Near Fort Washington in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Caponiere

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

1. Caponiere Marker

Inscription. During the 1840s improvements were made to this wall, defensively the weakest part of the fort. The parapet was raised and an outer work, called a caponiere, was added. The protected passageway on your left will lead you to the outerwork that mounted four howitzers in the chamber ahead and two on the upper level. These weapons are no longer here but you will see the tracks they were mounted on. These traverse rails made it easy to position the howitzers for firing.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military.

Location. 38° 42.654′ N, 77° 2.077′ W. Marker is near Fort Washington, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker can be reached from Fort Washington Road, on the right when traveling south. Located in Fort Washington Park, at the entrance way to the caponiere. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13551 Fort Washington Road, Fort Washington MD 20744, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Water Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Shot and Shell (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cisterns (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Northwest Demi-Bastion (about 300 feet away); Counterscarp Battery

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(about 300 feet away); Minefields (about 300 feet away); Main Gateway (about 300 feet away); New Guns for an Old Fort (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Washington.

More about this marker. On the left side an overhead plan of the fort indicates the marker location. Below it an illustration shows The small room at the end of the outerwork served as the "sink," or latrine, for the troops. On the right another illustration depicts the caponiere armed with two howizters on the upper level. Below it, a depiction of a howitzer mounted in the lower level shows These 24-pounder howitzers were short ranged weapons used to protect the immediate area around the fort against land attack.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Washington. National Park Service site. (Submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Caponiere. The full military definition of caponiere with typical plans from military manuals of the time. (Submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Entrance to the Caponiere image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

2. Entrance to the Caponiere

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 7, 2013

3. Caponiere Marker

Caponiere Seen from the Rear Wall of the Fort image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

4. Caponiere Seen from the Rear Wall of the Fort

The ccaponiere sticks out of the fortification wall to provide a platform for heavy artillery covering the blind spots.

Pivot Points for the Howitzer in the Caponiere image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

5. Pivot Points for the Howitzer in the Caponiere

View of the Fort's Rear from the Caponiere image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

6. View of the Fort's Rear from the Caponiere

The firing angles covering the rear walls of the fort are apparent in this view.

24-pounder Flank Howitzer in the Caponiere image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

7. 24-pounder Flank Howitzer in the Caponiere

This 24-pounder Flank Howitzer mounted on a regulation flank carriage still covers the rear approaches to the fort from the lower level of the caponiere.

The Way out of the Caponiere image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 1, 2008

8. The Way out of the Caponiere

The long tunnel provided access to the lower level of the Caponiere.

24 Pounder Howitzers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 7, 2013

9. 24 Pounder Howitzers

These 24 pounder Howitzers were short range weapons used to protect the immediate area around the fort against land attack.Close-up of image on marke

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 7, 2013

10. The Sink

The small room at the end of the outerwork served as the "sink," or latrine, for the troops.Close-up of image on marker

The Door to the Sink image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 7, 2013

11. The Door to the Sink

inside the Caponiere

24 Pounder Howitzer image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 7, 2013

12. 24 Pounder Howitzer

Unmounted 24 Pounder Howitzer image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 7, 2013

13. Unmounted 24 Pounder Howitzer

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,443 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on July 26, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on July 26, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.