Fort Eustis, Newport News-- Part 3: During the Civil War

From Wikipedia.

In 2010, this military base was combined with nearby Langley Air Force Base and now it is Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Most of the fort is located on Mulberry Island in the James River which was settled soon after Jamestown in 1607.

During the Civil War, Confederate Fort Crawford (Fort Crafford) was on Mulberry Island and served as the southern end of the Warwick Line which was a Confederate line of defensive works across the Virginia Peninsula.  This line extended north to Yorktown on the York River and delayed Union forces under George McClellan advancing against Richmond in 1862.

--Brock-Perry

Austinville, Virginia

From Wikipedia.

In the earlier posts on Moses Austin, I mentioned the town of Austinville, Virginia, which was named after Moses Austin.

An unincorporated community in New River in southern Wythe County, Virginia.  New River State Park is there as is the Shot Tower Historical State Park which is nearby.

Stephen F. Austin was born here.

I have driven by the Shot Tower often on I-77, but never stopped.  Hey, lead in those shoy.

--Brock-Perry

War Comes to Hampton Roads-- Part 2

For two years, the British raided the James River as far as Lawnes Creek and Jamestown. They raided Warwick County and attacked Norfolk. They burned and plundered Hampton. They also attacked all over the Chesapeake Bay, including Maryland and Baltimore. //// This blockade was intended to blunt the American invasion of Canada. //// The frigate USS Constellation, Captain Charles Stewart, sailed out and had to flee two ships of the line, three frigates, a brig and a schooner. Tide and the wind turned against him, but he was able to get his ship to safety by kedging for hours and get under the protective guns of Fort Norfolk. //// --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Painting Delivered to Virginia Capital

From the Dec. 20, 2012, (Virginia) Progress-Index "War of 1812 painting delivered to State Capital."

A reproduction of marine artist Patrick O'Brien's painting of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson engaging British barges in the James River has been placed in Richmond.

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the original for the bicentennial of the war. The painting will hang in Virginia Delegate Del Cox's office who heads up the bicentennial commemoration for Virginia. At the end of the year it will be returned to the Coast Guard.

--Brock-Perry