Auxiliary Battery Marker

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McLean in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Auxiliary Battery
Fort Marcy, Virginia

Auxiliary Battery Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 24, 2007

1. Auxiliary Battery Marker

Inscription. An extensive line of rifle trenches connected the advance works of Fort Ethan Allen and Fort Marcy and extended to the west bank of the Potomac River. Auxiliary batteries for the field guns, strategically placed, provided additional strength to afford a full view of the fort.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Defenses of Washington marker series.

Location. 38° 56.086′ N, 77° 7.558′ W. Marker is in McLean, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker can be reached from George Washington Parkway, on the right when traveling west. Click for map. Located inside the Fort Marcy Park, at the western edge of the interior of the fort. The park is best reached from west bound George Washington Parkway, with no exits from the east bound lanes. Marker is in this post office area: Mc Lean VA 22101, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Marcy (within shouting distance of this marker); Pimmit Run and Chain Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Mouth of Pimmit Run (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chain Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Clay and Randolph Duel (approx. 0.7 miles away); A Canal Home (approx. 0.7 miles away in Maryland); Fort Ethan Allen (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Ethan Allen (approx. 0.9 miles away).

Engineering Diagram of Fort Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 24, 2007

2. Engineering Diagram of Fort

Notice the exterior portions of the fort extending to the west (into what is now part of a housing sub-division), and to the south towards Fort Ethan Allen (across present day George Washington Parkway). Additionally, the rear of the fort was screened by a line of works extending north, across the Georgetown and Leesburg Turnpike (Modern day Chain Bridge Road) to the banks of the Potomac.

More about this marker. An engineering diagram of the fort showing portions of the exterior works and auxiliary batteries is on the right side of the marker.

Also see . . . Fort Marcy. National Parks Service site. (Submitted on October 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Auxiliary Battery Marker Stands at the West Edge of the Fort Proper Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 24, 2007

3. Auxiliary Battery Marker Stands at the West Edge of the Fort Proper

Portions of the Exterior Works Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 24, 2007

4. Portions of the Exterior Works

These parallel the front of the fort itself, and would have been used by supporting infantry.

Credits. This page originally submitted on October 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 993 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.