Port Royal in Caroline County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Port Royal

Union Supply Depot

Photographed by Kevin W., July 11, 2012

1. Port Royal Marker

Inscription. Port Royal possessed the finest harbor on the middle reaches of the Rappahannock River. Although the town's permanent wharf had been destroyed by Union gunboats before the Battle of Fredericksburg, the excellent harbor made Port Royal an obvious choice for a supply depot when the Army of the Potomac moved south after ther Battle of the Wilderness. On May 20, 1864, Brigadier General John J. Abercrombie, then commanding the Union supply base at Belle Plain on the Potomac River north of Fredericksburg, was ordered to abandon Belle Plain and relocate to Port Royal. General Abercrombie established his headquarters at Riverview, a waterfront home in the town, and the Army Corps of Engineers constructed a floating wharf on pontoons. The Port Royal harbor was soon choked with ships bringing in supplies and evacuating wounded troops. This frantic activity lasted only two weeks, until the establishment of a new base on the North Anna River closer to Richmond. Residents of the area were actually sorry to see General Abercrombie and his staff depart, because the general had earned the gratitude of property owners by providing guards

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to help protect their property from marauders, both Union soldiers and Confederate deserters.

Erected by Historic Port Royal with funding made possible through the sponsorship of the Washington-Lewis Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 20, 1864.

Location. 38° 10.341′ N, 77° 11.334′ W. Marker is in Port Royal, Virginia, in Caroline County. It is on King Street north of Water Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 813 Water Street, Port Royal VA 22535, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Photographed by Kevin W., July 11, 2012

2. Port Royal Marker

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: A different marker also named Port Royal (a few steps from this marker); Port Royal Harbor (a few steps from this marker); St. Peter's Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dorothy Roy (about 500 feet away); The Earliest Inhabitants: Native Americans (about 600 feet away); The Fox Tavern: A Colonial Landmark (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Port Royal (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Sacred Lot (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Royal.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 12, 2019

3. Port Royal Marker

Photographed by Kevin W., July 11, 2012

4. Riverview

This was the headquarters for General Abercrombie, as mention on the Port Royal Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2012, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,664 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2012, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3. submitted on May 12, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on July 15, 2012, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.