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Listen NowStation Two — South Wall
This section of the fort protected the southern slope, one of the most vulnerable approaches to the ridge. The earthworks you see are original, shaped by Union soldiers in 1861.
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Historic Photo — Fall View
Fall view from the bottom of the South Wall
Visitor Guidance
- Trail Difficulty: Moderate; uneven ground along the wall.
- Stay off the earthworks: They are original and easily damaged.
- Look for: The angle of the wall and the depth of the ditch.
- Seasonal Note: Leaves may obscure the wall’s height in fall.
The Fort’s Defensive Backbone
The South Wall formed one of the primary defensive lines of Fort Duffield. Soldiers shaped this wall by digging a ditch and piling the earth upward to create a parapet. The steep slope below made this an ideal defensive position, forcing any attacker to climb uphill under fire.
The wall’s height and thickness were calculated to stop musket fire and provide cover for defenders. Soldiers could fire over the top while remaining protected from return fire. The ditch in front added another obstacle, slowing attackers and exposing them to defenders above.
Engineering on the Ridge — Spring View
Spring view of the South Wall earthworks
Additional Historical Context
According to Charles W. Bennett of the Ninth Michigan Infantry, the fort’s earthworks were measured at 15 rods deep (247.5 feet), 40 rods wide (660 feet), and 80 rods (1,320 feet) following all angles. A “wide, deep ditch” surrounded the entire fort, including this wall.
The top of the hill was originally a cornfield. Soldiers cut down surrounding trees to create a clear field of fire. This allowed defenders to see far down the hillside and fire on any approaching enemy.
Guards were posted along the wall day and night. Nervous sentinels often fired at shadows, noises, or imagined threats, leading to frequent night alarms during the fort’s early months.
Charles W. Bennett, Historical Sketches of the Ninth Michigan Infantry (1913). University of Michigan Library, HathiTrust Digital Collection. Provides firsthand descriptions of Fort Duffield’s construction, dimensions, defensive layout, and daily guard duty on Muldraugh’s Hill during 1861–1862.