This unfinished pencil drawing by famed artist Alfred Rudolph Waud (1828-1891) depicts Fort Ellsworth on Shuter’s (or Shooter’s) Hill, west of Alexandria in late June / early July 1861. Illustration has been enhanced to show details.
The illustration is titled, Earthwork fort at Alexandria protecting the left of the line of the grand army, showing its commanding position. You can see the Little River Turnpike in the foreground and Fort Ellsworth in the top left. A note reads, “Fill in with soldiers of the Pennsylvania 4th drilling.” The 4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry would get into a deadly skirmish with Confederate scouts on June 30, 1861 at a picket post south of the fort.
Spirit of '61 