Fort Wagner (2)

Fort Wagner (2) (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1861 in Washington DC. Abandoned in 1865. Also known as Fort Good Hope.

History of Fort Wagner

Established in 1861 as an earthen fort with a perimeter of 166 yards and emplacements for five guns. Fort Wagner was a battery intended to sweep the valley through which the road leads up the heights.

A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Wagner, Lieut. Lewis R. Whittaker commanding. – Garrison, one company Twelfth Unattached Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers–1 commissioned officer, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 32 men. Armament, three 12-pounder field guns, one 8-inch siege howitzer, one Coehorn mortar. Magazines, one; dry and serviceable. Ammunition, full supply and serviceable. Implements, complete and serviceable. Drilled but little at artillery and infantry; not much efficiency."

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

Current Status

No remains, no marker.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 531578

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Location: Near Alabama Ave., Good Hope Road, and 25th Street, Washington DC. Maps & Images Lat: 38.86 Long: -76.96972 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 279'

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 141.

Links:

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

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