Near Colonial Heights in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Howlett Line Park

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

1. Howlett Line Park Marker

Inscription.

Howlett Line Park. . 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 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. . This historical marker was erected by Boy Scouts, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Chesterfield Historical Society. It is Near Colonial Heights in Chesterfield County Virginia

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

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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 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.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.

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

Route of Dantzler's Attack on Fort Dutton. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

2. Route of Dantzler's Attack on Fort Dutton.

when traveling south. Howlett Line Park is located in the Walthall Creek subdivision. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14100 Howlett Line Drive, Colonial Heights VA 23834, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Battle of Ware Bottom Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); A Bomb Proof Church ? (approx. 0.8 miles away); Construction of the Howlett Line (approx. 0.9 miles away); Howlett Line Gun Position (approx. one mile away); Sgt. James Engle (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fort Wead (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Wead (approx. 1.2 miles away); Parker's Battery (approx. 1.3 miles away).

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 Richmond, Virginia.)

1865 Howlett Line and Location of Current Parks. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

3. 1865 Howlett Line and Location of Current Parks.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

4. Howlett Line Park Marker

Howlett Line Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

5. Howlett Line Park

Interior of Howlett Line Park facing east. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

6. Interior of Howlett Line Park facing east.

Interior Howlett Line Park facing west. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

7. Interior Howlett Line Park facing west.

Artillery Platforms marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

8. Artillery Platforms marker.

Artillery Platforms image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

9. Artillery Platforms

Zig-Zagging Lines marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

10. Zig-Zagging Lines marker

Zig-Zagging Lines image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

11. Zig-Zagging Lines

Double Defensive Lines marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

12. Double Defensive Lines marker

Double Defensive Lines image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009

13. Double Defensive Lines

Bermuda Hundred, Va. Federal earthworks on left of the line, near Point of Rocks image. Click for full size.

1864

14. Bermuda Hundred, Va. Federal earthworks on left of the line, near Point of Rocks

Library of Congress [LC-B811- 2606]

Howlett Line Civil War Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2021

15. Howlett Line Civil War Site

This sign has replaced the original.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,000 times since then and 204 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on February 13, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 14. submitted on April 14, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 15. submitted on October 19, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.