Fort Slemmer

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Fort Slemmer
Part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington
Brookland, Washington, D.C. [1]
Fort Slemmer Co. 32455v.jpg
The gate of Fort Slemmer
Site information
Type Earthwork fort
Owner Catholic University of America [1]
Controlled by Union Army (1861–1865)
Condition Traces of some earthworks [1]
Location
United States District of Columbia street 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Fort Slemmer
Coordinates 38°56′23″N77°00′05″W / 38.9397222°N 77.0013889°W / 38.9397222; -77.0013889 [2]
Area93-yard (85 m) perimeter [1]
Site history
Built1861
In use1862–1864 [3] [4]
MaterialsSoil and timber
DemolishedYes
Battles/wars Battle of Fort Stevens [1]
Garrison information
Garrison 2nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery [3] [4] [5]

Fort Slemmer sometimes called Battery Slemmer was one of seven temporary earthwork forts part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington, D.C., during the Civil War built in the Northeast quadrant of the city at the beginning of the Civil War by the Union Army to protect the city from the Confederate Army. From west to east, the forts were as follow: Fort Slocum, Fort Totten, Fort Slemmer, Fort Bunker Hill, Fort Saratoga, Fort Thayer and Fort Lincoln. Unlike other forts, today very little remains of the structure.

Contents

Civil War

Soldiers at gate of Fort Slemmer District of Columbia. Soldiers at gate of Fort Slemmer LOC cwpb.01508.jpg
Soldiers at gate of Fort Slemmer

The fort was named in honor of Lieutenant Adam J. Slemmer. It was built in August 1861 between Fort Totten and Fort Bunker Hill on the east side of Harewood Road just north of The Catholic University of America's Marist Hall. [1] In February 1862, the 20th New York moved in the fort. [6]

The fort was equipped with the following armament:

The following troops garrisoned in the fort:

Post Civil War

Eroded remnants of Civil War-era Fort Slemmer on the campus of Catholic University of America. Fort Slemmer remnants.jpg
Eroded remnants of Civil War-era Fort Slemmer on the campus of Catholic University of America.

The fort was abandoned at the end of the civil war in 1865. [7] It fell in disrepair after the war. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rice Scott, Sarah; Dobbs, Michael; Mazzenga, Maria. "A Historical Walking Tour of The Catholic University of America : The Civil War: Fort Slemmer". CUexhibits.WRLC.org. American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives. Catholic University of America . Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Fort Slemmer (historical)". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 18, 1979. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Cowan's Auctions. "Civil War Photograph of the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Fort Slemmer, by Brady". CowanAuctions.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  4. 1 2 National Park Service. "Union Pennsylvania Volunteers: 2nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (112th Volunteers)". NPS.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Fort Slemmer Co. and 2d Pennsylvania Artillery". LOC.gov. LCCN   2012646716 . Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 The Defenses of Washington during the War - The Evening Star - Thursday, October 9, 1902 - page 21
  7. 1 2 Fortwiki - Fort Slemmer - http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Slemmer
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