Fort Williams was a

timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...

and earthwork

fortification A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Lati ...

constructed in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...

as part of the defenses of

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

History

Fort Williams was named for Thomas Williams who was killed at Baton Rouge on August 5, 1862. Built in the weeks following the Union defeat at Bull Run, Fort Williams was situated on north of Hunting Creek and Cameron Run, (which feeds into it), near

Vaucluse Vaucluse (; or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.

. From its position on

Quaker Lane State Route 402 (SR 402) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Quaker Lane, the state highway runs from SR 420 north to Interstate 395 at Shirlington Circle within the independent city of Alexandria. Route des ...

, one of the points west of Alexandria, the fort overlooked the

Orange and Alexandria Railroad The Orange and Alexandria Railroad (O&A) was a railroad in Virginia, United States. Chartered in 1848, it eventually extended from Alexandria, Virginia, Alexandria to Gordonsville, Virginia, Gordonsville, with another section from Charlottesville ...

, the

Little River Turnpike State Route 236 (SR 236) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 29 in Virginia, U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 50 in Virginia, US 50 in Fairfax, Virginia, Fairfax east to Virginia State ...

, and the western approaches to the city of Alexandria which is the largest settlement in Union-occupied Northern Virginia. Built by the

2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment (originally raised as the 19th Connecticut Infantry) was a volunteer infantry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. History The 19th Connecticut Infantry was muster ...

, Fort Williams had a perimeter of 250 yards, and space for 13 guns. The Fort is now located in the backyard of a property in the Seminary Ridge neighborhood. Portions are also included in a

city park, at 501 Fort Williams Parkway.Parks E-H , Recreation , City of Alexandria, VA
/ref> A small cemetery with the gravesites of several Union soldiers was located in the woods off the southeast corner of Seminary Road and Fort Williams Parkway. The graves were not well known and were desecrated when homes were built on that plot in the mid-1980s. Among those stationed at the fort during the war was

George Tryon Harding George Tryon Harding (June 12, 1843 – November 19, 1928), known as Tryon Harding (often misspelled "Tyron"), was an American physician and businessman who is best known as the father of Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the United States. ...

, father of

Warren G. Harding Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he was one of the most ...

, who spent time there in 1864. FortWilliamsEntrance_01.jpg Fort_Williams_at_212_Quaker_Lane.jpg Drawings of Fort Williams at 212 Quaker Lane.png Drawings of Fort Williams at 212 Quaker Lane with magazine.png FortWilliamsHistoricalSite.png

References

External links

U.S. National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all national parks; most national monuments; and other natural, historical, and recreational p ...

br>Historic Resource Study of the Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C.Fort Williams Park
- City of Alexandria Government buildings completed in 1861 Military installations established in 1861 Williams Williams Buildings and structures in Alexandria, Virginia Parks in Alexandria, Virginia 1861 establishments in Virginia 1865 disestablishments in Virginia Military installations closed in 1865 {{AmericanCivilWar-stub