Fort Crafford facts for kids
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Fort Crafford
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Foundation of the Crafford house
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fort Eustis Military Reservation on Mulberry Island Point, Newport News, Virginia |
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| Area | 9.5 acres (3.8 ha) |
| Built | 1861 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002237 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 17, 1974 |
Fort Crafford is a special historical place located at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia. It's an old archaeological site that tells us about the past. This fort was built during the American Civil War by Confederate soldiers.
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What is Fort Crafford?
Fort Crafford is a unique type of fort called an earthwork. This means it was built using earth and dirt to create strong walls. It has a five-sided, or pentagonal, shape. The fort is found on Mulberry Island.
Building a Stronghold
Confederate forces built Fort Crafford in 1862. It was part of a bigger defense system called the Warwick Line. This line of forts and defenses stretched across the Virginia Peninsula. Its main goal was to stop Union (Northern) armies from moving up the James River.
Why Was it Built?
Fort Crafford was designed to protect another important spot called Mulberry Point Battery. This battery was right on the James River. It helped guard the Swash Channel, a waterway along the river. Fort Crafford was built inland to protect the battery from attacks coming over land. It also offered a safe place for soldiers if other defenses were broken through.
The fort was first known as the "covering work at Mulberry Island." Later, it was named Fort Crafford after the family who owned the land. It was not directly connected to the main Warwick Line. Instead, it was about half a mile away. This allowed soldiers to retreat into Fort Crafford if they needed to.
A Fort That Never Fought
Even though it was built for battle, Fort Crafford never saw any fighting. In May 1862, the Confederate forces left Mulberry Island. They moved closer to Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. Because of this, Fort Crafford was never attacked.
Uncovering History: Archaeology at Fort Crafford
Today, Fort Crafford is an important archaeological site. This means experts study the remains of the past found there.
The Crafford House Mystery
In the 1970s, people interested in history from the Fort Eustis Historical and Archaeological Association started digging at the site. They found the foundation of the old Crafford house. This house was located right inside the fort's earthwork walls. Today, you can still see the brick and oyster-shell mortar foundation. It is protected by a fence.
Clues from the 1600s
Later, in 1998, archaeologists from Colonial Williamsburg did more research. They discovered something even older! They found signs of people living in the area during the 1600s. This shows that the land where Fort Crafford stands has a very long history.
Fort Crafford was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
