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° 28.157′ W. Marker is in Suffolk, Virginia. It is in Cypress. Marker is on U.S. 58 (U.S. 460), on the right. This marker is located further down the road past marker Z-235, west of Hampton Roads Executive Airport between I-664 and Nansemond Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Suffolk VA 23434, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this

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marker, measured 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); 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.

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.

Photographed By Laura Troy, October 1, 2007

2. Pig Point Battery Marker

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

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,883 times since then and 164 times this year. 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. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.