Fort Stevens wayside marker

The Fort Stevens wayside marker is at Fort Stevens, one of the fortifications in the Defenses of Washington administered by Rock Creek Park under the National Park Service.

Fort Stevens wayside marker

Text from the marker

Fort Stevens

“We haven’t taken Washington, but we scared Abe Lincoln like hell!”
 – General Jubal Anderson Early

Built between 1861-1863 this structure was originally called Fort Massachusetts and guarded the northern defenses of the nation’s capital during the Civil War. On July 11-12, 1864 Fort Stevens defended the city from a Confederate attack under the command of General Jubal Anderson Early. During the battle, President Abraham Lincoln came under direct fire from Confederate sharpshooters while he witnessed the battle from the parapet of the fort. The Battle of Fort Stevens marks the only time in American history that a seated President came under direct fire from an enemy combatant during a time of war.

Fort Stevens was named after General Isaac Ingalls Stevens. General Stevens was killed on September 2, 1862 during the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia.

From the sidebar on the right

In order to construct Fort Stevens, the home of the original property owner, Elizabeth Thomas was destroyed.

Caption to the small photograph at center right

3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery at Fort stevens 1865

Caption for the main background illustration

Illustration of President Lincoln on the parapet of Fort Stevens

Closeup of the Fort Stevens wayside marker

Enlargement of the photo on the right center

photo of the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery at Fort Stevens in 1865

Location of the marker

The marker is at Fort Stevens Park in northern Washington D.C. near the corner of 13th Street NW and Quackenbos Street NW. It is on the east side of the park not far behind the embankment that is the north wall of the fort. (38°57’52.0″N 77°01’44.1″W)