North in Mathews County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Civil War In Mathews County

Union African American Sailors

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 22, 2014

1. Civil War In Mathews County CWT Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The U.S. Navy’s longstanding tradition of recruiting black sailors enabled several runaways from Mathews County to enlist aboard Potomac Flotilla and North Atlantic Blockading Squadron warships. On January 30, 1862, the logbook of USS Young Rover noted the arrival of ﬁve Mathews County contrabands (escaped slaves), including John and Washington Diggs, Aleck Phillips (Billups), and Joe Williams. Young Rover picked up ﬁve more contrabands—George Williams, Humphrey Brooks, and brothers Richard, William, and Daniel Brooks—on March 1. The Brooks brothers shipped aboard the frigate USS Minnesota on May 17. Daniel Brooks at ﬁrst worked as a coal heaver on USCS Arago, a U.S. Coast Survey ship chartered by the government to help track CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack) in 1862. Capt G.J.H. Van Brunt, commander of Minnesota, welcomed contrabands into the crew. Van Brunt believed that these men served energetically and they “evidently felt that they were working at the deliverance of their race.”

(captions)
(lower left) Sailors on deck

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of USS Arago off Charleston, S.C. - Library of Congress
(lower center)USS Arago - Courtesy National Archives & Records Administration
(upper right) USS Minnesota, from Harper's Weekly

Erected 2014 by Virginia Civil WarTrails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 30, 1862.

Location. 37° 27.956′ N, 76° 26.676′ W. Marker is in North, Virginia, in Mathews County. Marker can be reached from Windsor Road (Virginia Route 3) 0.2 miles north of John Clayton Memorial Highway (Virginia Route 14), on the right when traveling north. Located along the walking trail in Fort Nonsense Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North VA 23128, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Clayton, Botanist (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Civil War In Mathews County (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Civil War In Mathews County (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Nonsense (within shouting distance

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 22, 2014

2. Civil War In Mathews County CWT Marker

of this marker); Field Fortifications (within shouting distance of this marker); By Land And By Sea (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Fort Nonsense (about 400 feet away); Mathews County (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North.

Fort Nonsense image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 22, 2014

3. Fort Nonsense

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 564 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on June 23, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.