Defenses North of the Potomac River

The Defenses North of the Potomac comprised the fortifications guarding the northern approaches to Washington DC along the Maryland Border, including the Eastern Branch Line (Anacostia River). In total, 28 major fortifications supported by numerous batteries and fully connected by earthworks comprised the Northern Defenses.

The Norther Defenses were enhanced in 1863. The fortifications were enlarged; auxiliary artillery were added; and large cannons were mounted, including the addition of 100-pounder Parrott rifles.

The names of the forts and batteries are listed below, includes sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The Civil War Defenses of Washington is program comprised of the three national parks (Rock Creek Park, National Capital Parks-East, and George Washington Memorial Parkway) containing Civil War earthworks in the National Capital Area (Region 1).

Northern Defenses

Northwest Quadrant

• Redoubt Cross (Maryland)

• Redoubt Kirby (Maryland)

• Fort Sumner (Maryland)

• Battery Alexander (Maryland)

• Fort Simmons (Maryland)

• Redoubt Davis (Maryland)

• Battery Benson (Maryland)

• Battery Bailey (Maryland)

• Fort Mansfield (Maryland)

• Battery Cameron

• Battery Parrott

• Battery Kemble (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Battery Martin Scott

• Battery Vermont

• Fort Bayard (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Fort Gaines

• Fort Reno (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Battery Rossell

• Fort Kearny

• Battery Terrill

• Battery Smeade

• Fort DeRussy (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Battery Kingsburg (Rock Creek Park NPS)

• Battery Sill (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Battert Left of Rock Creek (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Fort Stevens

Northeast Quadrant

• Fort Slocum (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Fort Totten (Rock Creek Park, NPS)

• Fort Slemmer

• Fort Bunker Hill (Rock Creek Pakr, NPS)

• Fort Saratoga

• Fort Thayer

• Fort Lincoln

Eastern Branch Line (Anacostia River)

• Fort Mahan (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Chaplin (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Meigs

• Fort Dupont (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Davis (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Baker

• Fort Wagner

• Battery Ricketts (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Stanton (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Snyder

• Fort Carroll (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

• Fort Greble (National Capital Parks-East, NPS)

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