Gruesome discovery made underneath a "Lincoln oak" tree

[L Verge]

Just another trivial link, but I noticed from the stone that had marked the Lincoln Oak that it had been planted by the Admiral Foote Post. Rear Admiral Andrew Hull Foote died in 1863 from wounds suffered in battle. However, he had been instrumental in assisting Grant in campaigns along the Mississippi River. When the navy realized that Washington was poorly defended by water, they constructed Fort Foote.

Work on constructing the fort (one of over sixty that surrounded Washington, D.C. during the Civil War) began shortly after the 1862 battle between the Monitor and Merrimack when authorities realized that the only marine defense on the Potomac for the nation's capital was Fort Washington, about fifteen miles downriver. The site chosen for the new, earthen fort was just six miles from D.C. in Prince George's County (Rebel country). It distinguished itself by being home to a number of large Parrot Rifles and Rodman Cannons -- several of which still exist at what remains of the fort.

Fort Foote opened in the fall of 1863, with Lt. Col. William H Seward, Jr. in command of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery. Secretary Seward visited the fort frequently while his son was in command, and President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and high ranking officers visited at least once in August of 1863.

Isn't it amazing how you can link so much history to Mr. Link-em?