Belle and Mayo Islands in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

REMOVED

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Canons & Corpses

Canons and Corpses Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dale Nichols, July 13, 2008

1. Canons and Corpses Marker

Inscription.
Big guns on the hill deterred riots - in the over-crowded prison encampment to your left. Few escaped, most died of starvation, dysentery, and disease. In total about 1,000 perished. The cemetery, now empty, was to your right where trees grow today.

Erected by St. Catherine's Middle School.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 37° 31.787′ N, 77° 27.076′ W. Marker was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in Belle and Mayo Islands. It could be reached from U.S. 1/301, on the right when traveling south. Belle Island can be reached by crossing a foot bridge over the James River, in Richomnd, VA. There is no vehicle access tot he public. A bypass for US Highway 1 301 now runs directly over the prison yard where the Federal prisoners were kept. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 28 Route 1, Richmond VA 23224, 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,

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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. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Ironworks Oil House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civil War at Belle Isle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); James River Fall Line (about 600 feet away); Belle Isle Prison Camp Monument (about 600 feet away); Welcome to Belle Isle (about 600 feet away); Old Dominion Iron and Steel (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Hollywood Rapids (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other markers no longer nearby. Cannon over the Camp (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker

Belle Isle Prison Camp image. Click for full size.

via Encyclopedia Virginia, unknown

2. Belle Isle Prison Camp

A rare Confederate photograph taken in the field shows tents where Union prisoners of war were housed on Belle Isle, an open-air prison located on an island in the James River across from Richmond. The photographer, Charles R. Rees, took the image from a high point on the island; in the distance, at center left, is the Capitol.

now near it); Belle Isle Rolling Milling and Slitting Manufactory (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Historic Belle Isle (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Native American Fishing (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing); The Power of Moving Water (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Civil War POW Camp (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Hollywood Rapids (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Historic Belle Isle (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Old Dominion Iron & Steel Company (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Belle Isle Prison. Encyclopedia Virginia website entry (Submitted on April 10, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Belle Island Prison. Civil War Richmond page. Offers links to photos and other source

Photographed by Dale Nichols

3. Canons and Corpses Marker

Photo shows the POW yard where Federal prisoners were held. Also visible is the overpass for Interstate I-95.

material about the prison. (Submitted on December 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Additional keywords. Belle Island, POW, prisoner of war, Richmond.

Photographed by Dale Nichols

4. Canons and Corpses Marker

Former graveyard where Federal POW's were buried. The granite stones are arranged in the shape of a cross. All remains were removed after the war and the soldiers reburied in Federal cemeteries.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2008, by Dale Nichols of Newport News, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,085 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on April 13, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 30, 2008, by Dale Nichols of Newport News, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 10, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on November 30, 2008, by Dale Nichols of Newport News, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.