Fort Albany (1)

 (1861-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1861 in Arlington County, Virginia. Named Fort Albany after the state capital of New York. Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of Fort Albany
Fort Albany was constructed by New York Volunteer Troops supervised by Captain Barton S. Alexander, U.S. Corps of Engineers. The fort was built with a perimeter of 429 yards enclosing emplacements for 12 guns, magazines, embrasures and bombproofs. Armament included four 24 pounder siege guns, two 24 pounder howitzers, two 30 pounder Parrott rifles (4 vacant platforms).

A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Albany, Captain Rhodes commanding.–Garrison, one company First Massachusetts Volunteers–5 commissioned officers, 1 ordnance-sergeant, 145 men. Armament, two 24- pounder field howitzers, four 24-pounder siege, two 30-pounder Parrotts. Magazines, two; dry and in good order. Ammunition, full supply and in good condition. Implements, complete and in good order. Drill in artillery, fair. Drill in infantry, fair. Discipline, fair. Garrison of sufficient strength."

The fort was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Current Status
Marker only in Prospect Hill Park. Site destroyed for the construction of Shirley Highway in 1942.

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

Sources:
 * , page 801.
 * , page 90.

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Albany
 * Wikipedia - Fort Albany
 * HMDB - Fort Albany