Fort Totten (2)

Fort Totten (2) (1861-1865) Fort Totten was one of the approximately 68 forts that surrounded the city of Washington DC and protected it during the U.S. Civil War period from Confederate invasion. Construction began in August 1861 and was completed in 1863. The fort was named after Brigadier General Joseph G. Totten, Chief of Engineers.

Fort Totten Earthworks	Fort Totten Gun Position
Fort Totten Site

Fort Totten (2) History

The fort itself was a 270 yard, seven sided polygon surrounded by a dry moat that was twelve feet wide and seven feet deep. The walls of the fort were constructed of earth fifteen feet thick and eight feet high. The fort's armament included some 20 cannon and mortars and a long range 100-pounder Parrot Rifle. The fort saw action in support of Fort Stevens (2) when that fort was attacked by Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early on 11 and 12 July, 1864.

Current Status

The site is maintained by the National Park Service and is in a very poor state of preservation. Remnants of the earthworks and fortification features can be distinguished but are covered with trees and underbrush. The single onsite interpretive sign is in bad shape. The two roadside signs are in better shape.

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  Trees Growing out of Earthworks
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  Fort Totten Roadside Sign
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  Fort Totten Roadside Sign

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 531854

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Location: Maps & Images Lat: 38.947895 Long: -77.005191 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 318'

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, 140-141

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Totten
• NPS - Civil War Defenses of Washington
• Wikipedia - Fort Totten
• Dekester

Visited: 22 May 2013

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