North Newport News , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mott’s Battery

1862 Peninsula Campaign

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

1. Mott’s Battery Marker

Inscription. On April 4, 1862, Major General George B. McClellan launched his offensive on the Virginia Peninsula against the Confederate capital at Richmond. Major General John B. Magruder’s 13,000 troops halted the Union advance along the Warwick-Yorktown line on April 5, 1862. With aggressive troop maneuvers and artillery duels, Magruder deceived McClellan into believing he faced impregnable fortifications defended by over 100,000 troops. “Our reconnaissance of yesterday,” reported McClellan, “shows the strength of the enemy’s positions. The Warwick River grows worse the more you look at it.” For the next month, McClellan concentrated 121,500 troops, 103 siege guns, and 44 artillery batteries against the Confederate defenders.

This earthwork, part of McClellan’s extensive siege works, marked the second position of Captain Thaddeus Mott’s 3rd New York Battery during the April 16, 1862 Battle of Dam No. 1. Mott’s battery, containing two 12-pound Napoleon smoothbores and four 10-pound Parrott rifles, supported the strike against the Confederate one-gun battery at Dam No. 1. During the engagement, Mott’s battery suffered ten casualties, and Confederate counter-battery fire disabled one of the Parrot rifles.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

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in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 4, 1862.

Location. 37° 10.961′ N, 76° 32.062′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in North Newport News. It can be reached from Constitution Way, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located in Newport News Park, on on the discovery trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newport News VA 23603, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Hampton Roads,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Custer’s Covered Way (within shouting distance of this marker); The "Great Flood" of '99 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Berdan’s Sharpshooters (about 500 feet away); Battle of Dam No. 1 (about 600 feet away); Battle of Lee’s Mill (Dam Number 1) (about 700 feet away); Third Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry (about 700 feet away); Peninsula Campaign Warwick River (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ten Pound Parrott Rifle and Limber (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.

More about this marker.

Marker in Newport News Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

2. Marker in Newport News Park

Union fortifications can be seen in this photo behind the marker.

The upper right of the marker features a map of Confederate Defenses on the Peninsula, Courtesy of the Virginia War Museum. The upper left contains photographs of Maj. Gen. George B.. McClellan and Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder, Courtesy of the Library of Congress and the Virginia War Museum.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Markers on the Two Forts Walking Trail in Newport News Park.

Also see . . .
1. Yorktown. CWSAC Battle Summaries. (Submitted on September 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. Tidewater Virginia, The 1862 Peninsula Campaign. Civil War Traveler. (Submitted on September 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Marker on the Two Forts Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

3. Marker on the Two Forts Trail

Union Fortifications image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

4. Union Fortifications

These well-preserved earthworks, where Captain Thaddeus Mott’s 3rd New York Battery was located during the April 16, 1862 Battle of Dam No. 1, are located near the marker (visible in the left of the photo).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,063 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.