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

Fort Berry

Historical Site

— Defenses of Washington 1861 - 1865 —

Fort Berry Marker image. Click for full size.

February 2, 2008

1. Fort Berry Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Immediately to the west stood Fort Berry, a redoubt constructed in 1863 at the north flank of the defenses of Alexandria, but also flanking the Columbia Turnpike and the Arlington Line constructed in 1861. It had a perimeter of 215 yards and emplacements for 10 guns.

Erected 1965 by Arlington County, Virginia. (Marker Number 17.)

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 1863.

Location. 38° 51.307′ N, 77° 5.32′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Douglas Park. Marker is at the intersection of South Glebe Road (Virginia Route 120) and South Walter Reed Drive, on the right when traveling south on South Glebe Road. Marker is near South 17th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arlington VA 22204, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mt. Zion Baptist Church (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Roland Herman Bruner (approx. ¼ mile away);

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Travers Family Graveyard (approx. 0.3 miles away); Arlington Village (approx. 0.4 miles away); Macedonia Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Arlington Lodge 58 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Barnard (approx. half a mile away); Living and Learning (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

More about this marker. In the center of the marker is a map of the Washington Defenses, with a red (weathered) arrow pointing out the location of Fort Berry.

Additional commentary.
1. Fort Berry 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 Major General Hiram George Berry of the 4th Maine Infantry, killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 2, 1863. The fort stood at the intersection of 16th and Monroe Streets. The officers quarters stood near 3225 17th Street. Between Forts Barnard and Richardson, Fort Berry served to fill a gap in the defenses north of Four-Mile Run. Several entrenchments and two batteries covered the ground south of Fort Berry extending to Fort Barnard.

Within the 215 yard perimeter were 10 gun emplacements. Armament included two 8-inch howitzers and two

February 2, 2008

2. Fort Berry Marker

View to the south.

4.5in siege rifles. Units garrisoning the fort during the war included the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, the 136th and 142nd Ohio National Guard, and the 9th New York Artillery.

— Submitted February 4, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 16, 2008

3. Fort Berry Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2008. This page has been viewed 3,496 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2008. 3. submitted on June 16, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.