Woodmont in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

REPLACED

CHECK OTHERS NEARBY

Fort C.F. Smith

Defending the Capital

February 2, 2008

1. Fort C.F. Smith Civil War Trails Marker

Inscription.

Fort C.F. Smith. Defending the Capital. , Fort C.F. Smith was constructed in early 1863 as part of the expansion and strengthening of the capital’s defenses that continued throughout the Civil War. With Forts Strong, Morton and Woodbury, Fort C.F. Smith formed the outer perimeter of the fortifications that protected the Aqueduct Bridge of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (located near the site of the present-day Francis Scott Key Bridge). Fort C.F. Smith was built as a lunette with a southern and western face and two flanks, as well as a cremaillere line on the north side to protect it from attack up the ravines from the river. A road that crossed Spout Run and proceeded up the hill to Fort Strong entered Fort C.F. Smith from the east. To provide clear lines of fire for this and adjacent forts, all of the trees for miles around were cut down, and much of the lumber was used in the construction of the fortifications and support structures., Fort C.F. Smith was built complete with barracks, mess halls, kitchens, officers’ quarters, a barn and a headquarters building. When the fort was decommissioned in 1865, all of these accessory buildings were removed. No visible above-ground evidence of these buildings remains today., (Sidebar): Charles Ferguson Smith was born in Philadelphia on April 24, 1807, and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1825. Later, while he was commandant there, two of his students were Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. Smith also fought in the Mexican War (1846-1848) and, after the outbreak of the Civil War, was promoted to brigadier general. On February 15, 1862, during Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s siege of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Smith’s division breached the defenses and prompted the Confederate surrender. When Grant was asked for terms, Smith suggested “unconditional and immediate surrender,” a phrase that made “Unconditional Surrender Grant” famous throughout the North. Smith, promoted to major general on March 21, 1862, temporarily commanded the army when Grant was accused of drunkenness. Smith died on April 25, 1862, after a seemingly minor non-combatant injury.

Fort C.F. Smith was constructed in early 1863 as part of the expansion and strengthening of the capital’s defenses that continued throughout the Civil War. With Forts Strong, Morton and Woodbury, Fort C.F. Smith formed the outer perimeter of the fortifications that protected the Aqueduct Bridge of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (located near the site of the present-day Francis Scott Key Bridge). Fort C.F. Smith was built as a lunette with a southern and western face and two flanks, as well as a cremaillere line on the north side to protect it from attack up the ravines from the river. A road that crossed Spout Run and proceeded up the hill to Fort Strong entered Fort C.F. Smith from the east. To provide clear lines of fire for this and adjacent forts, all of the trees for miles around were cut down, and much of the lumber was used in the construction of the fortifications and support structures.

Fort C.F. Smith was built complete with barracks, mess halls, kitchens, officers’ quarters, a barn and a headquarters building. When the fort was decommissioned in 1865, all of these accessory buildings were removed. No visible above-ground evidence of these buildings remains today.

(Sidebar): Charles Ferguson Smith was born in Philadelphia on April 24, 1807, and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1825. Later,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

while he was commandant there, two of his students were Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. Smith also fought in the Mexican War (1846-1848) and, after the outbreak of the Civil War, was promoted to brigadier general. On February 15, 1862, during Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s siege of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, Smith’s division breached the defenses and prompted the Confederate surrender. When Grant was asked for terms, Smith suggested “unconditional and immediate surrender,” a phrase that made “Unconditional Surrender Grant” famous throughout the North. Smith, promoted to major general on March 21, 1862, temporarily commanded the army when Grant was accused of drunkenness. Smith died on April 25, 1862, after a seemingly minor non-combatant injury.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

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 Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, the Defenses of Washington, the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1725.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 54.08′ N, 77°

Fort C.F. Smith Marker image. Click for full size.

February 2, 2008

2. Fort C.F. Smith Marker

Looking South

5.307′ W. Marker was in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It was in Woodmont. It could be reached from 24th Street North. Marker is in Fort C.F. Smith Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 2411 24th Street North, Arlington VA 22207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (about 800 feet away); The Dawson-Bailey House (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Dawson-Bailey Spring Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Bay-Eva Castle Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Strong (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Other markers no longer nearby. Fort C.F. Smith (was about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Fort C.F. Smith (was about 800 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. On the lower left of marker is a photo captioned "Fort C.F. Smith Headquarters, 2nd New York, August, 1865 -Courtesy Library of Congress" and on the upper right

Major General Charles F. Smith image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

3. Major General Charles F. Smith

Gen. Charles F. Smith, Died: April 25, 1862 of a foot infection he got in jumping from one boat to another in opening stages of Shiloh Campaign
Photo between 1860 and 1862

is a photo of Charles Ferguson Smith. The marker also features a sketch captioned "Barnard Sketch of Fort C.F. Smith" and a map captioned "Barnard topographic map showing northwest portions of the Arlington Line (1871).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker which had slightly different content.

Also see . . . Fort C.F. Smith Park Walking Tour. Arlington VA PDF file (Submitted on February 2, 2008.)

Fort C.F. Smith Headquarters 2nd New York, August 1865 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. Fort C.F. Smith Headquarters 2nd New York, August 1865

Officers of Companies K & L, 2d New York Heavy Artillery at Fort C.F. Smith
Photo by William Morris Smith

February 2, 2008

5. Fort Well

This shallow crater is the remains of a Civil War era well dug to provide water to the fort.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2008. This page has been viewed 3,090 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 2, 2008. 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on February 2, 2008. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.