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

Fort Harrison

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 17, 2009

1. Fort Harrison Marker

Inscription. Fort Harrison served as one of the principal works in Richmond's defenses during the Civil War. On 29 Sept. 1864, Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James launched a two-pronged attack against Richmond's defenses as Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had ordered. While African American regiments assaulted Confederate positions below New Market Heights to the east, Maj. Gen. Edward O. C. Ord led part of XVIII Corps against Fort Harrison, located south of here. Captured after heavy resistance, the fort then became a Union stronghold. The next day, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee personally supervised several fierce counterattacks to regain the position, but the Federals held on.

Erected 2003 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number V-2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: 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 September 29, 1864.

Location. 37° 27.264′ N, 77° 22.287′ W. Marker is in Varina, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker is on New Market Road (Virginia Route 5) 0.1 miles east of Battlefield Park Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2091 New Market Rd, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fort Gilmer (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Successful Colonial Tobacco Crop (about 600 feet away); Advancing On Richmond (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hopeless Attacks (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Gilmer (approx. 0.7 miles away); Richmond Defences (approx. 0.9 miles away); Henrico Parish Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. CWSAC Battle Summary. Chaffin's Farm / New Market Heights (Submitted on February 16, 2009.)

2. Richmond National Battlefield Park. Fort Harrison (Submitted on February 16, 2009.)

3. Richmond National Battlefield Park. Military Operations at Chaffin's Farm (Submitted on February 16, 2009.)

Fort Harrison Marker on New Market Road facing west. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 17, 2009

2. Fort Harrison Marker on New Market Road facing west.

Fort Burnham, Va. (previously Confederate Fort Harrison). Encampment and earthworks. image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

3. Fort Burnham, Va. (previously Confederate Fort Harrison). Encampment and earthworks.

Library of Congress [LC-B811- 2498]

Fort Harrison Interior Panorama image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2021

4. Fort Harrison Interior Panorama

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,114 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 17, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on October 19, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.