Fort Thayer

Fort Thayer (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1861 in Northeast Washington DC. Named Fort Thayer after Colonel Sylvanius Thayer, (Cullum 33), expert engineer known as the father of the United States Military Academy. Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Fort Thayer and Fort Saratoga Map

History of Fort Thayer

One of the ring of Union fortifications surrounding Washington DC during the U.S. Civil War, see Washington DC Fort Ring.

Established in 1861 as a lunette with a perimeter of 180 yards and emplacements for eight guns. Fort Thayer was situated between Fort Saratoga and Fort Lincoln in the defensive ring around Washington DC.

A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Thayer, Capt. H. D. Scott commanding. – Garrison, withdrawn; works guarded by Sixteenth Massachusetts Battery, from Camp Barry–1 ordnance-sergeant. Armament, four 24-pounder barbette, one 24-pounder siege, two 8-inch siege howitzers, one 24-pounder Coehorn mortar. Magazines, one: dry and in good order. Ammunition, full supply, well packed and in good order. Implements, complete and serviceable."

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

Current Status

No remains, no markers. Sources differ on the location, some locating in the fort in the wrong quadrant of the city (Roberts) and others clearly outside the fort ring perimeter (GNIS). The topography indicates the probable location is at the end of Thayer St. NE between 24th St. NE and 25th St. NE and Irving St. NE and this agrees with the location described in North American Forts listing.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 531065

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Location: In Northeast Washington DC. Maps & Images Lat: 38.928836 Long: -76.971674 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 75'

See Also:

• Fort Saratoga
• Fort Lincoln
• Fort Bunker Hill
• Washington DC Fort Ring
• Washington DC Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:

• Cooling, Benjamin F. III and Owen, Valton H. II, Mr. Lincoln's Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington, Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN 0810863073, ISBN 9780810863071, 334 pages.
• 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 140.
• NPS Civil War Defenses of Washington - Appendix E: General Reports About the Defenses

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Thayer

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