Article on Fort Ethan Allen in the America's Civil War magazine

[Emmanuel Dabney]

There is an article in July 2004's "America's Civil War" magazine on Washington D.C.'s Fort Ethan Allen written by Kim A. O'Connell. It and Fort Marcy protected the Chain Bridge into Washington and it and Fort Marcy according to the article "comprise the only strategic military sector that remains of Washington's defenses" (p. 35). There is currently a dog exercise arena in the interior of the fort. Local preservationists are arguing for the arena to be elsewhere and it is not on the National Register of Historic places. (p. 35).

[Dignann]

Re: Article on Fort Ethan Allen in the America's Civil War magazine

I haven't read the article yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Every once and a while, a Civil War period account surfaces that speaks to historic or battlefield preservation. One such account was penned by Nathaniel Hawthorne following a trip to the nation's capital during the first few months of 1862. Entitled "Chiefly About War Matters," Hawthorne's impressions were published in the July 1862 issue of Atlantic Monthly .

Hawthorne visited the forts around Washington and left this nice preservation message:

" We paid a visit to Fort Ellsworth, and from it ramparts (which have been heaped up out of the muddy soil within the last few months, and will require still a year or two to make them verdant) we had a beautiful view of the Potomac, a truly majestic river, and the surrounding country. The fortifications, so numerous in all this region, and now so unsightly with their bare, precipitous sides will remain as historic monuments, grass-grown and picturesque memorials of an epoch of terror and suffering: they will serve to make our country dearer and more interesting to us, and afford fit soil for poetry to root itself in: for this is a plant which thrives best in spots where blood has been spilt long ago, and grows in abundant clusters in old ditches, such as the moat around Fort Ellsworth will be a century hence. It may seem to be paying dear for what many will reckon but a worthless weed; but the more historical associations we can link with our localities, the richer will be the daily life that feeds upon the past, and the more valuable the things that have been long established: so that our children will be less prodigal than their fathers in sacrificing good institutions to passionate impulses and impracticable theories. This herb of grace, let us hope, may be found in the old footprints of the war."

Eric

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Article on Fort Ethan Allen in the America's Civil War magazine

I haven't read the article yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Every once and a while, a Civil War period account surfaces that speaks to historic or battlefield preservation. One such account was penned by Nathaniel Hawthorne following a trip to the nation's capital during the first few months of 1862. Entitled "Chiefly About War Matters," Hawthorne's impressions were published in the July 1862 issue of Atlantic Monthly .

Hawthorne visited the forts around Washington and left this nice preservation message:

" We paid a visit to Fort Ellsworth, and from it ramparts (which have been heaped up out of the muddy soil within the last few months, and will require still a year or two to make them verdant) we had a beautiful view of the Potomac, a truly majestic river, and the surrounding country. The fortifications, so numerous in all this region, and now so unsightly with their bare, precipitous sides will remain as historic monuments, grass-grown and picturesque memorials of an epoch of terror and suffering: they will serve to make our country dearer and more interesting to us, and afford fit soil for poetry to root itself in: for this is a plant which thrives best in spots where blood has been spilt long ago, and grows in abundant clusters in old ditches, such as the moat around Fort Ellsworth will be a century hence. It may seem to be paying dear for what many will reckon but a worthless weed; but the more historical associations we can link with our localities, the richer will be the daily life that feeds upon the past, and the more valuable the things that have been long established: so that our children will be less prodigal than their fathers in sacrificing good institutions to passionate impulses and impracticable theories. This herb of grace, let us hope, may be found in the old footprints of the war."

Eric

Eric,

Thanks for this...I always say in my tours at the battlefield that sure we may not have a lot of marble and concrete on the battlefield, but the earthworks are the monuments and testament to these people's ability as soldiers to sustain themselves. Glad to know Hawthorne that the same. I knew I always liked Young Goodman Brown...:-P

[dusty27]

Re: Article on Fort Ethan Allen in the America's Civil War magazine

Emmanual,

If you have some time, check out the local paper in Arlington to see what a devisive issue this dog park/historical fort is in the county.

http://www.sun-weekly.com/stories/commentaryindex.html

You can follow the story yourselves. Enjoy.