 The failure of that fort to stop a British fleet from investing the national capital during the War of 1812 led to the construction of the current, larger, stone fortification.In 1844, a cannon exploded on the USS "Princeton" as it was passing Fort Washington.During World War II, the US Army's Adjutant General's School was located at the fort, and had billeting for 362 officers and 2,526 enlisted persons.