Gloucester in Gloucester County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Gloucester in the Civil War
Target of a Raid
Confederate authorities frequently stored arms and supplies in civilian warehouses, commercial buildings, and depots. County seats, with their commodious courthouses, jails, and offices, also were used, and Federal authorities routinely raided these places.
"I went into the Court House. The window sashes and frames, doors and shutters, tables and stoves, and witness boxes were all immediately battered to pieces by an excited and frantic crowd [of soldiers]. … Several employed in dragging the refuse to the fire place where a fire had already been build from the debris. … [The hotel] was deserted and the boys took everything of value as lamps, etc. … [A]ll the stores were broken open, and … not less than five were on fire including the Court House but were put out." - Lt. Samuel Rodmand Smith, 4th Delaware Infantry, Apr. 11, 1863. Smith received the Medal of Honor for leadership under fire near Petersburg in Feb. 1865.
On April 7, 1863, a detachment of the 4th Delaware Infantry, three companies of the 169th Pennsylvania Drafted Militia, and detachments from the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry and the 6th New York Cavalry occupied Gloucester Court House for two hours. The force, under the 4th Delaware's Col. Arthur H. Grimshaw, had marched from Camp Gilpin at Gloucester Point, 16 miles southeast, to destroy grain, intercept Confederate mail, and forage for supplies. Grimshaw commented "the good conduct of the men," but the courthouse and other buildings were looted and damaged. According to local tradition, the jail may have been used as an armory during the war, but Grimshaw did not report finding weapons here. He and his men marched back to Gloucester Point the same day, taking "16 fine horses, 20 mules, 110 cattle… 80 sheep, 41 lambs, 6 yoke oxen, 3 wagons [and] turkeys, geese, ducks, [and] chickens."
Gloucester survived its brush with war, and the buildings were repaired. In 1889, the Confederate monument was erected in the square. A memorial to county native Pvt. James D. Gardner, 36th U.S. Colored Troops, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm in 1864, was placed here in 2005.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1968.
Location. 37° 24.889′ N, 76° 31.763′ W. Marker is in Gloucester, Virginia, in Gloucester County. Marker can be reached from Main Street (Business U.S. 17), on the right when traveling north. The marker stands in the courthouse square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6511 Main St, Gloucester VA 23061, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Court House (here, next to this marker); In Memoriam John Clayton (here, next to this marker); Pvt. James Daniel Gardner (a few steps from this marker); To the Confederate Dead of Gloucester (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named In Memoriam John Clayton (within shouting distance of this marker); Werowocomoco (within shouting distance of this marker); The Birdsall Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Daffodil Industry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gloucester.
Additional keywords. U.S.C.T.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,308 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 9, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.