Seminary Hill in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Fort Ward
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008
1. Fort Ward Marker
Defenses of Washington
1861-1865
Fort Ward
Here stands Fort Ward, constructed in 1861 to protect the approaches to Alexandria by Little River Turnpike and Leesburg Turnpike. In 1864, the fort was enlarged to a perimeter of 818 yards with 36 gun emplacements. The fort has been preserved by the City of Alexandria.
Erected by Civil War Round Table of Alexandria.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Defenses of Washington series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 38° 49.741′ N, 77° 6.153′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Seminary Hill. Marker is on West Braddock Road (County Route 420). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4301 West Braddock Road, Alexandria VA 22304, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Entrance Gate to Fort Ward/Officers' Hut (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fort Ward (within shouting distance of this marker); African Americans and the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Fort" and "Seminary" Community (about 300
this page online
More about this marker. In the center of the marker is a map of the Washington Defenses, with a red dot indicating the location of Fort Ward.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Fort Ward Virtual Tour by Markers
Also see . . .
1. Fort Ward Historic Site. (Submitted on May 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. "A Tale of Two Communities And of How the Tale Gets Told." Washington Post March 15, 2009.
Article by Marc Fisher: "...residents trying to do what the city never did -- learn about those who lost out when Alexandria took these 44 acres across Braddock Road from Episcopal High School, reconstructed the old fort and made a park out of someone else's neighborhood. Now the city of Alexandria is trying to figure out Fort Ward's future: Should
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008
2. Fort Ward Marker
Additional commentary.
1. Fort Ward Particulars
From Mr. Lincoln's Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington, by Benjamin Franklin Cooling III and Walton H. Owen II:
Named for Commander James Harmon Ward, killed in action at Mathias Point, on the Potomac River, June 27, 1861 (the first Federal naval officer killed in the war). The fort was started in September 1861.
Originally the perimeter was 540 yards. Armament was five 32-pdr guns, six 24-pdr guns, and seven 10-pdr Parrott rifles. By December 1862, an additional battery of two 100-pdr Parrott Rifles was added. In January 1864, the fort was extended again, out to a perimeter of 818 yards. The armament was then listed as five 32-pdr guns, six 24-pdr guns, six 12-pdr guns, five 6-pdr guns, one 100-pdr Parrott, five 4.5in Ordnance rifles, one 10-pdr Parrott, seven 8-in siege mortars, and one 24-pdr Coehorn Mortar. Lastly, in February
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008
3. Entrance to Fort Ward Park
During the war, units garrisoning the fort included the 15th New York Engineers, 40th New York Infantry, 2nd New York Light Artillery, 3rd Battalion New York Artillery, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery (Companies L, C, F, and M), 166th Ohio National Guard (Companies B and C), Battery F Independent Pennsylvania Artillery, 1st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, 4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery (Companies F and M), 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (Companies C and M), 1st West Virginia Light Artillery (Battery C), and 13th New Jersey Infantry.
— Submitted March 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Additional keywords. James Harman Ward, U.S. Navy
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008
4. Fort Ward Interior
Part of the preserved and reinforced portion of Fort Ward.
5. Fort Ward
An undated photo shows a house at Fort Ward in Alexandria, one of the many demolished when the city bought the land in the 1960s. (Washington Post. Courtesy Of The Office Of Historic Alexandria)
Photographed By Wikipedia
6. James H. Ward, USN (1806-1861)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,411 times since then and 179 times this year. Last updated on March 24, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 29, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6. submitted on March 24, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.
