K.C. Howell former resident of Woodland Heights has done some marvelous research into a civil war fort that was right in our midst. Italicized text are my additions as are the images. Thanks K.C. for doing the research and letting us share this with the Hills and Heights Community. Click on any of the images to enlarge.

In the waning days of the Civil War, the confederate capital prepared defensive batteries around the city. Battery 14 was located in right here in Woodland Heights!

I had always heard about a Civil War ‘fort’ in the neighborhood. I want to pass along my crude research with the other ‘amateur history detectives’ in the neighborhood, as we are now former Woodland Height residents (after 15 years).

First, I came across a great website on the Civil War which contained a map from the period I noticed that Battery 14 was on the south side of the James, south of the railroad and just to the east of (what I believe to be) Reedy Creek. I have highlighted 14 in yellow. Also it looks like Battery 13 would have been right in the neighborhood as well.

Next, I found a book which contained some descriptive information about Battery 14 (The War of the Rebellion By United States War Dept, George Breckenridge Davis, Leslie J. Perry, Joseph William Kirkley, United States War Records Office)

“On the south side of James River the intermediate line is incomplete from Broad Rock road to the river on the right. The troops in this quarter are, therefore, posted in the forts of the interior line as follows :

Battery 14 : Detachment Green’s company Louisiana Light Artillery (just exchanged)—1 officer and 20 men, one 8-inch shell gun, 40 rounds; one 32-pounder, 40 rounds; three 6-pounders, 50 rounds each. This work is entirely commanded by the ground a few hundred yards in front.”
Below is a sample 8 inch gun used in the Civil War this example was used at Fort McAllister and may or may not be correct as there were several types of 8 inch guns. In fact the term “Light Artillery” usually meant that they were mounted so this gun may very well have been on wheels. Often however due to a lack of resources Light Artillery units were often “Light” in name only. [via]

This is another example of an 8 inch gun but is listed a siege weapon but I included it since it was mounted and and was produced at Tredegar.

This is an example of what the 32-pounder would look like, unless of course as mentioned above it was mounted. Also from Fort McAllister.

Next up is an example of a 6 pounder. This particular example is not rifled.
This is what the artillery unit might have looked like. This is a group of re-enactors that are representing a unit from Louisiana so their uniforms could have been similar.

My most recent find was at the Library of Congress, which has digitized a
number of newspapers from 1880 to 1922. Chronicling America. I had planned a separate post on this great site put you will be seeing more examples of old news of the Hills and Heights area. Advertisements for our neighborhood contained the following information about Battery 14.

The Times-Dispatch, Sunday, May 9, 1909
Business Section, Page unknown
“…Two of the avenues from Semmes Avenue to the river cut through the old
battery…”

The Times-Dispatch, Sunday, May 30, 1909

Business Section, Page 5
”The old battery on Thirtieth Street, near Ferncliff, has been nearly
demolished to make way for further extension of the avenue.”

The Times-Dispatch, Sunday, December 4, 1910
Business Section, Page 1 (continued on page 2)
“…during the past week they have sold two lots at the corner of Davis
[researcher note: the current Chesterfield Street] and Thirty-first Streets
and two at the corner of Stonewall and Thirty-first. Both of these
locations are near the old battery.”

Below is an ad from August 15th 1909 and I have highlighted the reference to the old battery site. I posted the whole ad because it has some great lines throughout.Click on the image to enlarge.

To have this much history literally in my backyard is very exciting. Thanks again to K.C. Howell for giving us this glimpse into the past. Another look into the Richmond Past is here and talks about the old amusement park at Forest Hill Park.