History of Fort Magruder

On May 4th, 1862, Union divisions of Generals Hooker, Hancock, and “Baldy” Smith encountered units of the Southern Army east of Williamsburg. When Confederate army commander General Joseph E. Johnston became aware of the engagement, he sent Colonel John B. Magruder’s command to occupy and defend a line of earthen fortifications built during the spring of 1861. Fort Magruder dominated the center of a line of 14 smaller earthworks, known as redoubts, stretching from Queens Creek on the north to Tutters Neck Pond on the south. The fort became the focus of a concerted battle that raged for two days before Johnston disengaged his defenders. McClellan had been delayed long enough for Lee to assemble his defensive forces around Richmond.

Virginia · United States