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Civil War Defenses of Washington Painting of man and canon at Fort Marcy.
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Civil War Defenses of Washington
Guarding the Chain Bridge
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ryan recounted his experiences as captain of the 141st Pennsylvania Volunteers in an article appearing in the Washington Post in 1902. His regiment’s mission was to guard the Chain Bridge from Confederate attack. Read this account of the hardships of military life which included civilian suits as uniforms (gray ones at that!), ammunition that did not fit, and exploding muskets. more….
 
historical sketch of soldiers guarding the chain bridge
Harper's Weekly, August 24, 1861
A view of the Chain Bridge from Battery Martin Scott

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Fort Stevens

Did You Know?
As early as the 1820s, free African Americans settled in a community called Vinegar Hill, an area now known as Brightwood. During the Civil War, Fort Stevens was built within Vinegar Hill boundaries and repulsed the only Confederate attack on the District of Columbia.
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Last Updated: August 23, 2007 at 10:52 MST