An Encyclopedia of Early Civil War Virginia
In the early days of the Civil War, as Virginia seceded and Confederate forces rushed to secure key positions across the state, Jamestown Island—better known as the birthplace of English America—was drawn into the conflict. Between April and July 1861, the Confederacy quickly turned Jamestown Island’s strategic position on the James River into a forward…
Continue reading ➞ Fort Pocahontas: Jamestown Island’s Forgotten Confederate Stronghold
In the wake of Confederate Lt. Col. Charles Dreux's death, a Union foraging party’s bold venture beyond their orders sparked a swift and decisive skirmish with Maj. John Bell Hood's Confederate cavalry, resulting in Union losses and Confederate triumph. On July 5, 1861, a failed ambush near the farm of Nelson Smith resulted in the…
A Confederate plot to surprise Union troops ended in chaos, confusion, and the tragic death of Lt. Col. Charles Dreux, the first field-grade Confederate officer killed in the Civil War. Following the Battle of Big Bethel, Union and Confederate forces on the Virginia Peninsula settled into a stalemate behind their fortifications. Both armies occasionally sent…
Continue reading ➞ Failed Ambush at Smith’s Farm: The Death of Lt. Col. Charles Dreux
Spirit of '61 