Water	1	10"	Barbette	1898-1898	$ ?
Battery Wilkin	2	6"	Disappearing	1899-1902-1902-1928	$ 64,630
Battery White (1)	2	4"	Pedestal	1898-1903-1899-1921	$ 13,125
Battery Smith (1)	2	3"	Masking Parapet	1898-1903-1903-1920	$ 9,500
Battery Many	2	3"	Pedestal	1905-1928	$ 25,904
Source: CDSG

Fort Washington Plan 1921

World War I

Prior to World War I Fort Washington was downgraded to harbor defense and the large guns removed. During the war the post was used as a staging area for troops being sent to France. The 8th Provisional Artillery Battalion was organized at the post and sent to France where they became the 53rd Railroad Artillery Regiment. After the war the 3rd Battalion 12th Infantry moved in and became the ceremonial unit for the Military District of Washington.

World War II

In 1939 the post was abandoned and turned over to the Director of Public Buildings for use as a terminal point for a bridge across the Potomac and a parkway to be built along the shore. Before the transfer was complete the United States entered World War II. Fort Washington was returned to the army and became the home of the Adjutant General’s School. After the war the Veterans Administration managed the post hospital and other government agencies occupied some of the buildings. In 1946 Fort Washington returned to the Department of the Interior.

Current Status

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Location: Maps & Images Lat: 38.711115 Long: -77.034845 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 150'

Sources:

• National Park Service History - Fort Washington
• National Park Service History - Fort Washington Park
• Johns Military History - Great pictures

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