Southwest Bastion
The Southwest Bastion was the most heavily fortified area of the fort with emplacements for seven guns, as well as a magazine and a filling room. The largest gun at Fort Ward, a 100-pounder Parrott Rifle, was located in the Southwest Bastion. This weapon was mounted on a center pintle (circular) carriage and could fire a 100-pound projectile at a distance of about five miles. The Parrot Rifle was important because of its capacity of defending both the Leesburg Turnpike and the Little River Turnpike, two major roads that led into Alexandria.
Fig. 1/ Diagram of a center pintle carriage
Fig. 2/ The Southwest Bastion is the last stop on the Fort Ward tour.
The self-guided tour of the historic fort begins at the Ceremonial Gate near the Museum. (Line drawing of Fort Ward highlighting the Southwest Bastion and rifle trench that extended from it.)
Feb. 3/ 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery in the Southwest Bastion, C. 1863