Wash. DC Almost Invaded By 12,000 Troop Confed. Army: Battle of Ft. Stevens, NW, DC, July 1864

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- Battles of Monocacy & Fort Stevens - The Civil War Preview - Marc Leepson.

The Battle of Fort Stevens was an American Civil War battle fought July 11–12, 1864 in what is now Northwest Washington, DC, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 between forces under Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early and Union Major General Alexander McDowell McCook. Although Early caused consternation in the Union government, reinforcements under Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright and the strong defenses of Fort Stevens minimized the military threat, and Early withdrew after 2 days of skirmishing and had attempted no serious assaults. The battle is noted for stories that US President Abraham Lincoln observed the fighting..



- Fort Stevens, NW Wash., DC., the Defenses of Washington. 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Co. F.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Stevens_(Washington,_D.C.)

- Background: In June 1864, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early was dispatched by Gen. Robert E. Lee with the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Confederate lines around Richmond, Virginia, with orders to clear the Shenandoah Valley of Federals and, if practical, to invade Maryland; disrupt the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; and, if possible, threaten Washington, DC. The hope was that a movement into Maryland would force Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to send troops to defend Washington against the threat and reduce his strength to take the Confederate capital of Richmond.

.. The battle [of Monocacy] lasted from about 6 a.m. to around 4 p.m, but Early's corps ultimately drove off the small Union force, which was the only substantial Union army between it and the capital. Despite the Union loss, the battle cost Early precious time that would have been better spent in advancing the 40 mi toward Washington.

After the battle, Early resumed his march on Washington and arrived at its northeast border near Silver Spring at around noon on July 11. Because of the battle and then the long march through the stifling summer heat and unsure of the strength of the Union position in front of him, Early decided not to send his army against the fortifications around Washington until the next day...

More, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Stevens
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*Watch Video, Battle of Fort Stevens, Lincoln and the Defenses of Washington
https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=6328A4BC-921D-0835-E8B5253E9552512B
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- Good video. 'Three Minutes in History: Battle of Fort Stevens,' Chris Oxenford. Fought on July 11th and 12th 1864, the Battle of Fort Stevens was the last time the Confederates launched an invasion of the Northern States, the only time a US president has been under fire in a battle, and the only battle fought within the District of Columbia. Learn more about what happened at this important Civil War Battle.
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- The Civil War Defenses of Washington, Protecting The Capital From Attack, 1861-1865
https://democraticunderground.com/11631951



- Defenses of Washington, Fort Stevens, upper north section near Seventh St.