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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Fort Washington in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic) |
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Caponiere
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By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 1. Caponiere Marker | | |
Inscription. During the 1840s improvements were made to this wall, defensively the weakest part of the fort. The parapet was raised and an outer work, called a caponiere, was added. The protected passageway on your left will lead you to the outerwork that mounted four howitzers in the chamber ahead and two on the upper level. These weapons are no longer here but you will see the tracks they were mounted on. These traverse rails made it easy to position the howitzers for firing.
Location. 38° 42.654′ N, 77° 2.077′ W. Marker is near Fort Washington, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker can be reached from Fort Washington Road, on the right when traveling south. Click for map. Located in Fort Washington Park, at the entrance way to the caponiere. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13551 Fort Washington Road, Fort Washington MD 20744, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Water Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Shot and Shell (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cisterns (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); The Northwest Demi-Bastion (about 300 feet away); Counterscarp Battery (about 300 feet away); Minefields (about 300 feet away); Main Gateway (about 300 feet away); New Guns for an Old Fort (about 400 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Fort Washington. | | | | 
By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 2. Entrance to the Caponiere | | |
More about this marker. On the left side an overhead plan of the fort indicates the marker location. Below it an illustration shows The small room at the end of the outerwork served as the "sink," or latrine, for the troops. On the right another illustration depicts the caponiere armed with two howizters on the upper level. Below it, a depiction of a howitzer mounted in the lower level shows These 24-pounder howitzers were short ranged weapons used to protect the immediate area around the fort against land attack.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Washington. National Park Service site. (Submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Caponiere. The full military definition of caponiere with typical plans from military manuals of the time. (Submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
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By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Caponiere Seen from the Rear Wall of the Fort | | The ccaponiere sticks out of the fortification wall to provide a platform for heavy artillery covering the blind spots. | | |
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By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 4. Pivot Points for the Howitzer in the Caponiere | | |
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By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 5. View of the Fort's Rear from the Caponiere | | The firing angles covering the rear walls of the fort are apparent in this view. | | |
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By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 6. 24-pounder Flank Howitzer in the Caponiere | | This 24-pounder Flank Howitzer mounted on a regulation flank carriage still covers the rear approaches to the fort from the lower level of the caponiere. | | |
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By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008 | |
| | | 7. The Way out of the Caponiere | | The long tunnel provided access to the lower level of the Caponiere. | | |
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| Credits. This page originally submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 443 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
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