“Four artillery pieces once stood here. Can you picture them overlooking the ravine?” We are standing at Rickett’s Battery. It’s a place with a story etched into its earthworks. Often called Fort Ricketts, this battery was vital to Washington D.C.’s Civil War defenses.
Rickett’s Battery was part of the Eastern Branch Line defenses. These protected the Anacostia River. Imagine this area bustling with soldiers. The battery guarded against Confederate advances. It stood a few hundred yards from Fort Stanton.
Its position was strategic. Rickett’s Battery covered a blind spot in the Eastern Branch Line. This blind spot was a deep ravine. The battery had a four-faced lunette shape. A stockade closed off the rear.
The battery also protected key bridges. These bridges crossed the Anacostia. One was at the Navy Yard. The other was at Benning’s Bridge. Rickett’s Battery helped secure the heights above the Navy Yard and Washington Arsenal.
It was named after Major General James B. Ricketts. He commanded a battery in 1861. It was known as Ricketts Battery. Ricketts faced Confederate capture during battle.
The battery’s perimeter stretched 123 yards. It housed 206 men. This included 42 artillerymen and 164 infantry soldiers. Think about the daily life here. Soldiers drilled, stood guard, and maintained their artillery.
After the Civil War, the U.S. Army decommissioned Rickett’s Battery. In September 1865, the government sought bids. These bids were for materials within the listed forts. Fort Ricketts was among them.
Government buildings at Ricketts were also sold. These included officers’ quarters. They measured 18 by 22 feet. There was a barracks measuring 20 by 50 feet. A mess hall stood at 16 by 50 feet. A long guard house also stood here.
Today, about 45 yards of the parapet still survives. The original length was 82 yards. As you walk here, consider the history beneath your feet. Rickett’s Battery played a crucial role in protecting Washington D.C. during a pivotal time in American history. Its legacy remains.