Jubal Early’s Raid on Washington
The only contingent of Confederate soldiers to enter Washington during the Civil War marched down Georgia Avenue, formerly called Seventh Street Pike, the 11th and 12th of July 1864 and attacked Fort Stevens. President Lincoln arrived at Fort Stevens to witness the fray and narrowly escaped a Confederate bullet—the only American President under enemy fire during his term in office. Hastily summoned Union reinforcements under Generals Horatio Wright and Frank Wheaton arrived from Petersburg, Virginia. On July 13th, Early's troops retreated, having failed to capture Washington. The battle left nearly 300 men dead, wounded, or missing.
Marker is at the intersection of Georgia Avenue (Maryland Route 97) and Spring Street, on the left when traveling north on Georgia Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
