Protecting the Capital

Yes, another fort. In the 1860’s the U.S. government thought it was probably a good idea to defend the capital city against any rebel attacks from across the river, so they threw together a bunch of makeshift forts to protect DC. Something like thirty of these earthwork fortifications were dug up, but I don’t think they saw much action. All that’s left of this one, Fort Foote, is pretty much just trenches with a few remnants of the stone walls. There were a couple of giant cannons still in place, one which had been there since 1864. I can understand why they never moved them, because they weighed something like forty thousand pounds. The sign said they could fire a 450 pound ball three miles! Which means it could probably fire a 38 pound boy something like 2,200 miles. That would be a much easier way for him to visit his grandparents back home, compared to airline prices. But basically, this place was just a park to bring your dog, or your kid. We, of course, brought the latter.

We fought our own battle here with ice and snow. He's not the best snowball thrower, but he takes a hit pretty good.

Nothing is more fun than standing on a log. I guess.

Overlooking the Potomac... looking for rebels to fire the cannons at!

It wasn’t much to see, but it was a good day to walk in the park, before the big snow storm rolled onto the coast.