Pointless Prize: 2022 Photo Scavenger Hunt

[camiller]

2/13/2022 Hill Forts

The landscape of Fairfax County is dotted with Civil War sites associated with the Union Army’s four-year occupation of northern Virginia. Today, many of the forts built by Union engineers during the war still exist. These field fortifications (such as a trench or a mound) made of earth were used to protect troops during battles or sieges, to protect artillery batteries, and to slow an advancing enemy. Although no track was ever laid, the unfinished portion of the MGRR (Manassas Gap Railroad) did play an important role during the Civil War. The “cuts and fills” of the line served as earthworks, battle and skirmish sites and as little-known transportation routes for both Confederate and Union soldiers. The MGRR figured prominently in the 2nd Battle of Manassas when Confederate forces, under Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson, used a “cut” in the unfinished line near Sudley as a defensive position.

The pictures below were taken just west of Fairfax City and show one of the “mounds” or hills that remain from the Civil War era. The views are from opposite sides of the mounds.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27923[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]27924[/ATTACH]

[consularrider]

02/13/2022 – Hill Fort

Ft A.P. Hill east of Bowling Green, VA. I was leary of going to the front gate to take a photo.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27925[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]27926[/ATTACH]

[Nadine]

2/13/22 – Hill Fort: Fort Taylor Park

It’s just a park now, but….

Fort Taylor (7) (1861-1865) – A Union U.S. Civil War Fort first established in 1861 in Falls Church City, Virginia. The fort was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Also my civil war buff friend Beth Taylor (no relation to the fort [emoji38]) confirms that it’s a circle fort. And of course it’s atop a hill cuz how else are you gonna have the advantage over the enemy?

Got pix of the historical sign too, and the cemetery next to it (which I was gonna get yesterday but got home just at dark & tired, so I told my teammate Steve about it & he got it [emoji16]) I can only upload one pic here at a time though cuz I refuse to pay for tapatalk [emoji57]

[AlanA]

2/13/2022 – Hill Fort

You’re going to have to use your imagination for this one. However, based upon the Wikipedia page for hillfort, this could sort of count. You would certainly have an advantage of being on top of this if the cows decided to attack you!

lol, you have to go with what you have.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27929[/ATTACH]

[AlanA]

@Kbikeva 216343 wrote:

2/13/2022 Hill Fort

This is the modern day hill fort equivalent in El Paso. High on a hill, the base of which is guarded by a manned gate, with its own water supply, etc. Not sure who they’re protecting themselves from, but as a member of the hoi polloi, I was suitably impressed.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27922[/ATTACH]

The richest people always live on top of the hill!!

[bigredboiler]

2-13 Fort Hill

Had to take my photo from far away today, but it sure was a pretty day for a nice view of Pikes Peak. Maybe not a historic civil war fort like you might find around DC, but the US Army maintains a research lab on top (14,115ft). Interestingly, I learned the lab is a satellite facility of Army medical labs that are ultimately HQ’d at Ft. Detrick, MD.

[ATTACH]27932[/ATTACH]

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[Serdar]

2/13/2022 – Hill Fort
[ATTACH=CONFIG]27933[/ATTACH]
Fort Ward (Alexandria, VA) was a former Union Army installation. It was the fifth largest fort built to defend Washington, D.C., in the American Civil War. 90-95% of its earthen walls are intact in our days.

The fort walls were 18-22 feet high, 12-14 feet thick, and slanted at 45 degrees. To gain access to the fort, an attacker would have to cross the field of fire (the open area to the front of the fort), penetrate the abatis (the line of felled trees that surrounded the sitch), enter the ditch, and scale the walls while the defenders were well protected behind the embankments.

[Catedrew]

2/13/2022 – Hill Fort

Well, I returned from my Colorado travels and went out for a quick ride. I stayed close to home, so went with the closest one to me. Fort Myer is definitely on a hill as anyone who has ridden the route 50 Bike path between Ft. Myer at Pershing Drive and DC can attest.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Serdar]

@Kbikeva 216312 wrote:

Serdar, did you know that the criteria for eligibility for burial in a National Cemetery in the US is being a military veteran or spouse of military veteran? The only exception is there in the Alexandria National Cemetery where 4 civilians who died while trying to catch John Wilkes Booth are buried. If I remember correctly, they drowned in the Potomac. It’s a significant enough exception that it really stuck in my mind when I learned it. It speaks to the fervor in the aftermath of Lincoln’s death. Nice photo, too!

Now, I know, Kelley. Thank you for sharing!

I also hope that Wilkes Tunnel in Alexandria was not named after John Wilkes Booth.

[Kbikeva]

@Catedrew 216356 wrote:

2/13/2022 – Hill Fort

Well, I returned from my Colorado travels and went out for a quick ride. I stayed close to home, so went with the closest one to me. Fort Myer is definitely on a hill as anyone who has ridden the route 50 Bike path between Ft. Myer at Pershing Drive and DC can attest.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! Quick trip! And yes, Ft. Myer is def on a hill!

[Kbikeva]

@AlanA 216353 wrote:

The richest people always live on top of the hill!!

And sadly, around here, the richest people tend to be … um … involved with substances best left to the imagination.

[DCAKen]

2/13/2022 Hill Fort

Well, I got six of the eight letters

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27935[/ATTACH]

[karenbikes2@gmail.com]

2/13/2022 Hill Fort
For today’s challenge I submit a photo of a plaque in downtown Herndon, VA commemorating John Singleton Mosby,” captain leading a band of Confederate Rangers out of the 43rd Battalion of Virginia’s cavalary. I did a pretty extensive search online but could find no evidence that Mosby stayed anywhere other than homes of Confederate sympathizers. Thus, I give you a Confederate officer who may NOT have occupied any hill forts!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]27936[/ATTACH]

[sszibler]

2/13/2022 Hill Fort

Fort Ward. This was most definitely up a hill. I think it was a medical facility for one thing.

Fort Ward never saw any combat and was used mostly as a garrison and staging area for Federal troops. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fort-ward-park

[cvcalhoun]

2/13/2022 Hill Fort
Fort Sumner was razed in 1953, and is now the site of Westmoreland Hills Local Park. As you can see, it was on a very steep hill.

[Author]

Posts