Near Dahlgren in King George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Civil War Action At Mathias Point

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2009

1. Civil War Action At Mathias Point Marker

Inscription. In May 1861, Confederate forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles and Maj. Robert Mayo began constructing gun emplacements at Mathias Point, which is located 2.5 miles northwest on the Potomac River close to the Virginia shore. This battery, as well as others, interfered with Union forces shipping troops and supplies to Washington, D.C. On 27 June 1861, the gunboat, USS Thomas Freeborn, commanded by Comdr. James H. Ward, shelled the batteries held by the Confederate forces. While sighting the bow gun, Ward was mortally wounded, the first U.S. Navy officer killed in action in the Civil War.

Erected 2009 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number EP-6.)

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 May 1861.

Location. 38° 21.554′ N, 77° 1.101′ W. Marker is near Dahlgren, Virginia, in King George County. It is on James Madison Parkway (U.S. 301) 0.3 miles north of Barnsfield Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3540 James Madison Pkwy, Dahlgren VA 22448, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

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 4 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies: Mathias Point (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Guns (approx. 2.3 miles away); Laidler's Ferry (approx. 2.6 miles away in Maryland); Crossing the Potomac (approx. 3.1 miles away in Maryland); Popes Creek Generating Plant (approx. 3.1 miles away in Maryland); John Wilkes Booth (approx. 3.2 miles away in Maryland); Potomac Diversion (approx. 3.2 miles away in Maryland); Ways to Explore Southern Maryland’s Scenic and Historic Routes (approx. 3.2 miles away in Maryland).

Other markers no longer nearby. "Cliffton" (was approx. 2.1 miles away in Maryland but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named John Wilkes Booth (was approx. 3.2 miles away in Maryland but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2009

2. Civil War Action At Mathias Point Marker

Original location.

circa 2024

3. Civil War Action At Mathias Point Marker

Relocated 200 ft NW in 2024 following expansion of US-301 to four lanes.

Commander James H. Ward, USN, (1806-1861) image. Click for full size.

4. Commander James H. Ward, USN, (1806-1861)

The first U.S. Navy officer killed in action in the Civil War. Naval History & Heritage Command, Photo #: NH 66717

Engagement at Mathias Point image. Click for full size.

1861

5. Engagement at Mathias Point

"Engagement between the Gunboat Flotilla, Freeborn and Reliance, under the Command of Captain James H. Ward, and a Secession Force at Mathias Point, Va., on the Potomac River -- Death of Captain Ward.", 27 June 1861 Line engraving, based on a sketch by an "Officer of the Expedition", published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper", 1861. It depicts USS Thomas Freeborn, Ward's flagship, in the left foreground. The U.S. Tug Resolute is at right. Naval History & Heritage Command, Photo #: NH 59242

USS Thomas Freeborn (1861-1865) image. Click for full size.

6. USS Thomas Freeborn (1861-1865)

Some of the ship's officers and men demonstrate how her late Commanding Officer, Commander James H. Ward, was sighting her bow gun when he was mortally wounded on 27 June 1861, during an action with Confederate forces at Mathias Point, Virginia. The gun is a 32 pounder smoothbore, of 60 hundredweight, on a "Novelty Carriage". This mounting was developed by Commander Ward before the Civil War. Location appears to be the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. Naval History & Heritage Command, Photo #: NH 60990

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,368 times since then and 90 times this year. Last updated on October 29, 2024, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 29, 2024, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.