Fort Munson

 (1861-1865) - A U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1861 by Confederate forces in Fairfax County, Virginia. Named Fort Munson after Daniel O. Munson, owner of the property. Abandoned in 1865.

History of Fort Munson


Established in July 1861 after the Union loss at the First Battle of Manassas as a Confederate earthworks fort at the top of Munson's Hill in present day Fairfax County. The fort had a direct overview of Bailey’s Crossroads directly below it which remained in Union hands. The fort also had a direct view into the city of Washington DC and the Confederates raised a large Confederate flag high over the post in plain view of the residents of Washington. Also in plain view were a number mounted cannon and a lot of activity around the post night and day.

As Union forces regrouped the Confederates abandoned Fort Munson on 28 Sep 1861. Union forces occupied the fort and discovered that the cannons were fakes made from logs and known as Quaker Cannons. Union forces occupied the fort until the end of the war in 1865.

Current Status
No remains and no markers found. The site is said to be at the highest point on Munson Hill now over built with modern buildings.

See Also:
 * Fort Ramsay
 * Fort Buffalo
 * Arlington Line - U.S. Civil War
 * Washington DC Fort Ring
 * Washington DC Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Munson
 * Wikipedia - Munson Hill
 * Civil War Blog - All Not So Quiet Along the Potomac