Cannonball

I recently had a chance to tour the privately owned Fort Evans, a Civil War fort constructed on a hilltop overlooking Leesburg, Virginia. The site is extremely well preserved and is one of the finest examples of a Vauban-style earthen fort remaining in the country. The site is not open to the public and is surrounded by a gated private business. The owners, luckily, are committed to preserving the earthworks.

Virginia authors and historians Jim Morgan III and Craig Swain took a group of perhaps 25 or so on a private tour of Fort Evans a few weeks ago during a Civil War book signing and seminar in Leesburg.

Here are a few photos of the site.

Craig Swain showed this map of the fort’s layout, which is slightly irregular to fit within the confines of the hilltop’s topography. The fort was constructed in 1861 to protect key roads leading to Leesburg which might be used by the Union forces attempting to invest the town.

Note the picnic table in the upper right. Fort Evans is adjacent to a modern office complex, and the workers enjoy strolling the nicely kept grounds at lunch.

The fort saw no combat action, but provided shelter for hundreds of infantry and cannoneers throughout the early months of the war until the Confederates pulled back from Leesburg. Along with other nearby forts, it dominated the roads to Alexandria.

Later in the war, Union troops briefly camped at the site but its importance as a defensive works waned.

Savas Beatie author James Morgan III is an expert on Fort Evans, the Leesburg area, and the Battle of Ball’s Bluff.

Civil War and More Campaign I : Battle X November / 2013 10 South Market St. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055Tel  (717) 766-1899 Fax (717) 766-5002 Monday – Friday 10:30 am – 6 pm Saturday 10 am – 3:30 pm Sunday Closed (Except Special Events) In This E-mail Black Friday Specials 12tjh Anniversary Celebration WHP 580 Segment Quick Links Visit Our Website Directions Map Friends of CWAM Cannonball – S. Mingus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~    A few events happening at Civil War and More GREAT DEALS THROUGHOUT THE STORE ALL WEEKEND  LONG   Open 10 am to 7 pm on Black Friday November 29, 2013 And Also: ~  20% OFF ALL FLAGS  ~   Including Several Different Sizes of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and P.O.W.   ~  20% OFF ALL NECKTIES  ~ ~  20% OFF ALL MUSIC CDs  ~ Featured Article What action, if any, do you want your ay have hosted on your website Come Celebrate Civil War and More’s 12th Anniversary Saturday, December 7th 1 pm – 4 pm There will be plenty of refreshments and a   FREE RAFFLE   Some items we will be raffling off include:   The Gettysburg Campaign In Numbers and Losses: Synopses, Orders of Battle, Strengths, Casualties, and Maps, June 9th-July 14th 1863   by J. David Petruzzi and Steven Stanley     – Great statistics – Colorized maps – Lists every skirmish and battle of the Gettysburg Campaign Featured Article What action, if any, do you want your ay have hosted on your website   Advance the Colors!  Pennsylvania  Civil War Battle Flags Volumes 1 & 2   by Richard A. Sauers         Over 600 pages of history and colorized photos of Pennsylvania’s Civil War battle flags   Includes mustering in and mustering out points for each regiment and the counties of PA where they came from Featured Article What action, if any, do you want your ay have hosted on your website Also helping us celebrate Civil War and More welcomes authors   Carol Reardon and  Tom Vossler     They will be signing copies of their book  A Field Guide to Gettysburg: Experiencing the Battlefield Through its History, Places, and People It has become one of  the best selling civil war books of 2013     If you already have these books come get one personalized for a friend.  They would make great Christmas gifts. Featured Article What action, if any, do you want your ay have hosted on your website We also welcome author and local historian     Cooper Wingert He will be signing copies of his brand new book   Dick Ewell at Carlisle Chapters of the Confederate Advance on Harrisburg   A companion or follow up to Wingert’s, The Confederate Approach on Harrisburg. 6 extensively-researched essays, collectively piecing together the Southern attempt on Pennsylvania’s capital. Featured Article What action, if any, do you want your ay have hosted on your website This is a big event every year. For more information, visit our website at www.CivilWarAndMore.com   Come visit us on SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Saturday, November 30th, and help support the local economy. Holiday Season Hours: Monday – Friday:  10:30 – 6 Saturday:  10 – 3:30 Sunday:  1 – 3* * 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22   Remember, if you don’t know what books they already have, we still got you covered!   Gift certificates are available, in any denomination, for your convenience! WHP 580 Segment On Saturday, June 22, 2013, store owner, Jim Schmick, President of Camp Curtin Historical Society, appeared on WHP 580 AM sitting in with on air personality Michael Parks.  He spoke of how the events at Gettysburg were more the culmination of a campaign rather than a single battle.   Click here to listen to the entire 20 minute segment.