Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Arlington County (Va.) Reel 57.

Preferred Citation

Fort Washington Expenditures Account Book, 1814-1815. Local government records collection, Arlington County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Arlington County.

Historical Information

Fort Washington, located in Maryland, was for many decades the only defensive fort protecting Washington D.C. Construction was completed on December 1, 1809. In August 1814, with British forces in Washington (having marched overland) and British ships heading up the Potomac, the fort was destroyed by its own garrison to prevent it from being captured and occupied by the British. Twelve days after the destruction of the fort, James Monroe, the acting Secretary of War, hired Major Pierre L'Enfant to construct new defenses. In November 1814, Monroe questioned L'Enfant's actions, asking for less spending. On July 14, 1815, work was halted. Two months later, L'Enfant was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Walker K. Armistead of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The fort was completed on October 2, 1824, at a total cost of 426,000 dollars, excluding armament, which had not yet been installed.

Scope and Content

Fort Washington Expenditures Account Book, 1814-1815, records expenses incurred by fort during its rebuilding including purchases of stone, nails, lumber, wheat, and lime and payments made to masons and laborers.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Arlington County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Fort Washington (Md.)

Geographical Names:

• Arlington County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Account books -- Virginia -- Arlington County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Arlington County.
• Military records -- Virginia -- Arlington County.