Near Smithfield in Isle of Wight County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fort Huger

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2009

1. Fort Huger Marker

Inscription. One mile northeast, at Hardy’s Bluff on Lawne’s Neck, existed Fort Huger, a Civil War earthen fortification. Virginia State Engineer Col. Andrew Talcott authorized this and other forts to block any Union naval advance up the James River to Richmond. Beginning in July 1861, enslaved and freed blacks assisted in the construction of Fort Huger. It formed the right riverine flank of Confederate Gen. John B. Magruder’s Peninsula defenses in 1862. Union gunboats engaged Fort Huger on 8 May 1862 and USS Monitor shelled it on the 12th. After several bombardments, Confederate forces abandoned it by 19 May.

Erected 2006 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-327.)

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 May 8, 1862.

Location. 37° 4.603′ N, 76° 41.045′ W. Marker is near Smithfield, Virginia, in Isle of Wight County. It is at the intersection of Fort Huger Drive (Virginia Route 676) and Old Stage Highway ( Route 10), on the left when traveling north on Fort Huger Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Smithfield VA 23430, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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

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are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Surry County / Isle of Wight County (approx. half a mile away); Old Town (approx. 1½ miles away); Poole’s Funeral Home (approx. 1½ miles away); Lawne’s Creek Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bridge (approx. 2.7 miles away); Fifth Battalion Virginia Infantry (approx. 2.7 miles away); Encampment (approx. 2.7 miles away); South Bastion (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smithfield.

Also see . . . Fort Huger. Isle of Wight County Museum (Submitted on May 4, 2009.)

Fort Huger Road (facing north). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2009

2. Fort Huger Road (facing north).

Fort Huger North Bastion. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher

3. Fort Huger North Bastion.

Fort Huger South Bastion. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher

4. Fort Huger South Bastion.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,737 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 4, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on May 5, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.