The December 13th, 2007, Daily Press of Virginia reports that on a densely-wooded bluff at the very northern tip of Isle of Wight County there sits a largely-forgotten old Confederate fort. It was built to protect Richmond from Union incursions along the James River and was the scene of action during the Peninsular Campaign.
Fort Huger (pronounced Hu-gee, U-ghay, u-Gee, or even Hugger depending upon who you ask) was assaulted by Union vessels May 8, 1862 and withstood three more attacks before being captured after its cannons spiked. Some say that the USS Monitor took part in the attack. It's captured opened the James River for 50 miles.
For many years, it overlooked the US Maritime Ghost Fleet (Liberty Ships?).
It was thought that Fort Huger had been lost to the James River, but the development of the 155 lot Lawnes Point Subdivision rediscovered the fort in 2004. In exchange for a go-ahead to build, the developer donated the fort's property to the county which spent nearly a million dollars on the development of the park.
The fort's original construction involved the use of both free black and slave labor and started in August 1861. Fourteen interpretive signs have been placed inside the park. Its remoteness has caused the fort to be remarkably preserved, something that can not be said for much of the area around Richmond.
There are the remains of the shell house where ammunition was stored. There are also the remnants of the shot furnace where projectiles were heated to set fire to Union ships on contact and bombproofs where the garrison would stay during bombardments.
Great to Hear This Bit of Preservation. --The Old Blockade-Runner
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