Camp Allen in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Trophy Cannon from CSS Albemarle, 1860s

2024

1. Trophy Cannon from CSS Albemarle, 1860s Marker

Inscription. The battle damaged ironclad CSS Albemarle was moored at Plymouth, NC to avoid risking further damage. Lt. William Cushing, USN led a night raid in an improvised spar torpedo boat and sank the ironclad at anchor in October 1864.

Courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command, NHHC 1972-313-A

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is October 27, 1864.

Location. 36° 55.345′ N, 76° 18.32′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Camp Allen. It can be reached from Mitscher Avenue 0.1 miles east of Morton Boulevard, on the left when traveling west. Marker is on board Camp Allen. A DoD identification card is required to access the base. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1562 Mitscher Ave, Norfolk VA 23511, 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,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard.

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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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Trophy Cannon from CSS Tennessee, 1860s (a few steps from this marker); The Norfolk Facility (approx. 0.4 miles away); Airship Roma Disaster (approx. half a mile away); U.S. Submarine Veterans W.W. II Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Naval Aviation Depot, Norfolk (approx. 1.7 miles away); Navy Mess Attendant School (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Norfolk 17 (approx. 1.9 miles away); United States Army Memorial (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

Trophy Cannon from CSS Albemarle & Marker image. Click for full size.

2024

2. Trophy Cannon from CSS Albemarle & Marker

The cannon is a 6.4-inch Confederate Brooke Rifle. The marker is affixed to the rear of the concrete mount.

CSS Albemarle Post-Salvage image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

3. CSS Albemarle Post-Salvage

Albemarle was salvaged and brought to Gosport Navy Yard (now Norfolk Naval Shipyard) in 1865, seen here in a photograph from the Miller's 1911 Photographic History of the Civil War Vol VI "The Navies", page 87, now in the Public Domain.

Lt. William B. Cushing Presentation Sword image. Click for full size.

2025

4. Lt. William B. Cushing Presentation Sword

Cushing's destruction of Albemarle made him a US Navy legend. This sword was given to him "by his friends and comrades" on 22 October 1864 - just five days before he used a spar torpedo picket boat to sink the Confederate ironclad ram. The sword is displayed at the US Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2026. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 11, 2026. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.