Fort Boykin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Boykin Archaeological Site (44IW20)
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Earthwork at Fort Boykin
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Smithfield, Virginia |
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| Area | 14.4 acres (5.8 ha) |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Colonel Andrew Talcott |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001675 |
| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1985 |
Fort Boykin is an important historical place in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. It sits right next to the James River. People think the story of this site began way back in 1623. That's when early settlers, called colonists, were told to build a fort. This fort would keep them safe from Native American attacks or Spanish invaders. Today, you can still see parts of the fort. Most of what's left is from the American Civil War. These remains are now kept safe in a public park for everyone to visit.
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Early Fort: The Colonial Period
The first fort here was started in 1623. This happened after a big attack by Native Americans the year before. People were also worried about possible attacks from the Spanish. The first fort was called The Castle, or sometimes the Fort at Warraskoyack. Warraskoyack was an old name for Isle of Wight County. It was also known as Roger Smith's Fort.
This early fort likely had a triangular shape. It would have been surrounded by a ditch for protection. The dirt walls, called earthworks, probably had tall wooden fences, known as palisade walls, on top. As the dangers lessened, the fort was eventually left empty.
The fort was used again during Bacon's Rebellion in 1677. This was a time when colonists rebelled against the governor.
Revolutionary War: Fort Boykin's New Name
During the American Revolutionary War, the area where The Castle stood was made strong again. The new fort was named Fort Boykin. This was to honor Major Francis M. Boykin. He was a local officer in the Continental Army, which was America's army during the war. Major Boykin even worked for George Washington.
The fort was also called the Fort at the Rocks. This was because of the nearby plantation named The Rocks. What was left of The Castle was made bigger. New walls and places for cannons were added. Records don't show any battles happening at or near the fort during this war. After the British gave up in 1781, the fort was left empty once more.
War of 1812: A Star-Shaped Fort
People believe the fort was rebuilt again during the War of 1812. It was made even bigger and shaped like a five-pointed star. Records don't show any direct fights at the fort itself. However, a British warship, the HMS Plantagenet, stayed offshore in the river for several months.
During that time, the British tried to land at the wharf of The Rocks plantation. But the soldiers at the fort fought them off. After the war ended, the fort was again left to fall apart.
American Civil War: A Stronger Fort
The American Civil War made the Confederate Army interested in the fort again. The fort was made twice as big as it had been before.
Between June 1861 and May 1862, the Confederate States Army worked on Fort Boykin. They cleaned it up, fixed it, and made it stronger. This was part of a plan to build many forts. These forts were meant to stop the Union army from invading. The Union was building up its forces at the mouth of the James River. This was a big threat to Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital.
General Robert E. Lee, who led the Virginia forces, ordered Colonel Andrew Talcott to redesign Fort Boykin in August 1861. Colonel Talcott was the State Engineer of Virginia. Construction began under Talcott's son, Captain T.M.R. Talcott, and Lieutenant W.G. Turpin. Some Confederate records called the fort the Day's Point Battery.
By May 1862, the fort was not fully finished. But it had spots for 14 cannons, and 10 were already in place. A report from March 12, 1862, shows a mix of 32-pounder and 42-pounder cannons. These were all smoothbore cannons, meaning they had smooth barrels. All the cannons faced the James River. The fort also had a hot-shot furnace. This was used to heat cannonballs so they could set enemy ships on fire.
On May 8, 1862, Union Navy ships fired at the fort. These ships were the USS Galena, Aroostook, and Port Royal. This was part of the Peninsula campaign. This was a Union plan to attack Richmond from Fort Monroe, but it didn't work. The Union ships' cannons could shoot farther than the fort's cannons. So, the Confederate soldiers at the fort broke their cannons so the enemy couldn't use them. Then they left.
Union marines landed on May 17. They destroyed what they could and blew up the powder magazine. This was where gunpowder was stored. For the rest of the war, the fort was used by the Confederate Signal Corps. This group sent messages using flags or lights. The famous poet Sidney Lanier was part of this group.
After the Civil War
After the Civil War ended, Fort Boykin was no longer used by the military. It was left to become overgrown and forgotten. In 1908, Herbert and Mary Greer bought the land. They built a house inside the old fort's earthworks. The Jorden family bought the property in 1950. After the last owner passed away in 1976, the fort was given to the state. It was then opened for public use.
Fort Boykin Today
Today, most of the fort is still there. However, much of the front wall facing the river has worn away over time. Fort Boykin is now owned by Isle of Wight County. It is a public park where people can visit and learn about history. In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important site with potential for archaeological discoveries.
