Fort Slemmer

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Fort Slemmer
Part of the Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Gate of Fort Slemmer
The gate of Fort Slemmer
Fort Slemmer is located in District of Columbia
Fort Slemmer
Fort Slemmer
Coordinates38°56′23.0″N 77°00′05.0″W / 38.939722°N 77.001389°W / 38.939722; -77.001389
TypeEarthwork fort
Site information
Controlled byUnion Army
ConditionResidential Area
Site history
Built1861
In use1861–1865
MaterialsEarth and timber
Demolished1865
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Fort Slemmer sometimes called Battery Slemmer was one of seven temporary earthwork forts part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington, DC 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.

Civil War

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 building. In February 1862, the 20th New York moved in the fort.[1]

The fort was equipped with the following armament:

The following troops garrisoned in the fort:

  • 20th New York
  • Several New Hampshire Heavy Artillery
  • 150th Ohio National Guard
  • Battery G, 3rd United States Artillery[1]

Post Civil War

The fort was abandoned at the end of the civil war in 1865.[2] It fell in disrepair after the war.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d The Defenses of Washington during the War - The Evening Star - Thursday, October 9, 1902 - page 21
  2. ^ a b Fortwiki - Fort Slemmer - http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Slemmer