Battery Garesché, Civil War fort in Fairlington, Arlington County, United States.
Battery Garesché is a former artillery fort in Arlington County built during the Civil War to support nearby defensive positions. The installation featured nine gun emplacements arranged across its grounds to control the surrounding terrain.
Union forces built Battery Garesché in 1861 to command elevated ground near Fort Reynolds and secure the surrounding area. The installation was named after Lieutenant Colonel Julius P. Garesché in 1863 to honor the Union officer.
The fortification represents an element of the 68 major enclosed forts and 93 artillery batteries that formed the defensive network around Washington DC.
Today only traces of this former military installation remain visible, located at the intersection of Abingdon Street and South 30th Road in the Fairlington neighborhood. Visitors should be prepared for minimal surviving structures, making prior research helpful before visiting the site.
Despite being located in Virginia, which belonged to the Confederacy at the time, Union forces managed to maintain continuous control of the installation throughout the war. This made it a valuable position for defending Washington DC.
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