Central Virginia II

Last Update: 15/MARCH/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2008 American Forts Network

Rochdale Hundred Palisade
(1613), near Meadowville
A four-mile long palisade surrounded the settlement on Jones Neck. This area was used primarily as a hog and cattle grazing area.

Bermuda Hundred Palisade
(1613), Bermuda Hundred
A two-mile long palisade surrounded the settlement.

Bermuda Citie
(1614 - 1622, 1624 - unknown), Hopewell
A palisaded settlement with several blockhouses and trenches, located at present-day City Point. The East India School was established here in 1621, the first college in America, but did not survive the 1622 massacre. The town was rebuilt after the Indian raids. Also known as Charles Citie after 1618 (not to be confused with the present-day Charles City located in Charles City County).

Fort Charles (2)
(1644 - unknown), near Hopewell
Built near the head of navigation on the James River somewhere in the vicinity of Hopewell and Bermuda Hundred.
(NOTE: one source puts this fort near the falls of the James River in present-day Richmond.)

Roger Tillman's Fort
(1670's ?), near Hopewell ?
An early settlers' fort located on the south bank of the Appomattox River near Monk's Head (location ?). Also spelled Tilghman.

Civil War Defenses of Hopewell
(Petersburg National Battlefield)
(1864 - 1865), Hopewell
At City Point was Union City Point Fort built to protect the supply depot, located on Appomattox Street adjacent to Appomattox Manor (1763). Other Union forts in a defensive line around the city included Fort Abbott, Fort Craig (2), Fort Graves, Fort McKeen, Fort Lewis O. Morris, Fort Merriam, Fort Gould, and Fort Porter (2).

Fort Henry (2)
(1645 - 1671 ?, 1675, 1685 ?), Petersburg
A VA colonial militia fort at the falls of the Appomattox River. Expeditions to explore the west began from here in 1650 and 1671. It was regarrisoned by the militia in 1675, and probably again in 1685. Location probably at or near McKenzie Street Park. Peter Jones' Post (1675) was a trading post located near Market and Old Streets, just east of the fort site. The city was named after Peter Jones.

Civil War Defenses of Petersburg
(Petersburg National Battlefield)
(1863 - 1865), Petersburg and vicinity
A total of 42 forts and 136 batteries were built by both sides during the 10-month long 1864-65 Siege of Petersburg. The main park unit includes Union forts Fort Friend, (originally CSA Battery 8), Fort Stedman, Fort Haskell, Fort Morton (2) (site only), and the CSA forts Battery 5 (site of the Union Dictator mortar battery), Battery 9, Gracie's Salient, Colquitt's Salient, and "The Crater" which is the remains of a small CSA fort that was part of Elliott's Salient. Plus there are several other unnamed batteries. Admission fee. NPS Battlefield Tour Map

Along Flank Road lies Union seige line forts including Fort Davis (aka Fort Warren), Fort Alexander Hays, Fort Howard, Fort Wadsworth, Fort Keene, Fort Tracy, Fort Urmston, Fort Conahey, and Fort Fisher.

Other Union seige line forts included Fort McGilvery, Fort Meikle, Fort Avery, Fort Rice, Fort Sedgwick (aka Fort Hell), Fort Welch, Fort Gregg (3) (USA), Fort Sampson, Fort Wheaton, (originally CSA Fort Archer), Fort Cummings, Fort Emery, Fort Seibert, Fort Clarke, Fort Dushane, Fort Davison, Fort McMahon, Fort Stevenson, Fort Blaisdell, Fort Patrick Kelly, Fort Prescott, Fort Bross, and many other unnamed batteries. The Siege of Petersburg.

Confederate defense line forts included Battery 1, Battery 16 and Battery 20 (part of the 1863 Dimmock Line of 55 numbered batteries, 352 guns total), Rives' Salient, Fort Mahone, Fort New Orleans, Fort Walker, Battery Pegram, Battery 40, Fort Lee (2) (aka Battery 45) (no relation to the current military reservation), Battery 47, Fort Gregg (2) (CSA), Fort Baldwin, Fort Whitworth (still remains in picnic area of Central State Hospital), Battery 55, and many other unnamed batteries.

Other forts in the area include CSA Fort Clifton (Park and Archaeological Site), on Conduit Road by the Appomattox River in Colonial Heights, and CSA Fort Spring Hill, later Union Fort Converse, between Petersburg and Hopewell, at the present-day Federal Reformatory near the I-295 bridge.

Another interesting site to the west near Burgess is Pamplin Historical Park, which also has the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier (admission fee). Several Confederate trenchworks (1865) are located here, as well as artillery emplacements and camp sites. Also located near here is White Oak Road Battlefield (1865), a Dinwiddie County park with CSA earthworks and trenches. The CSA earthworks extended west to Five Forks (1865) (NPS).

Petersburg CSA Arsenal and Ordnance Depot
(1862 - 1865), Petersburg
A CSA Arsenal and/or Ordnance Depot was located in the city. Undetermined location.

Camp Distribution (2)
(1865), Petersburg
A Union supply depot located in a former tobacco factory on the southwest corner of High and Lafayette Streets.

Fort Lee (3) (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1917 - 1919, 1940 - present), Petersburg
A National Army cantonment training encampment, infantry replacement center, and demobilization center for the 80th Division. Originally named Camp Lee (3). After the war all buildings were removed and the reservation was turned over to the state as a wildlife preserve, with a portion going to the Petersburg National Battlefield. A new and larger Camp Lee (4) was constructed on the original site in 1940 as WWII approached, which became an Army Quartermaster Corps Replacement Center in 1941. Renamed in 1950. This is the headquarters post of the Quartermaster Corps. Located here is the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, and the U.S. Army Women's Museum. The Women's Army Corps (WAC) Training Center was once located here from 1948 - 1954, when it was relocated to Fort McClelland, AL.

Blackwater Line
(1862 - 1865), near Franklin
A series of CSA defensive positions along the west-bank of the Blackwater River, from Unity to New South Quay at the various fords. Union forces attacked several times. Markers located at Rts. 603, 611, and VA 189.

Buckhorn Quarters
(1831), near Courtland
Several slave quarters on the estate of Thomas Ridley, located about four miles west of town, were fortified by faithful Negro slaves during Nat Turner's Rebellion. Nat Turner was a Negro slave preacher in the county, and formented an insurrection of about 70 slaves which killed about 60 whites. Local militia finally put down the revolt in Courtland (then named Jerusalem) after several days. Turner was later captured and hanged, along with 30 followers.

Fort Nottoway
(unknown date), Fort Nottoway
A VA colonial militia fort located on the Nottoway River in Sussex County, near Huske, west of I-95.

Fort Christanna (Archaeological Site)
(1714 - 1718), Fort Christanna
Built by the VA colonial militia for the protection of friendly Saponi, Tutelo (Totero), Occoneechee, and Catawba Indians against the hostile Tuscarora from the south. A six-square mile reservation was established around the fort. A school for the Indian children was also established here. Mohawk Indians from New York attacked the fort in 1718 and killed five Catawba men. The fort was soon thereafter abandoned by the government as too costly to maintain. In 1924 the site was marked by a cannon, one of five from the stockade. Excavated in 1978. Some earthworks may possibly remain. Located on Hays Creek south of Lawrenceville.

Saponi Indian Fort
(1732 - unknown), near Skinquarter ?
After Fort Christanna was abandoned, the Saponi Indians went to live with the main group of Catawba Indians in South Carolina. When they later returned to Virginia, they found their former 1677 treaty lands sold off to settlers. They then established a town/fort somewhere on the Appomattox River, possibly located on Sappony Creek in western Chesterfield County. The town was abandoned after a few years, with the Indians moving north (with the remaining Tutelos) to Pennsylvania (eventually to New York with the Cayugas), or south to North Carolina.

Highbridge Defenses
(1864 - 1865), near Farmville
Four CSA redoubts, two on each side of the Appomattox River, protected the railroad bridge about six miles downriver from the town. A small work guarded the northern approach to the wagon road bridge (long gone). At least one work still exists on private property on the north bank of the river. Another work guarded the road junction at the south end of the bridge. The railroad bridge was replaced in 1914, and is not readily publicly accessible from the southern end (private property and heavily wooded).
Additional CSA works (1865) were located to the south at Rice.

Dalstonburg Powder Magazine
(1755 - 1763 ?), Charlotte Court House
A colonial militia powder magazine was located here. The name of the town, founded in 1759, later changed to Marysville, then later to its present name.

Civil War Defenses of Lynchburg
(1864), Lynchburg
Several miles of earthworks and trenches around the old town served as the Inner Defenses. Markers are located at Bedford Ave. and Holly Street; on Rivermont Ave. near Monsview Place; on 5th Street between Wise and Floyd Streets; on Park Ave. at Floyd Street; and on 12th Street between Fillmore and Floyd Streets. No remains. Traces may possibly exist at the Old City Cemetery along the railroad. Wartime exhibits and museum inside cemetery (entrance on Taylor Street). Also in town was CSA Camp Pratt, located near 13th Street and Pierce Street. The "Battle of Lynchburg" occured in June 1864.
(NOTE: a Battery Street is located downtown by the river.)

Fort Early was a square redoubt that was part of the Confederate Outer Defenses. It was known as the Salem Turnpike Fort during the battle, and renamed after the war. Union forces unsuccessfully attacked it soon after it was built. Earthworks still exist, located at Vermont, Memorial and Fort Aves., enclosed within a brick wall. A 1923 brick building inside the redoubt is the Fort Hill Women's Club. A small museum is inside, open by appointment. To the south is The Quaker Meeting House (1791, restored 1990), which existed as ruins during the war, and Sandusky (1808), used as Union headquarters during the battle.
Fort McCausland was a large crescent-shaped redoubt to protect the westward approach to the city. It was known as the Forest Road Fort during the battle, and renamed after the war. A Union cavalry unit skirmished near here with forces from this fort, but were driven back. Remnants still exist, located on Langhorne Road west of Clifton Street. A CSA outer battery was also located just to the north on Clifton Street on Blackwater Creek. No remains.
The Campbell Courthouse Road Fort was located near Falwell Airport (marker on Campbell Ave. (US 501) at US 460, no remains). It saw no action.
The Lexington Turnpike Fort, or Rivermont Fort, was located at Langhorne Road and Rivermont Ave. (marker, traces may still exist, now site of Villa Maria Academy). It saw no action.
The Amherst Heights Fort, actually two earthwork batteries, was located in Madison Heights along Colony Road on the grounds of the present-day Central Virginia Training Hospital (markers removed, traces may still exist). It saw no action.
Riverview Fort, opposite near Kelly in Campbell County, is a well-preserved CSA earthwork located about six miles east of the city off of Riverview Road on the James River, downstream of the Six Mile Bridge (railroad). It was known as the Southside Railroad Bridge Fort during the battle. It saw no action.

New London Arsenal
(1761 - 1785 ?), New London
A colonial militia powder magazine was located here on Buffalo Creek in 1761. During the American Revolution guns and gunpowder were manufactured and stored here for the state militia. Raided by the British in 1781. The state discontinued use of the complex after the war, replaced by Harpers Ferry (WV). The town was founded in 1758, and was the Bedford County seat until 1782.

Saponi Town
(1670), near Alta Vista ?
A Saponi Indian town located on the Big Otter River northeast of town. Unknown if palisaded. Visited by explorer John Lederer in 1670.

Staunton River Fort
(Staunton River Battlefield State Park)
(1864), Randolph
CSA earthworks and a small redoubt remain on a walking trail in the park. Built to protect the railroad bridge across the river. The bridge was held after the June 1864 battle, but was burned in April 1865 on General Lee's retreat to Appomattox. The current bridge was built in 1902.

Reedy Creek Archaeological Site
(900 - 1400), near Mount Laurel
A palisaded Indian village site of the Late Woodland Period, located on Reedy Creek at the Staunton River. Excavated in 1925. Artifacts also recovered from the Late Archaic Period (2000 - 1000 BC).

Occoneechee Town
(Occoneechee State Park)
(1500 ? - 1676), near Clarksville
The Occoneechee Indians had their main town located on an island in the Staunton (Roanoke) River. Unknown if palisaded. Visited by explorer John Lederer in 1670. The town was destroyed during Bacon's Rebellion, the surviving Indians later absorbed into the Saponi tribe. The island is now submerged under the waters of Buggs Island Lake (John H. Kerr Reservoir).

Danville Earthworks
(1865), Danville
CSA earthworks are still located on the hills above the Dan River, off of US 58. Danville was the last capital of the Confederate States of America.

NEED MORE INFO: A possible fort location in Colonial Heights at Battery Place. Battery Street in Emporia. Battery Street in Lynchburg.

Towns: Fort Mitchell south of Keysville