Fort Nelson (Portsmouth, Virginia)
Portsmouth · Virginia · American Revolution, War of 1812, American Civil War
History & Significance
Fort Nelson and Fort Norfolk were built to guard the Elizabeth River, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth and the Gosport Navy Yard. Virginia's Revolutionary government constructed the fort of timber and rammed earth late in 1776, designed for a garrison of 150 men near previous entrenchments from 1774, with work supervised by Benedict Arnold.
On 10 May 1779, the Matthews-Collier raid landed about a thousand men at the mouth of the Elizabeth River, overwhelming a Virginia garrison of only a hundred men. During 1781, both Benedict Arnold (having defected to the British) and Lord Cornwallis occupied the fort.
Following the war, the fort was reconstructed in 1794 as an earthwork bastion fort under the first system of US fortifications. From 1802–1804 the fort was rebuilt of earth lined with brick to a design by architect B. Henry Latrobe as part of the second system of US fortifications, with a capacity of 37 guns and barracks for one company.
Although Fort Nelson itself never saw conflict, it was garrisoned during the War of 1812, with an elongated chain stretched from Fort Norfolk to Fort Nelson to prevent the British fleet from attacking Gosport Navy Yard, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. Fort Nelson was abandoned in 1824 and torn down in 1827 to make room for the naval hospital; much of the fort's brick was re-used in building the hospital. During the Civil War, the Confederacy occupied Fort Nelson in April 1861, but Fort Nelson came under federal control on 10 May 1862 when the Union army occupied the Norfolk area.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Revolutionary War-era fortification site on Hospital Point
- Elizabeth River waterfront setting with naval history significance
- Fort Nelson Park with commemorative naval artifacts
- Layered military history: 1776 construction, British occupation, Civil War rebuilding
- No standing structures remain
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Nelson_(Virginia)
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/fort-nelson-virginia
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=21145
- https://www.va250.org/portsmouth/
- https://portsvacation.com/portsmouths-historical-markers/
- https://www.historicforrest.com/HistoricFortNorfolk/FortNorfolkHistory/1779.html
- https://www.virginiaplaces.org/military/norfolknavalshipyarddefend.html