Fort Bayard, Civil War earthwork fort in Washington, D.C., United States
Fort Bayard is an earthen military fortification in northwestern Washington, D.C. located where River Road meets Western Avenue. The structure features defensive embankments and ditches built as part of the capital's ring of Civil War defenses.
The fort was built in 1862 during the Civil War and named after Brigadier General George Dashiell Bayard, who died at the Battle of Fredericksburg. It formed part of a larger defensive system protecting the capital from attacks from the south.
The site represents the military engineering methods of the 19th century and serves as a testament to the defensive strategies employed during the American Civil War.
The site today functions as a park with walking paths and informational markers maintained by the National Park Service. You can explore the earthworks and surroundings year-round without any special equipment or preparation.
The original landowner Philip J. Buckey received annual payments from the War Department while continuing to live in his farmhouse next to the fortification. This arrangement reveals how the military negotiated with private property owners during wartime.
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