Fort Pocahontas, Civil War archaeological site in Charles City County, United States.
Fort Pocahontas is a Civil War earthwork fort on the northern bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. It features two artillery bastions, defensive ditches, and the remains of soldier encampment areas that are still visible on the ground today.
The fort was built in 1864 by United States Colored Troops under Brigadier General Edward Wild to protect Union supply lines along the James River. It held off a Confederate attack and stayed in use until the end of the war.
Fort Pocahontas is one of the few surviving earthworks built and defended by United States Colored Troops, giving it a special place in the story of African American soldiers during the Civil War. The visible walls and ditches stand as a direct trace of their work and presence on this land.
The site is private property and cannot be visited without making arrangements in advance. Reaching out to the property managers before your visit is the only way to confirm access and plan your time there.
Excavations at the site revealed three separate cannon pit systems, suggesting the fort was reorganized more than once to improve its defenses. This points to how much attention commanders paid to this stretch of the river during the conflict.
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