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The Battle of Smithfield
Gilded eagle figurehead from the USS Smith-Briggs
The Battle of Smithfield, one of the many skirmishes in Virginia during the Civil War, took place in the middle of Main Street. Though not a major conflict, it made quite an impact on the inhabitants of Smithfield. On Sunday, Jan. 31, 1864, the Union gunboat USS Smith-Briggs approached the old abandoned shipyard at the bottom of Church Street - where Smithfield Station resides now. Locals were attending church services at Christ Episcopal Church at the corner of Main and Church Streets when the janitor burst in with the news. Everyone hurried for home. A unit of Confederate volunteers rushed to Smithfield from Ivor to engage the Union troops. After a small skirmish, the Confederates fell back to the west, and the Union soldiers returned to Smithfield - and found that their gunboat had not returned.
When Monday morning arrived cold and rainy and the gunboat still hadn't arrived, the Union soldiers placed their lone cannon at the top of Wharf Hill and waited. Maj. Sturdivant, discovering that the enemy troops were still in town, arrived at the west end of Main Street and set up two field pieces - a 12-pound Napoleon and a 6-pound Howitzer. The Union captain was fully prepared to surrender when he saw the gunboat coming up the Pagan River.
After ordering woman and children of the town into a basement for cover, Maj. Sturdivant opened fire straight down Main Street. Firing ensued for 45 minutes until Union forces scrambled to get aboard the USS Smith-Briggs. Capt. Norsworthy, a member of the Confederate calvary, pursued the troops and shot at them as they crossed the gangplank. The 12-pound Napoleon then fired from Main Street and shot through the steam chest of the vessel - causing the USS Smith-Briggs to run up the white flag of surrender and drift to the other side of the Pagan River where it lodged in the mud. The Union soldiers were taken prisoner. Dr. John R. Purdie and local women took care of the wounded temporarily, and only one Confederate soldier's life was lost. Set afire, the USS Smith-Briggs was blown to pieces when the flames hit the ammunition on board.
Before the explosion, Capt. Norsworthy pulled the gilded eagle figurehead from the ship. Mollie Chalmers, a local townsperson, recalled that Yankee coffee was enjoyed in Smithfield that night for the first time in many months. The gilded eagle is on display at the Old Courthouse of 1750, owned and maintained by Preservation VIrginia.
The Civil War in Smithfield & Isle of Wight County
Historic St. Luke's Church (circa 1632)
Our nation's only surviving original Gothic building, St. Luke's was originally known simply as the Old Brick Church. It served a parish that by 1634 already numbered 522 residents. The church houses an English chamber organ, c. 1630, which is the only surviving intact instrument of its kind in the world.
The cemetery at Historic St. Luke's was once used as an encampment area by Confederate troops, and it was used by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton's British troops during the Revolutionary War.
St. Luke's is open Tuesdays through Saturdays and partial days on Sunday. There is a small admission fee to tour. It is closed Monday and the entire month of January.
Fort Boykin Historic Park (circa 1623)
Fort Boykin has been a part of American history since 1623 when a fort known as the Castle was constructed to protect the Jamestown colonists from Native Americans and raiding Spaniards. Atop a bluff overlooking the James River, the site's commanding view makes it a keen observation point.
The fort was modified and renamed during the Revolutionary War and saw action during the War of 1812.
It was again modified for the Civil War by the Confederacy and fell to the Union in 1862. The musician and poet Sidney Lanier was stationed at Fort Boykin while serving in the Confederate Signal Corps.
Today, Fort Boykin remains essentially intact and constitutes a well-preserved example of military architecture of the Civil War era. Its premises are maintained by the Isle of Wight County Department of Historic Resources and remains free to the public daily from 8 a.m. until dusk.
Map to Fort Boykin Historic Park
The Civil War brought conflict directly to those living along the James River's south shore in Isle of Wight County. The "Gateway to the Confederate Capital," Fort Huger was an important strategic site as it controlled river transportation and, therefore, access to Richmond. Hence, the struggle for its control. Fort Huger was constructed mainly by slaves and free Negroes. A list of those who built the fort is posted on the tour.
On May 8, 1862, under orders by Abraham Lincoln, the fort was fired upon by the USS Galena, an experimental ironclad. On May 17 & 18, U.S. Marines landed and occupied both Fort Huger and Fort Boykin respectively to find most of the guns spiked, the carriages burned and structures within the forts destroyed. The forts never again impeded the Federal advance to Richmond. Forty-two former Fort Huger soldiers were killed, wounded or captured.
Fort Huger is located in the northern reaches of Isle of Wight, just off route 10 and 8 miles from downtown Smithfield. Visitors can view the ghost fleet on the James River, take the self-guided walking tour through the new trails and see the cannon mounted along the edges of the fort. Fort Huger is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained by the Isle of Wight Department of Historic Resources. The fort is open and free to the public daily from 8 a.m. until dusk.
The town of Smithfield and Isle of Wight County are active participants with the Civil War Trails program in the state of Virginia. For all Virginia Civil War Trails information, please visit their website.
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Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB Staff:
Judy Hare Winslow, Director of Tourism
Lois Chapman, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
Cheryl Whitener, Visitor Center Manager
Terry Thompson, Event Coordinator
Marci Parrish, Farmer's Market Manager
Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB and the Isle of Wight Arts League are partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
