Chester in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Bermuda Hundred Campaign
This is a fragment from the breech of a 5.8 inch “Sawyer Gun”. This gun was located at Battery Sawyer, a Federal gun position across the river to your front where the River’s Bend community is today. This gun burst on August 5, 1864 after firing 10 rounds. In an official report, Col. Henry L. Abbot of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery wrote: “The gun had already been fired a large number of times at Fort Monroe. It burst into four principle parts, the largest remained in its place on the carriage; the bottom of the bore near the breech, fell between the cheeks; the left half of the top fell upon the parapet a short distance from the gun; the right half was thrown some 200 yards entirely outside the fort.”
Sawyer Guns were created by New England inventor Sylvanius Sawyer. The Ordnance Department gave his guns favorable reviews, however, few of his guns were used during the Civil War, making this fragment a rare relic from the fighting that occurred near Dutch Gap.
This Sawyer Gun fragment was donated to the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia by David H. and Mary Kay Gates in honor of Judge Ernest P. Gates and Virginia Y. Gates.
(caption)
Map of the Dutch Gap area showing the location of Union and Confederate fortifications near Dutch Gap. (Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia)
Erected by The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 37° 22.461′ N, 77° 21.733′ W. Marker is in Chester, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. Marker can be reached from Henricus Park Road, 1.3 miles east of Coxendale Road. The marker is located in Henricus Historical Park east of the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester VA 23836, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chief Opechancanouch (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Bermuda Hundred Campaign (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Bermuda Hundred Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Citie of Henricus (within shouting distance of this marker); John N. Pastore, D.D.S. (within shouting distance of this marker); Farrar's Island (within shouting distance of this marker); Henricopolis (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mount Malady (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.
Also see . . .
1. The Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Essential Civil War Curriculum website entry (Submitted on January 2, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Henricus Historical Park. Website homepage (Submitted on August 23, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 421 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.