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.
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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
Some overgrown remains of the earthworks and two separate markers, one along Erie St. SE and one along Bruce Place SE near where the streets intersect Washington DC. The second marker on the Park side of the street along Bruce Place is set back from the road and is easy to miss. The GNIS map point seems to be way off for the fort location but may be accurate for a separate Battery Ricketts.
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2013820
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Location: In park near intersection of Erie St. SE and Bruce Place SE, Washington DC Maps & Images Lat: 38.857864 Long: -76.975483 |
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:
Visited: 22 May 2013
Fort Ricketts Picture Gallery
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