News Release

Commemorate the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens with the National Park Service on July 13

Living historians fire cannons at the 150th commemoration of the Battle of Fort Stevens.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: June 25, 2019

Contact: Katie Liming, 202-619-7156

Join the National Park Service to commemorate the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens on July 13, 2019 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. The anniversary program is free and open to all ages. Fort Stevens, located in northwest Washington, D.C., is one of 17 remaining Civil War fort sites encircling the nation’s capital.  

The day-long event will begin with a 10 a.m. commemorative program of invited historians, storytellers and a keynote address from Professor Jonathan Noyalas, Director of the McCormick Civil War Institute. The event will also include a performance by the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices.  

An afternoon of interactive activities for the entire family includes living history demonstrations, cannon and musket firings, live period music, 19th century children’s games and crafts, NPS’ Junior Ranger activities, history talks, a guided battlefield walk from Fort Stevens to Walter Reed National Medical Cemetery and a closing memorial ceremony at the Battleground National Cemetery.
 
The event commemorates the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens. In spring
1864, Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered a force under the command of
General Jubal Early to move north, clear Federal troops occupying the Shenandoah Valley, advance deep into Federal territory and threaten Baltimore and Washington, D.C. After advancing 300 miles over the span of a month, Early’s force numbering around 10,000 men arrived in Washington on July 11,1864. Explore five stories about Fort Stevens.

A network of earthen fortifications bristling with large-caliber cannons awaited them. Could Early breach the defenses and march into our nation’s capital before Union reinforcements arrived? Learn more as the National Park Service commemorates the 155th anniversary of the only Civil War battle that took place within Washington, D.C.

Duration:

2 minutes, 5 seconds

An overview of the Civil War Defenses of Washington, the roles of Fort Stevens and other forts in the Civil War, and how park visitors can experience these places today.