Battleground National Cemetery

"Battleground National Cemetery in Brightwood is the burial ground of 41 Union soldiers killed at The Battle of Fort Stevens on July 11-12, 1864. 23 of the 41 men buried here were from Daniel Bidwell’s brigade of Horatio Wright’s VI Corps, killed while clearing out final Confederate sharpshooters hidden in buildings in front of the fort."

"A quiet place in one of the busiest cities in the world. Battleground National Cemetery was established shortly after the Battle of Fort Stevens, in the summer of 1864. The battle, which lasted two days (July 11-12, 1864) marked the defeat of General Jubal A. Early's Confederate campaign to launch an offensive action against the nation's capital. The Battle of Fort Stevens also gained notoriety as being the only military action in which the commander-in-chief, President Abraham Lincoln, came under direct fire from the enemy. With a combined total casualty figure of over 900 killed or wounded during the engagement, 40 of the Union soldiers who fought and died bravely in defense of the capital. Four civilians related to the cemetery's first caretaker were buried after the Civil War. A veteran of the battle was interred in 1936, closing the cemetery to future burials. Battleground National Cemetery, located one-half mile north of Fort Stevens, is one acre in size, and one of our nation's smallest national cemeteries. The entrance to the Cemetery is flanked by two Civil War vintage 6-pounder, smoothbore guns. Also near the entrance are monuments commemorating those units which fought at Fort Stevens: 25th New York Volunteer Cavalry Monument 98th Pennsylvania Volunteer Monument 122nd New York Volunteer Monument 150th Ohio National Guard Monument"

"Along the Takoma-Brightwood border in Northwest DC is one of the country's smallest national cemeteries on one acre of land. It was created and dedicated by Abraham Lincoln himself after the Battle at Fort Stevens. It was there that the Union stopped the attack on Washington, DC and the only time Lincoln came under direct fire from the Confederacy. 41 Union soldiers gave their lives that day and this cemetery honors them. The cemetery is easy to miss, but once you're through the gate, you won't soon forget it. Take time to read the signs about its history and walk through the grass remembering the soldiers who defended Washington, DC at Fort Stevens nearby. The cemetery is run by the National Park Service so entry is free."

"The cemetery was well maintained. There were lots of information about the creation of the military cemeteries on the placards."

"Battleground National Cemetery on Georgia Avenue NW is the second smallest national cemetery in the United States (Hampton National Cemetery in Virginia is the nation's smallest). When I was there a park ranger went to the trouble of introducing herself and gave me a knowledgeable account of the cemetery's origin but also the history surrounding the battle that took place on surrounding land. What was a brief stop to pass some time became an informative experience. Bravo!"