Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Army Enters Richmond

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, 1994

1. Union Army Enters Richmond Marker

Inscription. Here Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, commander of the Army of the James, entered and took possession of Richmond at 8:15 A.M. on 3 April 1865 after receiving the surrender of the confederate capital a few miles east. The first units of Weitzel's command to enter the city were six regiments of Brig. Gen. Edward H. Ripley's 1st Brigade of the XXIVth Army Corps, and U.S. Colored Troops from infantry and cavalry regiments of the XXVth Army Corps. During the next twenty-four hours, the Union troops extinguished the fire that destroyed almost 40 blocks extending along the river and north to Capitol Square, restored order, and occupied Confederate office buildings.

Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA-41.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics • Military • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1865.

Location. 37° 31.155′ N, 77° 24.945′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Shockoe Bottom. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 5) and Nicholson Street, on the left when traveling

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north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4400 East Main Street, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rocketts Landing (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Atlantic Sturgeon (approx. 0.2 miles away); James River Steam Brewery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ancarrow's Landing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Up-River Venture (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Rocketts Landing (approx. 0.2 miles away); People-Technology-Commerce-Warfare (approx. 0.2 miles away); Crossing the Atlantic (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. Godrey Weitzel. The man who took Richmond. (Submitted on December 10, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. United States Colored Troops Virtual Tour by Markers. This virtual tour identifies all the HMdb markers included in the Historical Marker database, so far. (Submitted on December 11, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Additional keywords. USCT

Looking up the James River toward Richmond image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 7, 2009

2. Looking up the James River toward Richmond

Facing West on East Main Street toward Richmond image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 7, 2009

3. Facing West on East Main Street toward Richmond

Major General Godfrey Weitzel image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

4. Major General Godfrey Weitzel

From Harpers Weekly, October 22, 1864, Page 684.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,908 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on January 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on February 7, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 30, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.