Fort Corcoran

Officers of the 69th New York at Fort Corcoran Officers of the 69th New York at Fort Corcoran pose for a photograph Source: Library of Congress

Established in May 1861 as a bastioned earthwork by Colonel Michael Corcoran and the 69th New York.

Fort Corcoran was one of 33 forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac River that formed the Arlington Line, an outer defense line for Washington DC.

Colonel Michael Corcoran and the 69th New York established Fort Corcoran in May 1861 as a bastioned earthwork. The fort had a perimeter of 576 yards and included twelve gun emplacements and three magazines.

The fort was strategically constructed on the Virginia side of the Potomac to guard the approaches to the Aqueduct Bridge, and it was one of the first Union forts in the area.

President Abraham Lincoln often visited the Fort Corcoran to meet the troops stationed there.

In July 1861, an official report revealed that Fort Corcoran had more than the initially planned 12 guns and 180 artillerymen. The armaments included twelve 8" seacoast howitzers, seven 24-pounder barbette guns, two 12-pounder field guns, and two 24-pounder howitzers.

The post was manned by over 200 artillerymen, although the total garrison size was intended to be around 800. The armament and garrison size saw significant fluctuations throughout the war years, with many units cycling through the post.

A 17 May 1864 report from the Union Inspector of Artillery noted the following: "Fort Corcoran, Lieut. Col. J. Palmer commanding.–Garrison, three companies Second New York Heavy Artillery–1 lieutenant-colonel, 8 commissioned officers, 396 men, 1 ordnance- sergeant. Armament: two 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, two 12-pounder heavy guns, four 12-pounder light Napoleons, and three 10-pounder Parrotts. Magazines, three; two serviceable, one unserviceable and being repaired. Ammunition, full supply, and serviceable. Implements, full sets, and serviceable. Drill in artillery, very ordinary; wants improving much. Drill in the infantry is deficient; fault is in the officer in command, but little attention seems to have been given to improvement. Discipline, low state; shows inefficiency in the command. Garrison is amply sufficient."

Fort Corcoran was also the headquarters of the Union Army Balloon Corps from 1861 to 1863 under Thaddeus S. C. Lowe.

After the war, Fort Corcoran was a storage facility for artillery from other closed forts. It remained operational until 1866, guarded by the 107th U.S. Colored Infantry (USCT).