Rifle Trench
This rifle trench extended from the North Bastion toward Battery Garesché located beyond Leesburg Turnpike (Route 7). Another rifle trench extended from the tip of the South Bastion near the Fort Gate. The rifle trenches prevented enemy troops from moving towards the rear of the fort.
Fig. 1/ Map showing rifle trench location (The map depicts Fort Ward in the lower left corner. A red line extends from the northernmost point of the fort towards Leesburg Turnpike to the north, marking the location of the rifle trench that connected the fort to the two-gun battery near Leesburg Turnpike.)