Fort Bennett (3)

Fort Bennett (3) (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1861 in present day Arlington County, Virginia. Named Fort Bennett in G.O. 18, 30 Sep 1861, after Captain Michael P. Bennett, 28th New York Infantry, who supervised construction of the fort. Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war. History of Fort Bennett One of the ring of Union fortifications surrounding Washington DC during the U.S. Civil War, see Washington DC Fort Ring. Fort Bennett was also one of 33 forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac River that made up an outer defense line for Washington DC known as the Arlington Line. Washington Defenses at the Aqueduct Bridge Established in May 1861 as a small enclosed earthwork of Fort Corcoran with a perimeter of 146 yards and emplacements for five guns. Armament included two 8" howitzers and three 24 pounder cannons. A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Bennett, Major Maguire commanding.–Garrison, one company Second New York Heavy Artillery–2 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 117 men. Armament, three 24- pounder siege guns and two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers. Magazine., one; leaks in places. Ammunition, full supply and serviceable. Implements, complete and serviceable. Drill in artillery, fair. Drill in infantry, fair. Discipline, fair. Garrison sufficient for the work." The fort was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war. Current Status No remains, marker only in Arlington County, Virginia. Location: Near Fort Bennett Park in Arlington County, Virginia. Map point is approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 38.90025 Long: -77.07863 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....' See Also: Arlington Line - U.S. Civil War Washington DC Fort Ring Washington DC Defense System - U.S. Civil War Sources: Cooling, Benjamin F. III and Owen, Valton H. II, Mr. Lincoln's Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington, Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN 0810863073, ISBN 9780810863071, 334 pages, page 114-115. Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 803. Links: North American Forts - Fort Bennett HMDB - Fort Bennett Visited: No