Cypress in Suffolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Pig Point Battery

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 15, 2011

1. Pig Point Battery Marker

Inscription. In June 1861, Union Maj.Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, in order to clear a route for the capture of Suffolk, sought to neutralize the Confederate battery at Pig Point three miles north on the James River at the mouth of the Nansemond River. At 9:00 a.m. on 5 June, the steamer USS Harriet Lane shelled the battery. The Portsmouth Rifles, manning the guns there, returned fire and struck the vessel twice. One shot hit a tub of musket balls; the flying balls wounded six men. No Confederates were injured in the engagement, which ended after twenty minutes when the Harriet Lane withdrew.

Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-261.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1861.

Location. 36° 46.146′ N, 76° 28.154′ W. Marker is in Suffolk, Virginia. It is in Cypress. It is on U.S. 58/460 1.4 miles west of Bisco Street, on the right when traveling west. This marker is located west of the Hampton Roads Executive Airport. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Suffolk VA 23434, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically 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 are within 5 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies: Sunray (approx. 3.4 miles away); Revolutionary Camp (approx. 3½ miles away); Site of the Nansemond Indian Public School #9 (approx. 3.9 miles away); James Bowser, Revolutionary Soldier (approx. 4 miles away); a different marker also named Florence Graded School (approx. 4 miles away); Glebe Church (approx. 4.1 miles away); Hargrove's Tavern (approx. 4.1 miles away); Bennett's Home (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Suffolk.

Other markers no longer nearby. Nansemond County / Norfolk County (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Florence Graded School (was approx. 3.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This marker replaced a much earlier marker. The original marker read 8 miles, not three miles. Virginia DHR's Highway Markers program confirmed in April 2025 that the draft text submitted for the marker in 1998 also read 8 miles, but apparently there was an error transcribing the text when the sign itself was cast - hence the current situation of a the sign incorrectly attributing the battery to a location only three miles from the marker. A note has been made to correct the error when the opportunity presents itself - likely if and when the marker

Photographed by Laura Troy, October 1, 2007

2. Pig Point Battery Marker

is damaged enough to warrant replacement.

Additional commentary.
1. Three Miles?
Am I missing something? Pig Point seems to be much more than 3 miles from this marker.

And yet this is where VA DHR decided to plant this marker! My guess is that this marker was written for erection on US 17 near VA 135 and it ended up here “temporarily” because of road construction in 1998. —Ed.

— Submitted February 9, 2020, by Bill Sanford of Norfolk, Virginia.

Pig Point Battery Marker, looking west bound along US 58 / US 13 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 15, 2011

3. Pig Point Battery Marker, looking west bound along US 58 / US 13

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 18, 2025

4. Pig Point

View of the confluence of the Nansemond & James Rivers from Pig Point in the general vicinity of where the ship-to-shore engagement was fought. No remains of the battery exist.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 6,619 times since then and 285 times this year. Last updated on April 18, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on October 23, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on October 2, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 23, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on February 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.