Series: The Battle of Fort Stevens

On July 11 and 12, 1864, the nation's capital came under attack. Guns boomed in the northern suburbs as Confederate troops under Jubal Early probed Union defenses.

  • Rock Creek Park

    Article 1: The Fortifications of Washington

    Photograph of Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early

    On July 11 and 12, 1864, the nation's capital came under attack. Guns boomed in the northern suburbs as Confederate troops under Jubal Early probed Union defenses. Read more

  • Rock Creek Park

    Article 2: Early's Raid

    A Civil War Map Showing Fort DeRussy and the Other Defenses around Rock Creek.

    The defenses of Washington had been built during the early part of the war, when a Union defeat seemed a real possibility, but they saw no fighting until July 1864, when victory seemed close at hand Read more

  • Rock Creek Park

    Article 3: Remains of the Battle

    Painting of President Lincoln at Fort Stevens. Soldiers are loading cannons,

    In 2002 to 2006, the National Park Service undertook an archeological survey of Rock Creek Park. Until that time, most historians thought that little remained from the battle except part of Fort Stevens Read more