Frank Cooling and Wally Owen’s book on the ring of forts around Washington has been reissued. At $75 for the hardback the price is steep but it’s the definitive reference work on the 68 forts that protected the capitol during the war. If you’re DC area on the evening of Nov. 14 (between 6-8pm) you can have the authors sign a copy and get it for a discount ($70 hardback, $40 softback). The signing will be at Old Fort Ward in Alexandria, which is one of the few remaining forts.
TOCWOC readers can get the same discount by mail (the price includes shipping) by mailing a check payable to Fort Ward Museum. The offer is good until December 1.
Mr. Lincoln’s Forts
A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington
New Edition
Benjamin Franklin Cooling III and Walton H. Owen II
ISBN: 0-8108-6067-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8108-6067-4
Pub Date: Oct 28, 2009
334 pages
Binding: Paper
List Price: $50.00
List Price: $75.00
ISBN: 0-8108-6759-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8108-6759-8
Pub Date: Oct 28, 2009
334 pages
Binding: Cloth
During the American Civil War, Washington, D.C. was the most heavily fortified city in North America. As President Abraham Lincoln’s Capital, the city became the symbol of Union determination, as well as a target for Robert E. Lee’s Confederates. As a Union army and navy logistical base, it contained a complex of hospitals, storehouses, equipment repair facilities, and animal corrals. These were in addition to other public buildings, small urban areas, and vast open space that constituted the capital on the Potomac.
To protect Washington with all it contained and symbolized, the Army constructed a shield of fortifications: 68 enclosed earthen forts, 93 supplemental batteries, miles of military roads, and support structures for commissary, quartermaster, engineer, and civilian labor force, some of which still exist today. Thousands of troops were held back from active operations to garrison this complex. And the Commanders of the Army of the Potomac from Irvin McDowell to George Meade, and informally U.S. Grant himself, always had to keep in mind their responsibility of protecting this city, at the same time that they were moving against the Confederate forces arrayed against them. Revised in style, format, and content, the new edition of Mr. Lincoln’s Forts is the premier historical reference and tour guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Benjamin Franklin Cooling III is a well-known Civil War historian who has authored many publications in that field, as well as in military and naval history.
Walton H. Owen II is the Assistant Director and Curator at the Fort Ward Museum, one of the most significant of the sites discussed in this book. He has served as the historic site administrator at Fort C.F. Smith Park & Historic Site, Arlington, VA and as the National Archives’ Museum Specialist on the staff of the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff.
UPDATE: I have added links to two flyers regarding the book. Both are in PDF format.
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