Category:Fort Stevens (2): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:33, 8 September 2006

Fort Stevens (2) (1861-) - Built in 1861 as Fort Massachusetts it was one of the Forts encircling and protecting Washington DC during the U.S. Civil War. It was renamed Fort Stevens after Brigadier General Isaac Ingalls Stevens, who was killed at the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, 1 Sep 1862.

Fort Stevens (2) History

In the summer of 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant had Confederate General Robert E. Lee in a deathtrap around Richmond and Petersburg. When General Grant had moved south, he stripped Washington, D.C. of many well trained troops. As a result in July of 1864 there were only 9,000 troops to defend the city, down from over 23,000 that had been there the year before. Those that were left were primarily poorly trained reserves. General Lee sought desperately to find a way out of his predicament around Petersburg. He decided to send General Jubal A. Early with about 20,000 troops to strike at Washington, which his spies had reported was poorly defended. On June 12, General Early started his march from behind Petersburg, and by July 9, he was at Frederick, Maryland, where he demanded and received $200,000 to spare the city. On the same day, General Early defeated Union General Lew Wallace at the Monocacy River. In the light of later events, General Wallace's defeat after a stubborn fight became a victory for the Union because he was able to delay Early's advance for a day. On July 10, Early encamped at Rockville, Maryland, 10 miles from Fort Stevens.

As a result of the rapid and successful movement of Early, the men of the War Department seemed paralyzed, and would give no orders except as they received them from General Grant. General Grant understood the situation and sent the 25th New York Cavalry, which left City Point, Virginia, on July 7 and reached Fort Stevens midnight of July 10. Also on the 7th, the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 6th Corps, under General Horatio G. Wright, left City Point. A few hours later General W. H. Emory, with part of the 19th Corps just returning from New Orleans to join Grant, left Fort Monroe for Washington.

Current Status

<gmap lat="38.964360" long="-77.029218" zoom="2" helper="on" width="500" height="400" type="hybrid"> points: 38.964360|-77.029218|Fort Stevens (2) </gmap>

Location: Fort Stevens (2) is located at 13th and Quackenbos Streets, NW, Washington DC

Maps & Images

Lat: 38.964360 Long: -77.029218

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Elevation:

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Pages in category "Fort Stevens (2)"

The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total.

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-'''{{SUBPAGENAME}} (1861-)''' - Built in 1861 as Fort Massachusetts it was one of the Forts encircling and protecting Washington DC during the [[U.S. Civil War]]. It was renamed Fort Stevens after Brigadier General [[Isaac Ingalls Stevens]], who was killed at the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, 1 Sep 1862.
+'''{{SUBPAGENAME}} (1861-)''' - Built in 1861 as Fort Massachusetts it was one of the Forts encircling and protecting Washington DC during the [[U.S. Civil War]]. It was renamed Fort Stevens after Brigadier General [[Isaac I Stevens|Isaac Ingalls Stevens]], who was killed at the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, 1 Sep 1862.
 =={{SUBPAGENAME}} History==
+ In the summer of 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant had Confederate General Robert E. Lee in a deathtrap around Richmond and Petersburg. When General Grant had moved south, he stripped Washington, D.C. of many well trained troops. As a result in July of 1864 there were only 9,000 troops to defend the city, down from over 23,000 that had been there the year before. Those that were left were primarily poorly trained reserves. General Lee sought desperately to find a way out of his predicament around Petersburg. He decided to send General Jubal A. Early with about 20,000 troops to strike at Washington, which his spies had reported was poorly defended. On June 12, General Early started his march from behind Petersburg, and by July 9, he was at Frederick, Maryland, where he demanded and received $200,000 to spare the city. On the same day, General Early defeated Union General Lew Wallace at the Monocacy River. In the light of later events, General Wallace's defeat after a stubborn fight became a victory for the Union because he was able to delay Early's advance for a day. On July 10, Early encamped at Rockville, Maryland, 10 miles from Fort Stevens.
+As a result of the rapid and successful movement of Early, the men of the War Department seemed paralyzed, and would give no orders except as they received them from General Grant. General Grant understood the situation and sent the 25th New York Cavalry, which left City Point, Virginia, on July 7 and reached Fort Stevens midnight of July 10. Also on the 7th, the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 6th Corps, under General Horatio G. Wright, left City Point. A few hours later General W. H. Emory, with part of the 19th Corps just returning from New Orleans to join Grant, left Fort Monroe for Washington.
 ==Current Status==