Giesboro Cavalry Depot

While running down some location information for the Washington, D.C. Circle Forts, I ran across references to the large Cavalry Depot at Giesboro (or Giesborough) Point. The depot operated with Camp Stoneman, and was along the Potomac near the mouth of the Anacostia River. At first, I figured this was just another “lost site” inside the beltway. But after looking at several period maps and photos, it dawned on me – the site is on present day Bolling Air Force Base.

Since work took me over that direction this week, I decided to look around for any reminders of the cavalry camp or the Civil War in general on base. I was rewarded by this rather meager marker near the river front:

Giesboro Park

The area around the marker is an athletic park. Adjacent to the park are base housing and a river walk park. And as expected no structures or camp outlines dating to the war are visible. From what I can gather, after the Civil War, the site reverted to civilian use. For a while a steel processing business operated nearby. During World War I, the military acquired the ground again and built a basic airfield. Flooding prompted a move of the flight line, and much of the area was excavated and some land recovered from the river. Basically, over than views of the ridges to the east and the river, not much really is close to the Civil War appearance.

Camp Stoneman and Cavalry Depot - From Library of Congress

This wartime photo appears to be looking from the high ground which is today the east edge of the Air Base, near South Capital Avenue. Left of center in the distance is a form that looks to be the U.S. Capital dome. If that is indeed the case, with the location of the river, the camera was pointed almost due north. Note the Sibleys and the sheds along the low ground. I wonder how many horseshoes and nails are still in the ground in the vicinity today.

And another wartime photo, this one of a band encampment on the grounds:

Camp Band, Camp Stoneman - Library of Congress Collection

Notice the river in the background and the slope of the land. While it is probably impossible to place the exact location of the tent line, one possibility is near modern Brookley Avenue. Incidentally, and what would make a rather interesting story line if true, the Air Force Band occupies buildings on that street today.

Lastly a view of the Giesboro site today:

Giesboro Park

Looking over the athletic fields to the North. You may have to open the photo in a new window, or squint a bit. Following the third base line out, then looking along the horizon to the left, one can see the U.S. Capital building. Again, it is rather hard without more detailed maps and reference points. But if my basic calculations are right, home plate is darn close to where the sheds seen in the period photo.