Chester in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Dutch Gap
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 29, 2015
1. Dutch Gap Marker
1611 Sir Thomas Dale and his men, using a tactic developed in the Dutch Low Country, dug a ditch and erected a fence across the neck of the peninsula for the defense of Henricus.
1864 Federal forces under General Benjamin Butler began construction of a canal on the ditch site. This canal would cut off approximately six miles of river travel and protect Federal gunboats from the fire of Confederate land batteries. Federal soldiers labored 144 days under constant fire.
1865 The only remaining barrier to the completion of the canal was a large bulkhead. On January 1, the troops ignited the gun powder buried within it. The bulkhead exploded but the earth came back to rest in the newly dug canal. The project was abandoned.
1871 The U.S. Government completed the dredging of the gap, and opened the canal. The steamship
1930 The Army Corps of Engineers extended the canal to the Virginia Power plant. This created Hatchers Island and eliminated another large loop in the river.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1611.
Location.
this page online
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, this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Mortar Pit (a few steps from this marker); USCTs At Dutch Gap (a few steps from this marker); Dutch Gap Canal (a few steps from this marker); The Bermuda Hundred Campaign (a few steps from this marker); The Lightkeepers House (within shouting distance of this marker); Henricopolis (within shouting distance of this marker); The Church of Henricopolis (within shouting distance of this marker); Henricus Historical Park (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.
Other markers no longer nearby. The James River...Floating Through The Centuries (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 29, 2015
2. Dutch Gap Map
Also see . . . Henricus Historical Park. (Submitted on August 30, 2015.)
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 29, 2015
3. Dutch Gap Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 686 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on November 8, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
