Near Henrico in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

"The Big Guns Spoke"

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

1. "The Big Guns Spoke" Marker

Inscription. This 1865 photograph shows the terrain over which the successful Union assault was made. Note the stumps where trees were removed to open a field of fire for the Confederate gunners. Your present location is in the right center of the photograph.

When about halfway across the field ... one of the big guns spoke, and out through the white, woolly smoke that leaped from its throat rushed a group of black balls that looked the size of our modern baseball... and they didn't seem to move much faster... A dozen men yelled "Look out!" The men shied to the left and right, lifting their legs high in (the) air, and, to my utter astonishment, dodged them as easily as if they had been cabbageheads...Three or four later doses of these could be readily seen, but they came too fast to be dodged, and their work was terrible.
Merlin C. Harris
96th New York Infantry

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 37° 25.577′ N, 77° 22.324′ W. Marker is near Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. It can be reached from Battlefield Park Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the walking trail in the Fort Harrison Unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Grant Under Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); The Killing Fields (within shouting distance of this marker); Surprise Attack (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Entrenchements (within shouting distance of this marker); Bombproof (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Fort Parapet (about 300 feet away); Bombproof and Casemate (about 300 feet away); Confederate Trenches (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henrico.

Other markers no longer nearby. Braving the Fire (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Surprise Attack (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Battlefield Tour - Ft Gilmer to Ft Brady. Richmond National Battlefield Park website. (Submitted on August 22, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

2. "The Big Guns Spoke" Marker

Ditch In Front of the Confederate Positions image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

3. Ditch In Front of the Confederate Positions

Reproduction 24-pdr Gun image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

4. Reproduction 24-pdr Gun

Guns similar to this reproduction were in the Confederate lines defending this portion of the Richmond defenses. The guns could fire grapeshot and canister, as described in the account on the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,062 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 22, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.