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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Colonial Heights in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
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Howlett Line Park
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 1. Howlett Line Park Marker | | |
Inscription. Following the Battle of Ware Bottom Church on May 20, 1864, Confederate forces began digging the earthworks that would become known as the Howlett Line. Named after the Howlett house, which stood at the northernmost point, the line stretched across the Bermuda Hundred peninsula from the James River to the Appomattox River. These fortifications effectively “bottled up” the 30,000-man Army of the James led by Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. The Confederates at this location exchanged fire with Union forts Dutton McConihe, Anderson and Pruyn until the position was abandoned after the fall of Petersburg in April 1865. The site was donated as a park by Mr. B. Forace Hill in 1991.
Dantzler’s Attack on Fort Dutton
On June 2, 1864, Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard sent troops toward nearby Federal positions to reconnoiter their strength. From near this spot, Col. Olin M. Dantzler led the 22nd South Carolina Regiment in an attempt to capture Fort Dutton. Using the ravine to the south as cover, he moved his men to within 150 yards of the fort. As the Confederates emerged from the ravine, they were met with canister from the guns of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Col. Dantzler and 16 of his men were killed in the failed assault. General Beauregard ordered the fort on the James River near the Howlett house to be | | | | 
By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 2. Route of Dantzler's Attack on Fort Dutton. | | |
named in Dantzler’s honor. That site is preserved today as Battery Dantzler Park.
Fort Dutton
Located aproximately 4,000 feet northeast of here. Fort Dutton was named after Col. Arthur H. Dutton who was mortally wounded on May 26, 1864 while leading a reconnaissance of the Confederate lines. Dutton died from his wounds on June 5. Fort Dutton stood until the 1990s when it was leveled for home construction.
This sign was sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 877, The Chester Station Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
Erected by Boy Scouts, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Chesterfield Historical Society.
Location. 37° 19.983′ N, 77° 22.917′ W. Marker is near Colonial Heights, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. Marker is on Howlett Line Drive 0.3 miles south of Woods Edge Road, on the right when traveling south. Click for map. Howlett Line Park is located in the Walthall Creek subdivision. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14100 Howlett Line Drive, Colonial Heights VA 23834, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Fort Wead (approx. 1.2 miles away); Parker's Battery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Remembrance (approx. 1.3 miles away); Howlett Line (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Boy Company (approx. 1.3 miles away); Richmond Battlefields (approx. 1.4 miles away); Confederate Reconnaissance Mission (approx. 1.4 miles away); The "Bottle" (approx. 1.5 miles away). | | | | 
By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 3. 1865 Howlett Line and Location of Current Parks. | | |
Regarding Howlett Line Park. On the lower left is a photo of "Col. Olin Miller Dantzler, Photo- Calhoun County S.C. Museum and Cultural Center, St. Mathews S.C."
On the upper center is a map detailing the route of Dantzler’s attack on Fort Dutton.
On the upper right is a map showing surviving works along the Howlett Line. The map carries the caption, "1865 Location of the Bermuda hundred Lines and current Parks".
On the lower right is "A wartime photograph of Union fortifications at Bermuda Hundred".
Also see . . . Civil War Traveler. Chesterfield County (Submitted on February 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 4. Howlett Line Park Marker | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 5. Howlett Line Park | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 6. Interior of Howlett Line Park facing east. | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 7. Interior Howlett Line Park facing west. | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 8. Artillery Platforms marker. | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 9. Artillery Platforms | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 10. Zig-Zagging Lines marker | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 11. Zig-Zagging Lines | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 12. Double Defensive Lines marker | | |
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By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009 | |
| | | 13. Double Defensive Lines | | |
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1864 | |
| | | 14. Bermuda Hundred, Va. Federal earthworks on left of the line, near Point of Rocks | | Library of Congress [LC-B811- 2606] | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on February 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,027 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on February 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia. 14. submitted on April 14, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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