City Point, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City Point
Former town
City Point Location in Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Prince George
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)

City Point was a small town in Prince George County, Virginia. It became part of the city of Hopewell in 1923. During the American Civil War, City Point was very important. It was the main base for the Union Army during the long siege of Petersburg.

History of City Point

The Appomattox Manor

General U.S. Grant's cabin during the siege

Early Days (1613–1863)

City Point was founded in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Its location was perfect, right where the James and Appomattox Rivers meet. At first, it was called Bermuda Cittie, then "Charles City." In 1619, two men from City Point were representatives at the first meeting of Virginia's government, the House of Burgesses.

City Point was mostly peaceful until the American Revolution. In 1781, British ships led by Benedict Arnold sailed up the James River. They tried to capture Governor Thomas Jefferson but failed. Later, British troops landed at City Point. They marched towards Petersburg, Virginia, where French General Lafayette was stationed. Lafayette's forces pushed the British back.

Lord Cornwallis, another British general, regrouped his troops at City Point. He planned another attack on Lafayette. Cornwallis stayed one night at a large house called Mitchell's. This house is no longer there.

A famous legend comes from Cornwallis's stay. A young woman named Susanna Bolling overheard the British plans. She secretly left her home and canoed across the Appomattox River. Then she rode her horse to warn Lafayette. Because of her, Lafayette escaped Cornwallis's trap. Cornwallis soon moved his forces to Yorktown, where he was surrounded and surrendered in October 1781.

The Civil War and After (1864)

During the American Civil War, City Point became the main headquarters for General Ulysses S. Grant. This was during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864 and 1865. To support the Union army, two huge military bases were built here. There was a large supply center and a hospital. City Point became one of the busiest ports in the world during this time.

In March 1865, President Abraham Lincoln met with Generals Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. They also met with Admiral David Porter on a steamboat called the River Queen. This important meeting is shown in a famous painting called The Peacemakers.

The City Point Railroad was built in 1838. It connected City Point to Petersburg. This railway played a big part in the Civil War. Today, Grant's headquarters at Appomattox Manor are part of the Petersburg National Battlefield Park. The nearby City Point Historical District is a registered National Historical Landmark.

A Secret Explosion

Explosion of the powder barges at City Point, August 9, 1864

Alfred R. Waud's drawing of the explosion at City Point

On August 9, 1864, a huge explosion rocked City Point. General Grant said his headquarters were filled with flying pieces. A staff officer described a "rain of shot, shell, bullets, pieces of wood, iron bars."

Investigators found that a barge full of ammunition had exploded. It set off 30,000 artillery shells and 75,000 small bullets. At least 43 people died right away, and 126 were hurt. Some reports say up to 300 people died. The dock was almost completely destroyed. The damage cost about $2 million.

After the war, it was discovered this was not an accident. It was an act of sabotage by the Confederates. A secret agent named John Maxwell had hidden a time bomb on the ammunition barge. He used a clock to set off 12 pounds of gunpowder. He called his device a "horological torpedo" (horological means related to time, and torpedo was a term for bombs back then).

Maxwell later wrote a report about what he did. He said he snuck onto the wharf with his bomb hidden in a box. He convinced a worker to carry it onto the barge. About an hour later, the bomb exploded. He described the scene as "terrific." He also said the explosion caused damage to another barge and a large storage building.

Even with this huge explosion, the Union war effort was not stopped for long. The supply depot at City Point was back to normal in just nine days. After the attack, security at the ammunition wharf was made much stronger.

Images for kids

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  Grant at City Point in 1864 with his wife, Julia, and son Jesse

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  Soldiers' graves near the General Hospital, City Point, Virginia

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  The magazine wharf at City Point during the Civil War

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  The waterfront of City Point, Virginia (today Hopewell) in the winter of 1864–1865