Chester in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Mortar Pit
(ca. 1864)
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 8, 2025
1. Mortar Pit (ca. 1864) Marker
The earthen mound you see here is the Civil War remains of an 1864 mortar position built under fire by the 1st New York Engineers in September 1864. Men of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery brought 8-inch mortars here to engage Confederate mortar pits that were firing from across the river towards the engineers and laborers working inside the Dutch Gap Canal (to your right).
The 1st CT Heavy Artillery worked in tandem with the 1st NY Engineers to successful counter every Confederate attempt to overwhelm the Dutch Gap Canal garrison. The soldiers who served here, including various companies of 116th "United States Colored Troops," were often under continuous fire and dozens were killed on this ground.
One of their hasty field cemeteries for the Union soldiers is visible and marked inside the Henricus Park site.
(caption) (1864 sketch of an entrenched 8-inch mortar)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1864.
Location. 37° 22.59′ N, 77° 21.624′ W. Marker is in Chester, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It can be reached from 251 Henricus Park Road 1.3 miles east of Coxendale Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is at the end of the overlook trail between
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. 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 walking distance of this marker: Dutch Gap Canal (a few steps from this marker); USCTs At Dutch Gap (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); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (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 a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Dutch Gap (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Mount Malady (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); The Tides (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The linked marker details the cemetery referenced in this Mortar Pit
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 8, 2025
2. Mortar Pit (ca. 1864)
The marker is mounted on the fence post at right. This depression and slight rise surrounding it is the mortar pit identified by the marker.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 8, 2025
3. Dutch Gap Canal in 2025
Though the viewshed has not been maintained, during fall and winter visitors can see the gap (the canal has been much expanded since the Civil War) from just to the northeast of the marker. During the spring and summer, vegetation obscures the view from the bluff. Prior to 1864, the land in the foreground of this photo extended out to the land directly across the water via a narrow neck of land. It was through this neck that the Dutch Gap Canal was cut, originally intended to isolate the Confederate defenses to the southwest on the river bend to be circumvented by the canal. It was not finished during the war.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, May 24, 2025
4. Federal Cemetery inside Henricus Park
These depressions in the ground, surrounded by a fence and annotated with a similar laminated marker to the mortar pit's marker, are where Federal soldiers were buried when killed during the Dutch Gap Canal construction. The remains have since been exhumed and moved - likely the majority went to the National Cemeteries at either City Point (Hopewell) or Poplar Grove (Dinwiddie County), though at least one man's remains were returned to his home state.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 56 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 14, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
