Battle of Fort Stevens
The Battle of Fort Stevens was an American Civil War battle fought July 11–12, 1864 in what is now Northwest Washington, DC, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 between forces under Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early and Union Major General Alexander McDowell McCook. Although Early caused consternation in the Union government, reinforcements under Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright and the strong defenses of Fort Stevens minimized the military threat, and Early withdrew after two days of skirmishing and had attempted no serious assaults. The battle is noted for stories that US President Abraham Lincoln observed the fighting.