Port Walthall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Port Walthall
Former town
Sketch of the Appomattox at Port Walthall, the USS Commodore Perry is visible in the foreground.
Etymology: William Walthall
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Chesterfield

Port Walthall was a small town in Virginia, United States. It was located on the north side of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield County. This spot was just a few miles upriver from where the Appomattox River flows into the James River at City Point.

The Name of Port Walthall

Port Walthall got its name from William Walthall, a merchant. In 1656, he was granted 1600 acres of land in this area. His family had been merchants in London and were involved with the Virginia Company, which helped settle Virginia.

A Town is Born

The town of Port Walthall was officially started in 1840. Before that, in 1837, boats on the James River already offered trips connecting cities like Petersburg and Richmond to Norfolk. From Norfolk, people could even travel further by steamboat to places like Washington D.C. or Baltimore.

Coal and Railroads

Port Walthall became an important place for shipping coal. From 1846 until after the American Civil War, a special train track, called a spur, connected Port Walthall to the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. This spur was built to bring coal from the Clover Hill Pits to the port. From there, the coal could be loaded onto ships and sent north along the coast.

Map of the area around Port Walthall, Virginia, in 1866.

Two railroad presidents, Wirt and Moncure Robinson, helped build this branch line. They also started a steamship company to help compete with Petersburg for trade. They wanted to make sure their railroad could connect with ships going north.

Port Walthall Steamship Company

The Port Walthall Steamship Company was created in 1846 by the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. This company helped people travel by steamship. They could book trips through Old Point Comfort in Norfolk, Virginia. The railroad made sure that train schedules matched the steamship departures, so people could easily transfer.

In 1853, one of their steamships, the Augusta, was updated with important safety features. These included lifeboats and special pumps, as required by the United States Congress.

Passengers could travel from Richmond or Petersburg by train three days a week. They would then transfer to a steamship going to Norfolk. The trip cost $2 for white adults, $1.50 for enslaved people, and $1 for children if they went all the way to Norfolk. Meals on board cost extra.

Port Walthall During the Civil War

A map showing the Bermuda Hundred Campaign and the Battle of Port Walthall.

The American Civil War brought fighting to Port Walthall. The Battle of Port Walthall Junction happened on May 6–7, 1864. This battle was fought between the Union and Confederate forces. The "junction" was where the Port Walthall train tracks met the main Richmond and Petersburg Railroad line.

The Union forces eventually won the battle. This allowed them to cut the railroad, which was a very important supply line for Richmond. After the battle, Confederate soldiers even melted down the railroad tracks leading to the port to make cannons.

After the War

After the Civil War, the train line to Port Walthall was never rebuilt. Because of this, Port Walthall was no longer used as a major port. By the late 1800s, maps showed only a carriage road leading to the town from the main train line.

Port Walthall Today

Today, the name "Walthall" is still remembered. It was once the name of an exit on Interstate 95, a major highway. In the early 1990s, Virginia changed its exit numbers to be based on distance, so the name "Walthall" was no longer used for the exit.

Images for kids

• 

  Sketch of the Appomattox at Port Walthall, the USS Commodore Perry is visible in the foreground.

• 

  Map of the area around Port Walthall, Virginia, in 1866.

• 

  A map showing the Bermuda Hundred Campaign and the Battle of Port Walthall.