Fort Washington Attraction Details

Fort Washington
Fort Washington was built in mid-June 1863 and occupied primarily by New York State Militia during the Gettysburg campaign. The earth embankments were started by volunteer citizens and African American laborers supplied by the Pennsylvania Railroad on June 14, 1863. The next day, the white volunteers didn't return. The strenuous labor was undertaken by African American railroad gangs and citizens of Harrisburg. They were paid 75 cents a day to finish the work. Fort Washington occupied about 60 acres on Hummel's Heights above the Camelback Bridge crossing the Susquehanna River. The fort was defended by 25 pieces of artillery mounted behind earthen redoubts on wooden platforms. The troops were housed in tents with floors. They were supplied by a sutler (army contracted merchant), whose tent was in the middle of the camp. Drinking water was pumped up the hill from the river by a volunteer fire company to hogsheads in the fort. Today nothing remains of the fort except indications of earthworks on various pieces of private property.

Address:
Area Around Cumberland Street
Lemoyne, PA 17043

Phone: 000-000-0000

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