Existing comment:
Havens from Hardship: Military Forts:
The military forts surrounding the city were a place of refuge during the war. These forts initially served as a temporary home for white families who had to "follow the drum" and accompany their husbands and fathers into the war zone. As the federal army waded into Virginia, enslaved African Americans fled plantations and headed into Washington. Many of these refugees and freedom seekers first found a haven in the military forts. |