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

The Well

— Historic Fort Boykin —

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 5, 2024

1. The Well Marker

Inscription. A well was necessary at this site as the brackish James River did not provide suitable drinking water. The well, elliptical in shape with different brick-laying styles throughout, was built from the bottom up. Over the years, erosion of the cliffside has decreased the well's distance from the James River.

An archaeological survey of the well took place in 1968 and 1969. Researchers found slate from the 1862 exploded powder magazine, pottery, planks, posts, grapeshot, shells still loaded with black powder with their fuses intact, a boarding pike, hardware, hatchet, shovel, wooden ammunition boxes, buckets and soggy masses of gunpowder. Cannonballs were still live.

A time capsule in a champagne bottle was left at the bottom before the well was filled and sealed.

(captions)
Well shaft excavation diagram, 1969 Courtesy The Legend, History and Archaeology of Fort Boykin in Virginia edited by Floyd Painter
Archaeological survey, 1968
Boarding pike, bucket and cannonballs From the collection of the Isle of Wight County Museum

Erected by Isle of Wight County.

Topics and series. This historical marker is

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listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Time Capsules series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 37° 2.078′ N, 76° 37.066′ W. Marker is in Smithfield, Virginia, in Isle of Wight County. It can be reached from the intersection of Fort Boykin Trail (Virginia Route 705) and Morgarts Beach Road ( Route 673), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7410 Fort Boykin Trail, 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

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 5, 2024

2. The Well Marker

are within walking distance of this marker: The Fort's Last Private Owners (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Boykin Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Camp Eustis Attacks Fort Boykin (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Boykin (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Fort Boykin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to Fort Boykin Historic Park (about 300 feet away); Fort Boykin during the Civil War (about 500 feet away); The Historic James and its Tributaries (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smithfield.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Boykin Historic Park (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Fort Boykin. Isle of Wight County Museum (Submitted on April 6, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2024, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 5, 2024, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.