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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Northwest in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic) |
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Lincoln Under Fire at Fort Stevens
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By Steve Fernie, August 5, 2006 | |
| | | 1. Lincoln Under Fire at Fort Stevens Marker | | |
Inscription. July 12, 1864.
Erected 1920 by The Associated Survivors Sixth Army Corps, Washington, D.C.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Defenses of Washington, and the Markers with Artwork marker series.
Location. 38° 57.87′ N, 77° 1.746′ W. Marker is in Northwest, District of Columbia, in Washington. Marker can be reached from 13th Street, N.W. near Fort Stevens Drive, N.W. Click for map. It is located within the reconstructed Fort Stevens just to the north of the flag pole. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20011, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Scale Model of Fort Stevens (a few steps from this marker); Fort Stevens (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fort Stevens (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); “Get Down You Fool” (about 300 feet away); Aunt Betty's Story (about 400 feet away); The Rock on Brightwood Avenue (about 400 feet away); A Streetcar Named Brightwood (about 800 feet away); Build It And They Will Come (approx. 0.2 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Northwest.| | | | 
By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007 | |
| | | 2. Marker on the Parapet of Fort Stevens | | |
Regarding Lincoln Under Fire at Fort Stevens. Fort Stevens was one of the ring of forts that defended Washington during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln came out from the city to Fort Stevens to watch the VI Army Corps repulse the Confederates, who were under the command of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early. This fight was the closest Confederates got to Washington during the War Between the States. Lincoln himself came under fire from Confederate sharpshooters. The bas-relief on this marker depicts this close call.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Stevens. Page from Mr. Lincoln’s White House website. (Submitted on March 21, 2007.)
2. A Tour of Associated Civil War Sites in Northern Washington, D.C. (Submitted on August 5, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Self Guided Tours of Fort Stevens. The National Park Service offers these podcasts to aid tours of Fort Stevens and related sites. (Submitted on January 31, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Additional comments.
1. Sharpshooters firing on Lincoln
On the grounds of Walter Reed Army Medical Center is a plaque which claims to be the site of a “Sharpshooter’s Tree.” Legend has it a very tall tulip tree afforded several Confederates cover from which to fire upon the Fort Stevens works, in particular President Lincoln, who insisted on observing the fighting over the protests of the officers present.| | | | 
By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007 | |
| | | 3. Marker and Cannon | | Parrott rifled cannon stand guard over Fort Stevens today. | | |
— Submitted August 5, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
2. General Jubal Early’s Comments
The Confederate commander, General Jubal Early, recognized Fort Stevens was too strong for his forces to break and retreated the next day. To his staff, he remarked, “We didn’t take Washington, but we scared Abe Lincoln like hell.” — Submitted August 5, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
3. The Young Oliver Wendell Holmes and President Lincoln
One of the vignettes often told concerning Fort Stevens centers upon Lincoln's visit while the Confederates were skirmishing in front of the earthworks. The story goes that President Lincoln was so taken by the scene of battle he stood upon the parapet of the fort, with trademark stovepipe hat, while Confederate sharpshooters were firing upon the soldiers in the fort. Lincoln seemed oblivious to the danger, even as several men nearby were hit by enemy fire. A young Captain Oliver Wendall Holmes finally exclaimed, "Get down, you fool!" Lincoln soon obliged, but later commented to the future Supreme Court Justice, "It is good to see you know how to talk to civilians." The full accuracy of the story is open for some debate, but is presented and annotated on Mr. Lincoln's White House Website (Link 1).| | | | 
By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007 | |
| | | 4. The Glasis, Ditch, and Parapet of Fort Stevens in Profile | | The marker can be seen on the right, atop the parapet. | | |
— Submitted October 14, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
4. Dedication of Lincoln Under Fire Boulder
The boulder marking the spot where Lincoln stood (not the plaque which came later) was dedicated on November 7, 1911. At that dedication ceremony, Louisiana congressman Floyd King, who had been an artillerist serving with General Early, spoke. He went to lengths to praise the work of President Lincoln, going to the point of stating he was glad the Confederate attack had failed. Certainly an interesting perspective coming from a Confederate veteran. — Submitted October 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. |
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By Steve Fernie, August 5, 2006 | |
| | | 5. The Reconstructed Fort Stevens | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on March 21, 2007, by Steve Fernie of Arlington, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,914 times since then. This page was the Marker of the Week October 14, 2007. Photos: 1. submitted on March 21, 2007, by Steve Fernie of Arlington, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 5, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on August 5, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 21, 2007, by Steve Fernie of Arlington, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
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