Virginia Eastern Shore

Last Update: 20/DECEMBER/2022

Compiled by Pete Payette - ฉ2022 American Forts Network

คค HARBOR DEFENSES of CHESAPEAKE BAY (partial - see also page 8)
Harbor Defense of Chesapeake Bay - FORT WIKI

คค Fort John Custis
(Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge)
(1940 - 1949/1981), Kiptopeke
Previous names include Fort Winslow and Fort Custis (1942). The name was formally revised in October 1942 to avoid confusion with Fort Eustis in Newport News. Batteries here were Battery Winslow / 122 (1943 - 1948), Battery 228 (1943) buried, and a railway battery (1942 - 1943) for eight 8-inch railguns (site at the US 13 toll booth). Battery 123 was planned but never built. One concrete fire-control tower still remains, near the later-built Air Force runway. Three steel-frame fire-control towers were once located on Wise Point, but were demolished sometime after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel complex was completed in 1964. See also Roads to the Future by Scott Kozel. The U.S. Air Force took over the post as the Cape Charles Air Force Station (1950 - 1981). Became a Federal Wildlife Refuge in 1984. Battery 228 and the PSR for Battery 122 remain completely buried. Interpretive displays at Battery 122, with a mounted 16-inch naval gun on display.

Of interest nearby, Kiptopeke State Park features a row of nine World War II concrete ships that now form a breakwater. This was the ferry terminal location from 1950 until the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was completed in 1964. The ferry was originally located in the town of Cape Charles before 1950. There is an extant steel-frame fire-control tower located north of Kiptopeke State Park at Prickett's Harbor (Cheapside).

Three steel-frame fire-control towers next to the Cape Charles Lighthouse on nearby Smith Island still remain. The present lighthouse was built in 1894, replacing earlier lighthouses from 1828 and 1864. Smith Island is a part of the Virginia Coastal Reserve owned by The Nature Conservancy. There are also two steel-frame fire-control towers extant on nearby Mockhorn Island (a Virginia State Wildlife Management Area). See also Virginia Seaside Water Trail

คค Fisherman's Island Military Reservation
(Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge)
(1917 - 1919, 1942 - 1949/1969), Fisherman's Island
Originally here was a U.S. Marine Hospital / Public Health Service Quarantine Station (1890 - 1919). Two two-gun 5-inch gun batteries (Batteries L and M) were built 1917 - 1919 (no remains). The Army post was then called Fisherman's Island Camp. The military reservation was officially established in 1919 in a land swap with the U.S. Treasury Department (for Craney Island, Portsmouth). The reservation later became a sub-unit of Fort John Custis from 1942 - 1949. New batteries built were Battery 227 (1943 - 1965), Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 20 (aka New Battery Lee) (1942 - 1944), and Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 24 (1943 - 1946). A mine casemate was also here, now buried. The U.S. Navy took control of the island from 1949 - 1969. The remaining abandoned guns were finally removed in 1976, and the steel-frame BC stations and searchlight towers were knocked down in place in 1986. The two six-inch guns from Battery 227 were sent to Fort Pickens, FL, one 90mm AMTB gun went to Battery Parrott at Fort Monroe, and one 90mm AMTB gun went to Fort Moultrie, SC. Became a National Wildlife Refuge in 1969. Public access to the island, including beach access, is restricted. Inquire at the Eastern Shore of VA NWR visitors center for periodic guided tours.

Accomack Plantation Fort
(1619 ? - unknown), near Dalbys
A fort and palisaded settlement along Old Plantation Creek, near the former Accowmack Indian town.

Town Fields Barracks
(1770's), near Cheriton
A local militia barracks and shore battery was once located here, two and one-half miles west of town.

Cherrystone Point Battery
(1814), Cherrystone
A local militia work on the Eastern Shore. It was not attacked by the British during actions in May 1814.

Camp Oyster
(1942 - 1944), Oyster
A coastal defense shore patrol subpost of Camp Somerset, MD. Posted here from January 1942 to October 1943 was "C" Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment. Replaced after that by "C" Troop, 116th Cavalry Recon Squad (Mech), until June 1944. Also known as Camp Ettinger by 1944. German POWs were also present here in 1944.

Eastville Barracks
(1770's), Eastville
A local militia barracks was once here at the courthouse. State marker on US 13.

Camp Exmore
(1941 - 1942 ?), Exmore
A coastal defense shore patrol subpost of Camp Somerset, MD. Posted here from late December 1941 to January 1942 was a company or platoon of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment. It is undetermined if this camp was continued later, or replaced by another camp such as at Oyster.

Parramore Island Fort
(1770's), Parramore Island
A local militia fort and shore battery was located on the northern end of the island at Wachapreague Inlet.

Pungoteague Battery
(1814), Pungoteague
A local militia work on Pungoteague Creek. It was attacked and destroyed by the British in May 1814. State marker on County Rt. 626 near Melfa.

Onancock Barracks
(1770's), Onancock
A local militia barracks was located here. State marker on US 13 at VA 179 in Onley.

Camp Accomac
(1941 - 1942 ?), Accomac
A coastal defense shore patrol subpost of Camp Somerset, MD. Posted here from late December 1941 to January 1942 was a company or platoon of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment. It is undetermined if this camp was continued later, or replaced by another camp such as at Chincoteague.

Gargatha Fort
(1668), near Gargatha or Gargathy Landing
A colonial militia fort built during troubles with the Pocomoke Indians along the then-recently disputed border with Maryland. The border was not defined until 1667. Possibly also spelled Gargathy, after the creek or bay. A related Maryland state marker is located on US 13 across the state line.

Chincoteague Inlet Fort
(1776 - 1780), Wallops Island
A local militia fort and shore battery located on the northern end of Wallops Island. Built sometime after September 1776 and garrisoned by men of the 9th Regiment of Virginia Militia under Col. Thomas Fleming. Armed with up to four guns, including at least one 18-pounder, and two 9-pounders that were removed in late 1780 and loaned to the Maryland state navy. The fort was attacked and briefly captured by the British in August 1779, with only eight men holding the fort at the time of attack.

Camp Chincoteague
(1941 - 1944), Chincoteague
A coastal defense shore patrol subpost of Camp Somerset, MD. Posted here in late December 1941 was a company of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, with HQ located at the then abandoned Methodist Protestant church at 6288 Church Street. Posted here from January 1942 to October 1943 at Camp Fletcher (at Church Street and Ridge Road) was one platoon of "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment. Replaced after that by "B" Troop, 116th Cavalry Recon Squad (Mech), until June 1944. Most of the camp buildings were burned down in late 1945.

Fort Hill (1) ? ?
(1650's or 1660's), near Horntown
A reference found on some early maps of the period for a site on the north side of Chincoteague Creek (Little Mosquito Creek). Perhaps the fortified village of the Chincoteague Indians during the so-called "Seaside War" of the 1650's, or the fortified homestead of Edmund Scarburgh who settled here after 1664.

Mosquito Point Fort
(1770's), near Horntown
A local militia shore battery located at the mouth of Little Mosquito Creek at Horntown Bay, near Horntown Landing. Garrisoned in early 1776 by men of the 2nd Regiment of Virginia Militia under Capt. Thomas Marshall. A Col. George Corbin was commanding the fort in August 1779 when news of the British capture of the Wallops Island fort was received, and was sent to recover the post.

Fort Albion
(1813 - 1815), Tangier Island
A British eight-gun fort located on the south side of the island, with two strong redoubts 300 yards apart, Officers' quarters and enlisted men's huts around a parade ground, and a hospital for 100 men. Also known as Camp Chessenessix. Beginning in March 1813 it was garrisoned with the "Colonial Marines", former slaves that were armed by the British with promises of freedom. It was the British fleet's main base of operations in the Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. It was not evacuated until February 1815. State marker near the airport.

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