132 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. BLADENSBURG. A village on the turnpike road, also on the Washington Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad leading from Washington to Baltimore, about six miles northeastwardly of this city Before the revolution it had a considerable amonnt of trade, but its commercial importance has long since departed. The name of Bladcns- burg is recorded in the annals of American his- tory, and its present attractions are the fields where a famous victory was won, or rather a bloody battle was fought. It is also celebrated as the Congressional duelling ground, where De catur and other smaller men have fallen to satisfy a sanguinary code of honor. FORT WASHINGTON. On a high eminence on the Maryland side of the Potomac, about midway between Alexan dria and Mount Vernon, is Fort Washington, giving protection to the District from an enemy from the sea. The steamers running to Mount Vernon, stop at this place on their regular trips, allowing an opportunity to passengers to visit it.