The Canal and the Civil War

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. The Canal and the Civil War Marker

Inscription. At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, the James River and the Kanawha Canal extended to Buchanon, nearly 200 miles west of Richmond. As Virginia’s railroads fell prey to Union armies, the canal became an increasingly important artery in the Confederacy’s transportation network. Despite its significance, Union armies made little effort to sever the canal in the first years of the war. It was not seriously threatened until March 1864, when Ulric Dalgren’s raiders briefly reached the James River. Three months later a Confederate force at Lynchburg defeated Federals under Gen. David Hunter, saving the waterway from serious injury. In March 1865, Union calvary under Gen. Philip Sheridan delivered the most serious blow by damaging enormous stretches of the canal west of Richmond.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 37° 32.181′ N, 77° 26.782′ W. Marker was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in Gambles Hill. It could be reached from Tredegar Street 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located behind the Civil War Visitor Center

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at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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. within walking distance of this location: Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other markers no longer nearby. Rail Lines at Tredegar (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Worker Housing (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Spike Mill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Rutherfoord’s Mill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); Neighborhoods at Tredegar (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge

The Kanawha Canal is to the left off the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. The Kanawha Canal is to the left off the marker

(was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Raceways (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Belle Isle Prison (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Company Store (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Belle Isle and Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Tredegar in 1951 (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Iron Works (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Industrial Recycling (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. On the upper half of the panel is a map of the canal system and on the lower half a photograph of the James River. The caption reads:

"The absence of serious military action in the bountiful counties of west-central Virginia during the first three years of the war made that region an important “breadbasket” for the state. Barges and boats used

The Kanawha Canal facing east image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

3. The Kanawha Canal facing east

the canal to bring the capital an uninterrupted flow of supplies from the west, including raw materials for the Tredegar Iron Works. Chimborazo Hospital had its own boat, as did Winder Hospital (boat seen below), to secure welcome fresh produce for their patients."

There are several misspelled words including Buchanan, Dahlgren, and cavalry.

The Kanawha Canal facing west image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

4. The Kanawha Canal facing west

View towards the Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

5. View towards the Visitor Center

Nearby Civil War gun image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

6. Nearby Civil War gun

Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

7. Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,316 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on January 19, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 5, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.