Fort Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Harrison Fort Burnham
Part of Richmond Defenses
Near Richmond, Virginia in United States
Fort Harrison after being taken by Union soldiers and renamed Fort Burnham
Site information
Controlled by	Confederate States of America (1861–1864) Union Army (1864–)

Fort Harrison, later called Fort Burnham, was a very important fort during the American Civil War. It was built by the Confederate army. Its main job was to help protect Richmond, Virginia, which was the capital city for the Confederates.

The fort was named after Lieutenant William Harrison, a Confederate engineer. Fort Harrison was the largest in a series of forts. These forts stretched from New Market Road all the way to the James River. They were built to keep a very important place called Chaffin's Bluff safe.

The Battle for the Fort

On September 29, 1864, a big attack happened at Fort Harrison. About 2,500 Union soldiers attacked the fort. These soldiers were part of the Army of the James, led by Major General Benjamin Butler.

The fort was defended by only 200 Confederate soldiers. They were led by Major Richard Cornelius Taylor. The Union soldiers managed to break through and capture the fort. This battle is known as the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.

Why the Name Changed

During the attack, a Union general named Hiram Burnham was killed. He was a Brigadier General from Maine. He was leading a group of soldiers in the attack.

After the Union army captured the fort, they renamed it Fort Burnham. They did this to honor General Burnham, who died fighting bravely.

After the Battle

Even though the Union army only captured Fort Harrison, it was a big deal. General Robert E. Lee, the main Confederate general, saw that Richmond was now in danger. He ordered a counterattack the very next day, on September 30.

However, this counterattack failed. The Confederates could not take the fort back. Another Union general, George J. Stannard, was hurt during this fight. This failure meant the Confederates had to move their defenses further west. Fort Burnham stayed in Union hands until the war ended.

Fort Harrison Today

In 1930, a group called the Richmond Parks Corporation built a log cabin at the site. They used it as their main office. Today, this building is the visitor center for Fort Harrison. It is part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

A Recent Discovery

On September 22, 2014, park staff made an interesting discovery. They found an old artillery shell inside a ditch at Fort Gilmer. Fort Gilmer is another Confederate fort nearby. It is also part of the Fort Harrison battlefield area.

The shell did not explode. It was a 12-pound explosive round. It might have been used by Confederates as a hand grenade. They might have rolled it down the side of the fort to stop Union soldiers. Some of these Union soldiers were from the 7th United States Colored Troops.

Gallery

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  General view

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  Encampment and eathworks

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  Chapin's Bluff near Fort Burnham

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  Chapin's Bluff

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  Chapin's Bluff

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  Chapin's Bluff

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  The camp of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment near the battlefield on October 29, 1864

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  National Park Service marker for Fort Harrison

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  Fort Harrison interior in 2009