Near Henrico in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Richmond Defences

Advanced Works of the Outer Line

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 5, 2003

1. Richmond Defences Marker

Inscription. Running Southeastward and then Southwestward. A Confederate earthwork, three miles long, here crossed the Darbytown Road. This fortification was designed to cover the Main Outer Line, with which it connected, one mile North of this point.

Erected by Battlefield Markers Association. (Marker Number 46.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Freeman Markers (Richmond Battlefields) series list.

Location. 37° 28.372′ N, 77° 20.562′ W. Marker is near Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is on Darbytown Road half a mile east of Strath Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2875 Darbytown Rd, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western

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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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Second Battle of Fair Oaks (approx. 0.2 miles away); One Last Advance (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Dorey Family (approx. 0.4 miles away); Darbytown Road / Pioneer Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Richmond Defences (approx. 0.8 miles away); Defenses of Richmond (approx. 1.1 miles away); 1862 Peninsula Campaign (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lee vs. Grant (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henrico.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Darbytown Road (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Additional keywords. Freeman Markers, Richmond Battlefield Parks Corporation, Douglas Southall Freeman

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 5, 2003

2. Richmond Defences Marker

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, July 25, 2026

3. Richmond Defences Marker

Context view - the road has only gotten busier since first photographed for this entry. There is no pull-off.

Richmond Defences image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, July 25, 2026

4. Richmond Defences

There is a low, heavily eroded trace of earthworks from the defensive line described in the marker just across the road on private property. It is discernible by looking at the visible bases of the trees at center; three of them are in a line on a fairly uniform low, long mound that runs back into the woods.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, July 25, 2026

5. Richmond Defences

The trees mark essentially the defensive line described in the marker. Darbytown Road is at right. The surviving traces of earthworks are on the right side of the road in this view. The Freeman marker itself is also visible just left of the road where the treeline breaks for the road.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2008, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,421 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 8, 2008, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 26, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.