Fortifications

Fort Strong (1861-1865) - A Union fortification established in 1861 during the U.S. Civil War as Fort DeKalb. Renamed after Major General George Crockett Strong, who was mortally wounded while leading a charge against Fort Wagner on Morris Island, Charleston Harbor, in July 1863..

Fort Strong was also one of 33 forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac River that made up an outer defense line for Washington DC known as the Arlington Line. Fort Strong was a lunette at the north end of the Arlington Line constructed in August 1861 to protect the Alexandria Canal and the Potomac River Aqueduct Bridge of the C&O Canal. The Potomac River Aqueduct Bridge connected the C & O Canal on the Washington side of the Potomac River with the Alexandria Canal on the Virginia side of the river. The bridge actually allowed the canal boats to cross the river and travel down the Virginia side to the Port of Alexandria.

Fort Strong had a perimeter of 318 yards and emplacements for 15 guns. Armament included seven 24-pdr guns, one 24-pdr field howitzer, four 30-pdr Parrott rifles, one 6-pdr gun, and two 10-inch mortars. ( Source - Wikipedia )