Arlington Line
Encyclopedia
The Arlington Line was a series of fortifications erected in present-day Arlington County, Virginia
, to protect the City of Washington
during the American Civil War
.
Just across the Potomac River
from the Union
capital, Confederate
Virginia
was a major Union concern when the war began. In May 1861, federal troops seized much of present-day Arlington County (which borders the Potomac), and immediately began constructing an extensive network of fortifications to protect Washington. That network eventually became known as the Arlington Line. The pace of construction accelerated after the Confederacy defeated the Union at the First Battle of Bull Run
in July 1861.
The Arlington Line was quite strategically effective. It was never attacked, even after the Union's disastrous defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run
in August 1862.
Major D.P. Woodbury was the Union engineer who designed and constructed the Arlington Line, and one of its forts, Fort Woodbury
(which once stood in what is today Arlington's Courthouse neighborhood
), was named for him.
Historical markers showing the locations of each of the former Arlington Line fortifications and providing brief descriptions of each can be found throughout Arlington County. For more information, see the External Links.
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, to protect the City of Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Just across the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
capital, Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
was a major Union concern when the war began. In May 1861, federal troops seized much of present-day Arlington County (which borders the Potomac), and immediately began constructing an extensive network of fortifications to protect Washington. That network eventually became known as the Arlington Line. The pace of construction accelerated after the Confederacy defeated the Union at the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
in July 1861.
The Arlington Line was quite strategically effective. It was never attacked, even after the Union's disastrous defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
in August 1862.
Major D.P. Woodbury was the Union engineer who designed and constructed the Arlington Line, and one of its forts, Fort Woodbury
Fort Woodbury
Fort Woodbury was part of the Arlington Line, an extensive network of fortifications erected in present-day Arlington County, Virginia to protect Washington, D.C. from Confederate attack during the American Civil War...
(which once stood in what is today Arlington's Courthouse neighborhood
Courthouse, Virginia
Courthouse is a transit-oriented neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia. It is home to the Court House stop on the Orange Line of the Washington Metro....
), was named for him.
Historical markers showing the locations of each of the former Arlington Line fortifications and providing brief descriptions of each can be found throughout Arlington County. For more information, see the External Links.