Lee Hall in Newport News, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lee’s Mill Earthworks

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

1. Lee’s Mill Earthworks Marker

Inscription. These earthworks were part of General John B. Magruder’s second line of defense. At this site on April 5, 1862, Confederate General Lafayette McLaw’s four companies of the Tenth Georgia with Captain Joseph B. Cosnahan’s two batteries stopped the advance of Union General William F. “Baldy” Smith’s two divisions of the Fourth Army Corps and Captain Charles C. Wheeler’s six batteries. Several skirmishes and engagements occurred here between April 5 and May 4, 1862 at which time the Confederate forces abandoned the earthworks and withdrew to Williamsburg.

Erected 1986 by Department of Conservation and Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-71.)

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 month for this entry is April 1864.

Location. 37° 10.173′ N, 76° 33.834′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in Lee Hall. It is at the intersection of Warwick Blvd. (U.S. 60) and Lees Mill Drive, on the right when traveling east on Warwick Blvd.. Touch for map. Marker

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is in this post office area: Newport News VA 23608, 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,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Lee’s Mill (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Lee’s Mill (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Warwick River (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fortification Design (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Warwick-Yorktown Line (approx. 0.4 miles away); Union Occupation (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Lee’s Mill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mulberry Point (approx.

Marker on Warwick Blvd image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

2. Marker on Warwick Blvd

On April 5, 1862, Union troops advancing on Richmond were stopped at this location by entrenched Confederates. The strength of these fortifications caused the Federals to switch to a seige action.

half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.

More about this marker. McLaws's is misspelled on the marker.

Also see . . . The Peninsula Campaign of 1862. (Submitted on August 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Lee’s Mill Earthworks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

3. Lee’s Mill Earthworks

These earthworks on the Warwick River were part of Magruder's second line of defense across the peninsula. They are located about a half mile west of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,992 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on April 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.