Confederate Bulwark

Fort Johnson - 1864

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

1. Confederate Bulwark Marker

Inscription. Fort Johnson was perfectly situated to protect Richmond. From this commanding ridge the Confederate garrison looked out across the treeless landscape that offered an open field of fire for their guns. A deep ditch protected by sharpened stakes added to the defense.

The test came on September 29, 1864. That morning Federal troops captured nearby Fort Harrison, then turned their attention to Fort Johnson. From here Confederate gunners opened fire at the massing blue lines. Just before the Union soldiers reached the fort, about 200 Georgia infantrymen arrived to reinforce Fort Johnson’s artillerists.

In the desperate fighting the outnumbered Confederate defenders prevented any Union soldiers from getting over the wall and captured nearly 150 Pennsylvanians who were trapped in the fort’s ditch. Fort Johnson remained in Confederate hands until its evacuation on April 2, 1865.

Erected by Richmond National Battlefield Park - National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1757.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 26.142′ N, 77° 22.64′ W. Marker was in Richmond

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, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker was on Battlefield Park Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in the Fort Johnson Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Fort Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Fort Harrison (approx. half a mile away); Richmond Defences (approx. 0.6 miles away); Freedom Fighters (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Park Headquarters (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named First Park Headquarters (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Harrison Trail (approx. 0.6 miles away); Confederate Counterattack (approx. 0.6 miles away).

More about this marker. The right of the marker contains a war-time photograph of the earthworks, with the caption “Note the person standing in the ditch in this 1865 photograph of Fort Johnson.”

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "Fort Johnson".

Also see . . . Battlefield Tour - Ft Gilmer to Ft Brady. Richmond National Battlefield Park website. (Submitted on January 6, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Marker at Fort Johnson image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

2. Marker at Fort Johnson

Confederate Earthworks at Fort Johnson image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

3. Confederate Earthworks at Fort Johnson

These Confederate fortifications are located across the road from the marker.

Richmond National Battlefield Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

4. Richmond National Battlefield Park

Marker is in the Fort Johnson Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 949 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 6, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.