Daily log book for the guards at Fort Ricketts in Washington D.C. for the second half of 1864. Includes the names of the soldiers on guard duty for each of the three daily shifts (typically only one man per shift but sometimes two) and their post (Sallyport when only a single man on duty, Sallyport and Picket when two men). Also occasionally includes a list of soldiers confined for such offenses as "riotous conduct", "absent without leave", and "sleeping at post". Each days entries signed at the bottom by the Corporal in command of the guard. "Fort Ricketts was constructed to protect the Maryland or eastern end of the two bridges crossing the Anacostia (at the Navy Yard and two and a half miles upstream at Benning's Bridge) and to occupy the heights above the Navy Yard and Washington Arsenal. Fort Ricketts was constructed after the Battle of First Manassas, when it was determined that the fortification of the entire city would be necessary. At this time, the construction of Fort Ricketts and seven other works began in order to fortify a six mile area from a narrow and contorted ridge between Oxon Run to the south and the District of Columbia boundary on the north. Fort Ricketts, in particular, was built to sweep a ravine in front of Fort Stanton that it could not cover." (From National Park Service website).