Central Virginia I

Last Update: 19/APRIL/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2008 American Forts Network

Buford's Knoll Battery
(Brandy Station Battlefield)
(1862 - 1864), near Brandy Station
Two extant gun pits still remain on a hill above Beverly's Ford on the Rappahannock River. Originally built by the CSA after the Battle of Cedar Mountain (August 1862), re-used by the Union in November 1863. The battery itself was not used in the Battle of Brandy Station (June 1863). Site located on the Brandy Station Battlefield, north of the Culpeper Airport.

Camp Henry
(1861 - 1862), Culpeper
A CSA training camp at Clayton's Old Field on the west-side of Mountain Run (west of Blue Ridge Ave.). Site was also used as part of the Union winter encampment in 1863 - 1864. Most of the site is now part of Yowell Meadow Park. A stone monument (1971) is here commemorating the 1775 mustering site of the famous Culpeper Minute Men.

Culpeper Encampment
(1863 - 1864), Culpeper County
The main body of the Union Army of the Potomac spent the winter (November 1863 - May 1864) in various locations across the county, including Culpeper, Brandy Station, Stevensburg, and along the railroad south of town. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia originally planned to winter here, but after the battles of Kelly's Ford and Rappahannock Station (November 1863), they were forced across the Rapidan River into Orange County.

Hassinunga
(c. 1600), Richards Ferry
A major Manahoac Indian town on the south bank of the Rappahannock River, about one mile upriver from the Rapidan River, noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded. The Manahoac Indians had seemingly disappeared from modern Culpeper/Orange Counties by 1670 when explorer John Lederer passed through.

United States Ford Earthworks
(1863), United States Ford
CSA / Union earthworks still remain on the south-side of the Rappahannock River, one and one-half miles downriver from the Rapidan River. Site is named for the nearby United States Gold Mine (pre-Civil War). Private property, no vehicular access.

Fort Germanna
History of the Germanna Colonies
(1714 - 1719 ?), Germanna
German immigrants settled here on the banks of the Rapidan River under the guise of "frontier defense". The original group of settlers left in 1719 for Germantown in Fauquier County. A second group of German settlers arrived in 1717 and left for Madison County in 1725. The site of the pentagonal stockade, with a central blockhouse and nine cabins, was probably built over by Governor Alexander Spotswood's manor house (1722 - 1750), which also no longer exists, but was recently excavated. The blockhouse was also used as a church, and it may have existed for several years after the stockade was dismantled. A new regional visitors center was built in 2000 near Germanna Community College, in a form reminiscent of the fort's blockhouse. PHOTO LINK

Germanna Ford Earthworks
(1863), Germanna
Extensive CSA trenches and gun pits (two lines) still exist on the south-side of the Rapidan River, mostly within the present-day campus of Germanna Community College.

Shackaconia
(c. 1600), Indiantown
A major Manahoac Indian town on the south bank of the Rapidan River, upstream of the VA 3 bridge, noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded. Apparently abandoned by 1670. A group of Saponi Indians was living here in the 1730's to 1742, hence the modern name.

Mine Run Earthworks
(1863), near Locust Grove
Extensive CSA and Union earthwork trench lines were constructed along both sides of Mine Run. Almost all of the Union works were destroyed by the Confederates after the Battle of Mine Run (November 1863). Traces remain of the CSA works in wooded areas along both sides of VA 20, between Rt 602 and Rt. 621. Private property.

Rapidan Station Battery
(1863 - 1864), Rapidan
A CSA earthwork on the north bank of the Rapidan River protected the railroad crossing.

Orange Courthouse Encampment
(1863 - 1864), near Orange
The main winter encampment area of the CSA Army of Northern Virginia, located north and east of town with extensive earthworks along the Rapidan River from Liberty Mills to Mitchell's Ford (north of Burr Hill), termed the Rapidan Line. A small monument on private property (Middle Hill) about one mile east of town off of VA 20 marks General Lee's headquarters camp.

Montpelier Encampment
(Historic Montpelier)
(1863 - 1864), Montpelier Station
The winter encampment site of elements of the CSA Army of Northern Virginia is located on the wooded grounds of Montpelier, President James Madison's former plantation (1760). Excavated in 2002. Hut sites are still evident. Guided tours can be arranged at the Montpelier Visitor Center.

Somerset Battery
(Hampstead Farm Archaeological District)
(1864), Old Somerset
Traces of three CSA gun pits possibly still exist on high ground along the Rapidan River west of town along VA 20 and Rt. 609. This battery protected the road from the Liberty Mills river crossing (VA 231) to Gordonsville and the railroad junction. It was attacked and captured by Union cavalry in December 1864. Private property.

Stegara
(c. 1600), near Scuffletown
A major Manahoac Indian town noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded. A Late Woodland Period Indian burial mound on the Rapidan River was excavated in 1958 and 1980, but the actual townsite has never been found with certainty. Abandoned by 1700, probably before 1670.

Smith's Island Fort
(1725 - unknown), near Madison
A small fort and stockade built by German settlers after moving away from the Germanna settlement (see below). Site located on the north side of the Robinson River at White Oak Run near Hebron Lutheran Church (1726), north of town. The White Oak Run was originally known as Smith's Run, and there was once an island at the convergence of the two rivers, hence the name.

Monasukapanough
(c. 1600), near Carrsbrook
A major Monacan Indian town on the north bank of the South Fork Rivanna River north of Charlottesville, noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded. A Late Woodland Period Indian burial mound is located here, which was first excavated by Thomas Jefferson in 1784. Jefferson noted in the mid 1750's that a group of Monacans paid a visit to the mound to worship their dead ancestors.

Albemarle Barracks
(1779 - 1780), Charlottesville
A VA state militia supply depot and POW encampment for 2,577 British and 1,882 Hessian troops that were captured at Saratoga, NY in 1777. They were previously kept in Boston, MA, but were moved to a warmer climate. The officers were quartered in private houses within a twenty-mile radius. As the British army moved northward from North Carolina, the remaining prisoners (about 2,000 after death, desertions and exchanges) were moved to Hagerstown, MD. No remains of the encampment site are left. Located northwest of downtown, north of Ivy Creek.

Monahassanugh
(c. 1600), near Wingina
A major Monacan Indian town, located on the north bank of the James River east of Cunningham Island (west of town), noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded. Later known as the Nahyssan Indians, they relocated to Manakin Town on the James River in 1654 after raids by northern Iroquois tribes (see page 9).

Rassawek
(c. 1600), Columbia
A major Monacan Indian town, located on the west bank of the Rivanna River, noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded.

Point of Fork Arsenal
(1780 - 1801), Columbia
A state arsenal and military encampment located on the west bank of the Rivanna River southwest of town, on the north-side of the James River. It was originally built to protect vital military supplies that were sent west from Richmond as the British army made moves towards Virginia in late 1780. It was abandoned by Patriot forces in 1781 under threat of a British attack. The British then captured and destroyed all remaining stores and supplies. Re-established after the war as a major state militia supply depot.

Massinacack
(c. 1600), near Michaux
A major Monacan Indian town located on the James River downstream of Mohawk Creek and the present US 522 bridge, noted on John Smith's map of 1608. Unknown if palisaded. Visited by explorer John Lederer in 1670.

Manakin Town
(1654 - 1699), Manakin
A Monacan Indian town/fort built on lands later set aside in 1680 by the colonial government according to the 1677 "Treaty of Middle Plantation". At first the English settlers objected to the new settlement and attacked with help from Pamunkey Indian allies. The Monacans defeated the English and Pamunkeys, also killing the Pamunkey chief Totopotomoy. The Indians were later evicted in 1699 during troubles with settlers. French Huguenots were resettled here by the colonial government in 1701.

The minor Monacan Indian town of Mowhemcho (c. 1600), which was noted on John Smith's map of 1608, was located on the south bank of the James River nearby at Watkins Landing. Unknown if palisaded or if only a hunting town.

Hanover Junction Defenses
(North Anna Battlefield Park)
(1864), near Doswell
Confederate earthworks still remain on the south-side of the North Anna River at Ox Ford, in a line towards Verdon and New Market Mill on the Little River. Other works were located at Chandler Crossing (two redoubts on the north bank and one redoubt on the south bank at the wagon road bridge (present-day US 1), and rifle pits at the railroad bridge). Info available from Richmond and Fredericksburg NPS centers, and Hanover County Parks Dept. Doswell was once known as Hanover Junction.

Also in the area were two redoubts located near South Anna on the south-side of the South Anna River at the railroad bridge, with rifle pits on the north bank; four redoubts and several rifle pits located along the railroad south of Taylorsville between the Little River and the South Anna River; and a redoubt on the north bank of the South Anna River at Ashland Mill.

Totopotomoy Creek Earthworks
(1864), near Rural Point, Pole Green, and Academy
Confederate and Union entrenchments were located along both sides of Totopotomoy Creek north of Mechanicsville. Rural Point was originally named Haw's Store. The Union had an unfinished redoubt near Bethesda Church, near Newman on the Mechanicsville Turnpike (US 360). Remnants of the various works still exist near the Bethesda Church site (owned by the A.P.V.A.), and also in some heavily wooded areas (private property).

NEED MORE INFO: Street names: Fort Myers Road in central Hanover County