Fort Johnston

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Fort Johnston, also known as Fort Geary is a Civil War earthen fortification of Catoctin Mountain just west of Leesburg, Virginia. It is one of three forts constructed around Leesburg in 1861 to defend it from the threat of possible invasion after Virginia seceded from the Union. The fort was only sporadically occupied by confederates, as the main threat of invasion came from the east across the Potomac. In 1862 when Loudoun County was invaded by the Union army, the fort was abandoned and later occupied by the Federals who rechristened it Fort Geary in honor of their commander. Throughout the war Leesburg was rarely held in force by either side of the conflict and the fort saw little use. Today the earthworks of the fort still exist, and are located on private property of Fort Johnston road.