Fort Gaines (4)

Fort Gaines (4) (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1861 in Washington DC. Named Fort Gaines in GO 18, 30 Sep 1861, possibly after Brigadier General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, War of 1812 Veteran. Fort abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Fort Gaines Officers of 55th New York Infantry

History of Fort Gaines

Established in August 1861 as a earthen fort with a perimeter of 171 yards and emplacements for six guns.

A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Gaines, Capt. Charles Maguire commanding.–Garrison, one company Seventh New York Heavy Artillery–5 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 146 men. Armament, five 32-pounder barbette, one 4 - inch (rifled). Magazines, one; dry and in good order. Ammunition, full supply and serviceable. Implements, complete and serviceable. Drill in artillery, ordinary; needs improving. Drill in infantry, indifferent; needs improving. Discipline, indifferent. Garrison is of sufficient strength."

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

Current Status

No remains, no markers.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1934375

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Location: Near Ward Circle on the grounds of American University, Washington DC. Maps & Images Lat: 38.93611 Long: -77.0875 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 387'

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 135.

Links:

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

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