“The Arlington Line” historical marker stands at a little intersection at Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, near Court House Metro station. I have walked past this historical marker basically every day for the past eight months in coming and going from my office. Today I stopped to read it for the first time.

Here the Arlington Line constructed in August, 1861, crossed the Georgetown-Falls Church Road. 100 yards to the northwest stood Fort Morton, a lunette with a perimeter of 250 yards and emplacements for 17 guns; 200 yards to the southeast stood Fort Woodbury, a lunette with a perimeter of 275 yards and emplacements for 13 guns.