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

Battle of New Market Heights

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, circa 1997

1. Battle of New Market Heights Marker

Inscription. On 28 September 1864, elements of Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s Army of the James crossed the James River to assault the Confederate defenses of Richmond. At dawn on 29 September, 6 regiments of U.S. Colored Troops fought with exceptional valor during their attack along New Market Road. Despite heavy casualties, they carried the earthworks there and succeeded in capturing New Market Heights, north of the road. Of the 16 Medals of Honor awarded to “Negro” soldiers during the Civil War, 14 were bestowed for this battle. Butler wrote that “the capacity of the negro race for soldiers had then and there been fully settled forever.”

Erected 1993 by Va. Dept. of Historic Resources. (Marker Number V-26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • 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 28, 1864.

Location. 37° 25.872′ N, 77° 19.067′ W. Marker is near Richmond, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is at the intersection of New Market Road (Scenic

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State Highway 5) and Bypass Interstate 295, on the left when traveling east on New Market Road. Use I-295 exit 22. The site is east of the Richmond National Battlefield Park, Fort Harrison Unit (a.k.a. Chaffin's Farm) which is west of I-295. (Stopping on the roadside may be hazardous if traffic is heavy on New Market Road.). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3616 New Market Rd, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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: The War of 1812 / Richmond's War of 1812 Defensive Camps (within shouting distance of this marker); New Market Heights

Unveiling Ceremony, Deep Bottom Park, Varina, 1993. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller

2. Unveiling Ceremony, Deep Bottom Park, Varina, 1993.

Col. William DeShields (U.S. Army, Ret.), president of the Black Military History Institute of America - the organization responsible for the marker's creation - assists with the unveiling prior to its actual installation on New Market Road.

(approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named New Market Heights (approx. half a mile away); New Market Road (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named New Market Heights (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named New Market Heights (approx. 0.7 miles away); Proposed First University in English America (approx. 0.7 miles away); Varina (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Another marker is no longer nearby. New Market Heights (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The battle of New Market Heights is described in signage with greater detail about three miles to the south in the Deep Bottom County Park where the Army of the James launched its attack on 28 September 1864.

The marker was placed at the initiative of the Black Military History Institute.

Regarding Battle of New Market Heights. In addition to the 16 soldiers mentioned on the marker, eight Black U.S. sailors also received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War. And in 2001, Corporal (later Sergeant) Andrew Jackson

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 18, 2021

3. Battle of New Market Heights Marker

View is looking to the west.

Smith of the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment became (albeit very belatedly) the 17th Black soldier so distinguished - for his heroism at the Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina on November 30, 1864.

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 . . . Wikipedia entry for The Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Describes the overall battle of which the assault on New Market Heights was part. (Submitted on January 26, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. USCT, Chaffin's Farm, United States Colored Troops, Fort Gilmer, Fort Harrison.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, 1993

4. Unveiling Ceremony, Deep Bottom Park, Varina, 1993.

Color guard includes USCT re-enactors Alvin Baptiste, Kenneth Brown and Richard Miller.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 6,104 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on September 9, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on December 4, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on January 26, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on November 10, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 4. submitted on January 26, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.