Fort Ricketts

Fort Ricketts (1861-186?) - Fort Ricketts 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. Probably named for Captain James B. Ricketts, who was wounded and captured at the First Manassas Battle during the U.S. Civil War. Abandoned in 186?. Also known as Battery Ricketts.

Fort Ricketts History

Built out as a small earthworks fort with a 123 yard perimeter and equipped with four guns. The fort was designed to sweep a steep ravine in front of Fort Stanton (2). When the buildings inside the fort were sold off at the end of the war, four buildings remained, officer's quarters, a barracks, a mess hall and a long guard house.

Current Status

Washington DC

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2013820

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Location: Washington DC Maps & Images Lat: 38.8563889 Long: -76.975 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 276'

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 138

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Ricketts
• NPS - Fort Ricketts

Visited: 22 May 2013

Fort Ricketts Picture Gallery

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