Gambles Hill in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Canal and the Civil War

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. The Canal and the Civil War Marker

Inscription. At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, the James River and the Kanawha Canal extended to Buchanon, nearly 200 miles west of Richmond. As Virginia’s railroads fell prey to Union armies, the canal became an increasingly important artery in the Confederacy’s transportation network. Despite its significance, Union armies made little effort to sever the canal in the first years of the war. It was not seriously threatened until March 1864, when Ulric Dalgren’s raiders briefly reached the James River. Three months later a Confederate force at Lynchburg defeated Federals under Gen. David Hunter, saving the waterway from serious injury. In March 1865, Union calvary under Gen. Philip Sheridan delivered the most serious blow by damaging enormous stretches of the canal west of Richmond.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 37° 32.181′ N, 77° 26.782′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Gambles Hill. Marker can be reached from Tredegar Street, 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located behind the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker. Rail Lines at Tredegar (here, next to this marker); Worker Housing (a few steps from this marker); Tredegar Spike Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (within shouting distance of this marker); Rutherfoord’s Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Neighborhoods at Tredegar (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge (about 300 feet away); President Lincoln Visits Richmond (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. On the upper half of the panel is a map of the canal system and on the lower half a photograph of the James River. The caption reads:

"The absence of serious military action in the bountiful counties of west-central Virginia during the first three years of the war made that region an important “breadbasket” for the state. Barges and boats used the canal to bring the capital an uninterrupted flow of supplies from the west, including raw materials for the Tredegar Iron Works. Chimborazo Hospital had its own boat, as did Winder Hospital (boat seen below), to secure welcome fresh produce for their patients."

There are several misspelled words including Buchanan, Dahlgren,

The Kanawha Canal is to the left off the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. The Kanawha Canal is to the left off the marker

and cavalry.

The Kanawha Canal facing east image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

3. The Kanawha Canal facing east

The Kanawha Canal facing west image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

4. The Kanawha Canal facing west

View towards the Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

5. View towards the Visitor Center

Nearby Civil War gun image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

6. Nearby Civil War gun

Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

7. Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,021 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 5, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.