ORANGE & ALEXANDRIA RR - CIVIL WAR DEFENSES
Source:
Mr. Lincoln’s Forts- A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington by B. Franklin Cooling
By the end of 1863, 60 forts, 93 batteries, 837 guns encircled
the city. 23,000 men were in position to protect Washington, D.C.
Page 14
“a connected system of fortification at 800 to 1000 yard intervals occupied by an enclosed fort.”
“Every important approach or depression uncovered by the forts was swept by a battery of field guns. Rifle pits, finishing emplacement for two ranks of men, connected the whole perimeter.”
In May 1864, Grant’s Army of the Potomac, which was moving South,
“required all available reinforcements to fill depleted ranks. Washington’s forts were stripped of able bodied men and disciplined infantry. Semi- invalid ,veteran reserves took their place on guard duty.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Compiled by Mary Lipsey
Sources: www.CivilWarArchive.com
National Archives Records Administration
The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion
Defending the Orange and Alexandria Railroad
105th Pennsylvania Regiment Infantry- until March 1862
16th Regiment Cavalry New York “Sprague Light Cavalry”
June 1863 until June 1865
Duty in and covering defenses of Washington, D.C. against guerrillas
1864 – Centreville June 24
Annandale June 26
Burke Station July 29
Fairfax Station August 4-7
Annandale August 14
Annandale August 24
Fairfax Station September 17
155th New York Volunteer Infantry “ Corcoran’s Irish Legion”
almost all Irish immigrants raised in Buffalo NY late 1862
July 10, 1863 for ten months engaged in guard duty along Orange and Alexandria Railroad -Fending off Cavalry raids including Mosby’s Rangers
December 1863 Confederate General Thomas Rosser entire cavalry brigade attacked a railroad bridge (about 1,000 men) guarded by estimated 70 men of Company I. Rebels withdrew after a fierce fight, although greatly outnumbering the men of the 155th.
4th Regiment Infantry Delaware
Organized at Wilmington, Delaware June to November 1862
Moved to defense of Washington, D.C. July 8-14, 1863
Centreville and Fairfax Station until October 1863
Guard Orange and Alexandria Railroad until November 16
Ordered to Delaware November 16
Duty in District of Alexandria, VA until May 1864
157th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
Organized at Philadelphia October 1862 to February 1863
Moved to the defenses of Washington, D.C. until May 1864
Attached to Tyler’s Division, 22nd Corps
168th Regiment Infantry “19th State Militia Infantry” New York
Organized at Newburg New York and mustered in February 11,1863
July 14-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, VA
Guard Duty along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad until October 1863 when mustered out
Source:
Mr. Lincoln’s Forts- A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington by B. Franklin Cooling
By the end of 1863, 60 forts, 93 batteries, 837 guns encircled
the city. 23,000 men were in position to protect Washington, D.C.
Page 14
“a connected system of fortification at 800 to 1000 yard intervals occupied by an enclosed fort.”
“Every important approach or depression uncovered by the forts was swept by a battery of field guns. Rifle pits, finishing emplacement for two ranks of men, connected the whole perimeter.”
In May 1864, Grant’s Army of the Potomac, which was moving South,
“required all available reinforcements to fill depleted ranks. Washington’s forts were stripped of able bodied men and disciplined infantry. Semi- invalid ,veteran reserves took their place on guard duty.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Compiled by Mary Lipsey
Sources: www.CivilWarArchive.com
National Archives Records Administration
The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion
Defending the Orange and Alexandria Railroad
105th Pennsylvania Regiment Infantry- until March 1862
16th Regiment Cavalry New York “Sprague Light Cavalry”
June 1863 until June 1865
Duty in and covering defenses of Washington, D.C. against guerrillas
1864 – Centreville June 24
Annandale June 26
Burke Station July 29
Fairfax Station August 4-7
Annandale August 14
Annandale August 24
Fairfax Station September 17
155th New York Volunteer Infantry “ Corcoran’s Irish Legion”
almost all Irish immigrants raised in Buffalo NY late 1862
July 10, 1863 for ten months engaged in guard duty along Orange and Alexandria Railroad -Fending off Cavalry raids including Mosby’s Rangers
December 1863 Confederate General Thomas Rosser entire cavalry brigade attacked a railroad bridge (about 1,000 men) guarded by estimated 70 men of Company I. Rebels withdrew after a fierce fight, although greatly outnumbering the men of the 155th.
4th Regiment Infantry Delaware
Organized at Wilmington, Delaware June to November 1862
Moved to defense of Washington, D.C. July 8-14, 1863
Centreville and Fairfax Station until October 1863
Guard Orange and Alexandria Railroad until November 16
Ordered to Delaware November 16
Duty in District of Alexandria, VA until May 1864
157th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
Organized at Philadelphia October 1862 to February 1863
Moved to the defenses of Washington, D.C. until May 1864
Attached to Tyler’s Division, 22nd Corps
168th Regiment Infantry “19th State Militia Infantry” New York
Organized at Newburg New York and mustered in February 11,1863
July 14-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, VA
Guard Duty along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad until October 1863 when mustered out