Fort Powhatan (Prince George County, Virginia)

Prince George County · Virginia · American Revolution, War of 1812, American Civil War

Quick BriefHood's Battery, a two-gun earthwork built in 1779, was attacked by British forces under Benedict Arnold in January 1781. The site was replaced by a federal masonry fort in 1808, designed for 13 guns with a blockhouse and detached water battery. During the Civil War, Confederate forces added an earthwork battery in 1862 before Union forces captured the site in July 1863.

Civil WarCoastal defense

History & Significance

Fort Powhatan is a river defense fort on the south bank of the James River in Prince George County, positioned to prevent enemy vessels proceeding upriver to Richmond. The site saw three distinct phases of fortification.

During the American Revolution, a two-gun battery called Hood's Battery was built in 1779. In January 1781, British forces under Benedict Arnold attacked and dismantled the battery.

Later that year a larger fort was built, named Fort Hood. For the War of 1812, the federal government built a new masonry fort in 1808, named Fort Powhatan, as part of the second system of US fortifications, designed for 13 guns with a blockhouse and a detached water battery.

The star fort was still incomplete in 1811, though barracks for one company were complete, and was not armed until the War of 1812 broke out. During the Civil War, Confederate forces added a new earthwork battery on the site in 1862; the fort was subsequently captured by Union forces in July 1863.

The brick magazines, water battery, and Civil War battery still exist. The fort is now the private property of a gun club.