Radnor - Fort Myer Heights in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Arlington Line

Historical Site

— Defenses of Washington 1861 - 1865 —

The Arlington Line Marker image. Click for full size.

February 2, 2008

1. The Arlington Line Marker

Inscription. Here the Arlington Line constructed in August, 1861, crossed the Georgetown-Falls Church road. 100 yards to the northwest stood Fort Morton, a lunette with a perimeter of 250 yards and emplacements for 17 guns; 200 yards to the southeast stood Fort Woodbury, a lunette with a perimeter of 275 yards and emplacements for 13 guns.

Erected 1965 by Arlington County, Virginia. (Marker Number 10.)

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 month for this entry is August 1861.

Location. 38° 53.495′ N, 77° 5.044′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Radnor - Fort Myer Heights. It is at the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and North Courthouse Road, in the median on Wilson Boulevard. Marker is located in an island between Wilson Boulevard west and Clarendon Boulevard east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arlington VA 22201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan

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Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 marker: Compassion (within shouting distance of this marker); First Federal Savings and Loan Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Investment Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Courthouse Neighborhood and Lawyer's Row (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arlington County Peace Officer Memorial (about 500 feet away); Fort Woodbury (about 700 feet away); Colonial Village (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Strong (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

More about this marker. In the center of

February 2, 2008

2. The Arlington Line Marker

View to the east.

the marker is a map of the Washington Defenses, with a red (weathered) arrow pointing out the location of The Arlington Line.

Additional commentary.
1. Fort Morton 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:

The site of Fort Morton is today on the grounds of Key Elementary School, near 16th Street and North Custis Road. The fort was named for Brig. Gen. St. Cair Morton, who was killed at Petersburg, Virginia on June 17, 1864. It was first built as a simple open battery between Forts Woodbury and Strong (DeKalb). After 1863 it was stockaded and enclosed.

The 250 yard perimeter allowed for 17 gun emplacements. Armament included six 12-pdr Napoleon guns. No records of the garrisoning units, but most likely detachments from nearby Forts Woodbury and Strong manned the works.

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

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2008. This page has been viewed 2,866 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2008. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.