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Home , Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln (play), Battle of Big Bethel, CSS Virginia, Emancipation Oak, Fort Wool

uarstein Q oran M ohn J of ourtesy C

useum M istory H ampton H

The Peninsula, 1861 Peninsula, The

useum M asemate C s ’ onroe M . t F and useum M niversity U ampton H of ourtesy C

King Mallory of the 115th Virginia 115th the of Mallory King

the of ourtesy C

The Grand Contraband Camp Contraband Grand The

Charles King Mallory King Charles

to , D. C. Butler then became concerned about about concerned became then Butler C. D. Washington, to slaves’ owner, Colonel Charles Charles Colonel owner, slaves’ near Hampton when two skirmishes occurred near Little Little near occurred skirmishes two when Hampton near

over 2,000 reinforcements within three weeks weeks three within reinforcements 2,000 over

July 21, 1861 which forced Butler to send reinforcements reinforcements send to Butler forced which 1861 21, July Baker, escaped to Ft. Monroe. The The Monroe. Ft. to escaped Baker, The Federals became aware of the Confederate presence presence Confederate the of aware became Federals The

Lt. Colonel Justin Dimick. Dimick welcomed welcomed Dimick Dimick. Justin Colonel Lt.

on Manassas First at defeat Union the by followed Mallory, James Townsend and Frank Frank and Townsend James Mallory,

In April 1861 Ft. Monroe was commanded by by commanded was Monroe Ft. 1861 April In

war despite the odds against them. Big Bethel was soon soon was Bethel Big them. against odds the despite war the Union lines along Newmarket Creek. Newmarket along lines Union the Three enslaved men, Shepard Shepard men, enslaved Three

Confederates gained a false hope that they could win the the win could they that hope false a gained Confederates Confederates built and began to probe towards towards probe to began and fortifications built Confederates

dignified ease and charming repose.” charming and ease dignified

The Federals were embarrassed by their defeat and the the and defeat their by embarrassed were Federals The 4 the Civil War’s purpose. purpose. War’s Civil the commonly known as Brick Kiln Creek, on June 6, 1861. The The 1861. 6, June on Creek, Kiln Brick as known commonly

willows and aspens. It had been the home of of home the been had It aspens. and willows

implications which would change change would which implications Highway crossed the northwest branch of the Back River, River, Back the of branch northwest the crossed Highway

amidst large gardens, under locusts, poplars, poplars, locusts, under gardens, large amidst

T GH I S ATE L O S E D E R MO A

also had far reaching political political reaching far had also position at Big Bethel Church where the Hampton-York Hampton-York the where Church Bethel Big at position

comfortable, old fashioned houses set back back set houses fashioned old comfortable,

wished on the Peninsula, it it Peninsula, the on wished So supported, Magruder decided to establish a forward forward a establish to decided Magruder supported, So

buildings and was “but a quiet village of of village quiet a “but was and buildings

march at will wherever they they wherever will at march

Richmond Howitzers and the 1st Regiment. Regiment. Carolina North 1st the and Howitzers Richmond

useum M asemate C

approximately 2,000 people and 500 500 and people 2,000 approximately

s ’ onroe M . t F of ourtesy C while “nobly serving his gun.” his serving “nobly while

proved that the Union could could Union the that proved received reinforcements such as Montaque’s Battalion, the the Battalion, Montaque’s as such reinforcements received

2nd U.S. Artillery U.S. 2nd

founded in 1610. The town consisted of of consisted town The 1610. in founded

Lieutenant John Greble was killed killed was Greble John Lieutenant

Greble, T. John Lt. The Union expedition not only only not expedition Union The

Rifles and the Old Dominion Dragoons. Magruder also also Magruder Dragoons. Dominion Old the and Rifles

was the historic port town of Hampton Hampton of town port historic the was

Creek. The battle truly ended when when ended truly battle The Creek.

mustered into Magruder’s command including the Wythe Wythe the including command Magruder’s into mustered

Less than three miles from Ft. Monroe Monroe Ft. from miles three than Less

fell back beyond Newmarket Newmarket beyond back fell

overwhelmingly voted to secede from the Union. the from secede to voted overwhelmingly Many units from Hampton Hampton from units Many

the engagement and the Federals Federals the and engagement the

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Hampton were appalled at the Union aggression and and aggression Union the at appalled were Hampton

fortifications on the Peninsula. Peninsula. the on fortifications

Mary Peake provided reading and other classes. other and reading provided Peake Mary and infantry operations. infantry and

Bankhead Magruder, CSA Magruder, Bankhead

Carolina. Winthrop’s death ended ended death Winthrop’s Carolina.

then they returned to Ft. Monroe. The citizens of of citizens The Monroe. Ft. to returned they then

organizing Confederate troops and and troops Confederate organizing John General Major Lockwood and local pre-war African American educator educator American African pre-war local and Lockwood it became a major base for the Federal fleet fleet Federal the for base major a became it

American with the 1st North North 1st the with American

of . The Federals closed the local polls and and polls local the closed Federals The Secession. of

himself to the enormous task of of task enormous the to himself the American Missionary Association. Reverend C. L. L. C. Reverend Association. Missionary American the lower . Virtually overnight overnight Virtually Bay. Chesapeake lower

dead by Sam Ashe, an African African an Ashe, Sam by dead

On that day Virginians were to vote on the Ordinance Ordinance the on vote to were Virginians day that On

John,” Magruder quickly set set quickly Magruder John,” in the South were established by by established were South the in Americans African the entrance to and the the and Roads Hampton to entrance the

was repulsed. Winthrop was shot shot was Winthrop repulsed. was

attempted and were unable to block the Union advance. advance. Union the block to unable were and attempted

Mexican War. Known as “Prince “Prince as Known War. Mexican Hamilton known as “Slabtown.” The first schools for for schools first The “Slabtown.” as known Hamilton the war erupted. Ft. Monroe commanded commanded Monroe Ft. erupted. war the

forded the creek; yet, their assault assault their yet, creek; the forded

While just a reconnaissance mission, the Confederates Confederates the mission, reconnaissance a just While

his gallant conduct during the the during conduct gallant his contraband community was established outside Camp Camp outside established was community contraband not to fall into Confederate hands when when hands Confederate into fall to not

redoubt. The new England Battalion Battalion England new The redoubt.

John Wolcott Phelps and the 1st into Hampton. Hampton. into Vermont 1st the and Phelps Wolcott John

brevetted lieutenant colonel for for colonel lieutenant brevetted began using them to support Union operations. A A operations. Union support to them using began It was the only fort in the Upper South South Upper the in fort only the was It

left flank of the main Confederate Confederate main the of flank left

Monroe on , 1861. The next day he sent Colonel Colonel sent he day next The 1861. 22, May on Monroe

1861 at Yorktown. Magruder was was Magruder Yorktown. at 1861

became a magnet for those seeking , and Butler Butler and freedom, seeking those for magnet a became and was designed to mount 412 . cannons. 412 mount to designed was and useum M asemate C he T

organized a final assault against the the against assault final a organized

of ourtesy C

secessionist movement in . Butler arrived at Ft. Ft. at arrived Butler Maryland. in movement secessionist

assumed command on May 24, 24, May on command assumed enslaved men ”contraband of war.” Ft. Monroe quickly quickly Monroe Ft. war.” of ”contraband men enslaved masonry in North America North in fortification masonry

Winthrop, USA Winthrop,

and Lt. Colonel Peter Washburn Washburn Peter Colonel Lt. and

had already achieved fame when he thwarted the the thwarted he when fame achieved already had

John Bankhead Magruder Magruder Bankhead John Major Theodore Theodore Major considered “chattel property,” Butler called the escaped escaped the called Butler property,” “chattel considered Ft. Monroe was the largest moat-encircled moat-encircled largest the was Monroe Ft.

the east. Major Winthrop Theodore Major east. the

criminal lawyer and pre-war Democratic politician, politician, Democratic pre-war and lawyer criminal

were at low ebb when Colonel Colonel when ebb low at were whatever property they required. Since slaves were were slaves Since required. they property whatever of the from 1819 to 1834, 1834, to 1819 from Peninsula Virginia the of

position. The battle now shifted to to shifted now battle The position.

of Virginia headquartered at Ft. Monroe. Butler, an astute astute an Butler, Monroe. Ft. at headquartered Virginia of

Southern fortunes on the Peninsula Peninsula the on fortunes Southern Butler added that his troops would take possession of of possession take would troops his that added Butler Built on on the very tip tip very the on Comfort Point Old on Built

by D. H. Hill recaptured this this recaptured Hill H. D. by

created Union Department Department Union created

had no “constitutional obligation” to return the slaves. slaves. the return to obligation” “constitutional no had strategic footing in Confederate territory. territory. Confederate in footing strategic

battery, a counter-attack organized organized counter-attack a battery, commander of the newly newly the of commander 1861, Union troops occupied the virtually empty town. empty virtually the occupied troops Union 1861,

independent and was at war with the , he he States, United the with war at was and independent useum M asemate C s ’ onroe M . t F of ourtesy C provided the Federals with an important important an with Federals the provided

Just as the occupied the the occupied Zouaves the as Just

Franklin Butler, USA Butler, Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Butler as as Butler Franklin Benjamin homes and find shelter elsewhere. Consequently, on June 3, 3, June on Consequently, elsewhere. shelter find and homes

Butler believed that since Virginia considered itself itself considered Virginia since that believed Butler

Fort Monroe during the secession crisis crisis secession the during Monroe Fort

Benjamin General Major

abandon their one-gun battery. battery. one-gun their abandon

to assign Major General General Major assign to prompted pro-Confederate Hamptonians to abandon their their abandon to Hamptonians pro-Confederate prompted

Confederate fortifications, rejected his request. General General request. his rejected fortifications, Confederate The Union’s ability to maintain control of of control maintain to ability Union’s The

the Confederates were forced to to forced were Confederates the

General Scott Winfield General built an entrenched camp named Camp Butler. This action action This Butler. Camp named camp entrenched an built

and that such laborers were being used to build nearby nearby build to used being were laborers such that and

Because of a malfunction, malfunction, cannon a of Because

to Ft. Monroe prompted prompted Monroe Ft. to News Point to blockade the . The Federals Federals The River. James the blockade to Point News

significant events. events. significant realizing that was at the very core of the conflict conflict the of core very the at was slavery that realizing

supported by the 3rd New York. York. New 3rd the by supported

Union troops assigned assigned troops Union , and Vermont volunteers to occupy Newport Newport occupy to volunteers Vermont and Massachusetts,

would quickly become the scene of several several of scene the become quickly would men, using the Fugitive Slave Law as justification. Butler, Butler, justification. as Law Slave Fugitive the using men,

fortifications. A third attack was was attack third A fortifications.

The rapid increase of of increase rapid The 1861, the Union general sent three regiments of New York, York, New of regiments three sent general Union the 1861,

was in the path of the opposing armies and and armies opposing the of path the in was , sent Major John Baytop Cary to retrieve his three three his retrieve to Cary Baytop John Major sent Militia,

assaults against the Confederate Confederate the against assaults

Sewell’s Point, , and Pig Point. On May 27, 27, May On Point. Pig and Island, Craney Point, Sewell’s uarstein Q oran M ohn J

largest community on the lower Peninsula, Peninsula, lower the on community largest

of ourtesy C

Zouaves made two piecemeal piecemeal two made Zouaves

DS AN B A R ONT C

of Confederate fortifications across Hampton Roads at at Roads Hampton across fortifications Confederate of

Harvey Hill, CSA Hill, Harvey

Richmond. The port town of Hampton, the the Hampton, of town port The Richmond.

useum M asemate C s ’ onroe M . t F of ourtesy C

on the field of battle. The Duryea’s Duryea’s The battle. of field the on

Major General Daniel Daniel General Major 2

The Contraband of War Decision War of Contraband The slaves; rather, Butler strove to contest the construction construction the contest to strove Butler rather, slaves;

approaches to the Confederate capital at at capital Confederate the to approaches E H T D AN

10, 1861, the Union troops arrived arrived troops Union the 1861, 10, 3

General Butler had not come to Ft. Monroe to free free to Monroe Ft. to come not had Butler General

the Chesapeake Bay, was one of three major major three of one was Bay, Chesapeake the

their defenses and at 9 a.m. on June June on a.m. 9 at and defenses their R R E L T BU EN B

bordered by the James and York rivers and and rivers York and James the by bordered

of the 1st North Carolina prepared prepared Carolina North 1st the of E L ATT B T RS I F E H T

strategic location. The Virginia Peninsula, Peninsula, Virginia The location. strategic

Magruder and Colonel D.H. Hill Hill D.H. Colonel and Magruder

recognized the Peninsula as an extremely extremely an as Peninsula the recognized

property, but to no avail. no to but property, she observed the Federal advance. advance. Federal the observed she

1861, Northern and Southern leaders alike alike leaders Southern and Northern 1861,

Tyler’s wife, Julia, asked Northern to protect her her protect to authorities Northern asked Julia, wife, Tyler’s

toward the Confederate lines when when lines Confederate the toward

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When Virginia left the Union on April 17, 17, April on Union the left Virginia When

Battle of Big Bethel Big of Battle ’s summer house, Villa Margaret, into barracks. barracks. into Margaret, Villa house, summer Tyler’s John Nicholson Tunnel, who had rushed rushed had who Tunnel, Nicholson

the confines of the camp and converted former President President former converted and camp the of confines the of the Federal approach by Hannah Hannah by approach Federal the of S IN G E B AMA DR E H T

by the guns of Ft. Monroe. Many soldiers moved beyond beyond moved soldiers Many Monroe. Ft. of guns the by Meanwhile, Magruder was warned warned was Magruder Meanwhile,

The camp was not fortified due to the protection provided provided protection the to due fortified not was camp The

to Big Bethel. Big to

God, sir, might makes right!” makes might sir, God, commander burned Little Bethel Church and marched on on marched and Church Bethel Little burned commander

epoch-making events epoch-making

the sacred soil of Virginia?” Dimick reportedly snapped, “By “By snapped, reportedly Dimick Virginia?” of soil sacred the was the Civil War’s first friendly fire incident. The Federal Federal The incident. fire friendly first War’s Civil the was

what right, sir, does your army cross that bridge and invade invade and bridge that cross army your does sir, right, what erroneously fired into the ranks of the 3rd New York. It It York. New 3rd the of ranks the into fired erroneously AR W IVIL

One local volunteer confronted Dimick and demanded, “By “By demanded, and Dimick confronted volunteer local One C night and these various units, forming the 7th New York, York, New 7th the forming units, various these and night

farms, establishing Camp Hamilton in present day Phoebus. Phoebus. day present in Hamilton Camp establishing farms, general Ebenezer W. Pierce. The Union troops marched at at marched troops Union The Pierce. W. Ebenezer general

bordered Ft. Monroe and occupied the Clark and Segar Segar and Clark the occupied and Monroe Ft. bordered under the overall command of Massachusetts militia militia Massachusetts of command overall the under

Dimick led the 4th Massachusetts across Mill Creek which which Creek Mill across Massachusetts 4th the led Dimick converging columns from Ft. Monroe and Camp Butler Butler Camp and Monroe Ft. from columns converging

more space and fresh water. Consequently, on May 13, 1861 1861 13, May on Consequently, water. fresh and space more

the advanced Confederate positions. Butler organized two two organized Butler positions. Confederate advanced the ’S AMPTON H xperience E

of the war’s outbreak and realized that his command needed needed command his that realized and outbreak war’s the of Bethel Church. General Butler decided to strike against against strike to decided Butler General Church. Bethel

A More Desolate Sight continued the Confederate forces surrounding the Federal enclave After dark on August 7, 1861 Phillips’ men set the town HAMPTON’S on the tip of the Peninsula. He sent for aeronaut Jack afire. Sergeant Hudgins II of the Old Dominion Hampton Civil War La Mountain and his two hydrogen gas balloons. La Dragoons remembered, “As the smoke ascended toward CIVIL WAR FIRSTS Mountain’s first successful flight was from Ft. Monroe the heavens I was reminded of the ancient sacrifices Museums & sites Sites in on July 31, 1861. After another ascension on August 1, on the altar to many deities and I thought how my little The descended upon the La Mountain suggested that he needed to get closer to home town was being made a sacrifice to the grim god town of Hampton with a blaze of historic firsts. to observe the Confederate batteries. On of war.” Hampton August 3, 1861 La Mountain made the first balloon flight Hampton’s location near Ft. Monroe placed it Museum ★ Virginia★ from the deck of a warship, the USS Fanny. Hampton was left desolate: a heap of destruction and in harm’s way at the war’s onset and resulted waste. Nevertheless, one ironic outcome of the burning Ft. Monroe, Casemate 20, Bernard Road in its destruction. Nevertheless, the forts 757-788-3391 Neither Butler nor La Mountain noticed that Magruder, was the establishment of the Grand Contraband Camp Open daily year round. 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. recently promoted to brigadier general for his victory atop the town’s ruins. The courthouse was repaired so that and buildings that did survive are witnesses Closed , Dec. 25, and Jan. 1. at Big Bethel, advanced down the Peninsula to threaten it could serve as a school and a vibrant African American to the great changes that the Civil War and Free admission. I-64, exit 268. the Union positions with a 5,000-man force. On community began to grow. Reconstruction brought to our nation. August 6, Magruder learned that the Federals intended Hampton History Museum to use the town of Hampton to house Union soldiers The Union’s continued control of Ft. Monroe enabled • Only pre-war fort in Virginia to be retained by Downtown Hampton, 120 Old Hampton Lane and contrabands. Magruder recognized that, due to the Federal fleet to use the waterways around Hampton Battle of the Ironclads the Union throughout the war. April 17, 1861 757-727-1610 • www.hampton.gov/history_museum Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum its proximity to Ft. Monroe, the Confederates could as a base for its blockade of the Southern coastline. The Open Mon–Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun, 1–5 p.m. never hold Hampton. Civil War’s first amphibious operation was launched • First occupation of Virginia territory when Union Closed major holidays. Admission fee. I-64, exit 267. Consequently, Magruder, from Ft. Monroe on August 26, 1861 when troops established Camp Hamilton on the Clark with an agreement Silas Horton Stringham’s squadron left Hampton Roads and Segar farms. May 13, 1861 Museum from the local soldiers with Ben Butler’s division en route to the capture of Hampton University, 11 Frissell Avenue in his command, Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina on August 29, 1861. • First steps toward transforming the Civil War 757-727-5308 • www.hamptonu.edu/museum decided to burn Ft. Monroe quickly became the base for several other into a conflict to end slavery occurred when Open year round: Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat, Noon–4 p.m. Hampton. Magruder major amphibious operations resulting in the capture Major General Benjamin F. Butler declared Closed Sun. Closed major and campus holidays. organized a force of Port Royal Sound, SC; Roanoke Island, NC; and New three runaway slaves as “Contraband of War.” Free admission. I-64, exit 267. under the command Orleans, LA. May 24, 1861 of Hampton resident Miss Hampton II Harbor Cruises Captain Jefferson Curle • First land battle at Big Bethel. , 1861 (to explore ) Phillips to complete this OF IRON This engagement also witnessed these Downtown Hampton, 710 Settlers Landing Road 888-757-BOAT, 757-722-9102 “loathsome yet patriotic other Civil War firsts: 5The success of these amphibious actions prompted Major www.misshamptoncruises.com act” prompted by ”the General George Brinton McClellan to plan to bring his • First Confederate infantryman, Pvt. Tour length: 3 hours. Purchase tickets in the Hampton Maritime foulest desecrations Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula and, using Ft. Henry Lawson Wyatt, killed in battle. Center. Call for tour schedule. Admission fee. I-64, exit 267. of these houses and Monroe as his base, move against Richmond. On March homes of our Virginia 8, 1862, just as McClellan was sharing the merits of • First Union soldier, Private George St. John’s Church people by their former his plan with the President, the Confederate ironclad, Tiebout, killed in combat. Downtown Hampton, 100 West Queens Way Captain Jefferson Curle Phillips, Yankee occupants.” Old Dominion Dragoons, CSA CSS Virginia (Merrimack) emerged from the Elizabeth 757-722-2567 • www.stjohnshampton.org Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum Crew of the USS • First African American, Sam Ashe, to Open year-round: Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat, 9 a.m.–Noon. Guided River and steamed across Hampton Roads to attack Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum serve in combat. tours by appointment; no tours Sun or Thurs mornings. Closed the Union wooden warships. The Virginia had been On the morning of March 9, 1862 the Virginia re-entered major holidays. Free admission. I-64, exit 267. reconstructed from the steam Merrimack which • First launching of a gas balloon in a combat had been partially burned when the Federals abandoned Hampton Roads intent on destroying the last of the Federal wooden warships. The Confederates were surprised to zone, July 27, 1861, and first launching of a Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth on April 20, 1861. The gas balloon from the deck of a warship, the Confederate ironclad mounted ten cannon. The Virginia see the “cheesebox on a raft” approach their ironclad USS Fanny, August 3, 1861. rammed and sank the war USS Cumberland and and opened fire. For the next four hours the two ironclads dueled inconclusively until a hit the Monitor’s shelled the USS Congress into a burning hulk. President • First amphibious operation launched from pilothouse seriously wounding the warship’s commander, viewed this engagement as the greatest calamity Ft. Monroe to capture Hatteras Inlet, NC. Lt. John Worden. The two ironclads broke off action and the since Bull Run. Others felt that McClellan’s Peninsula August 26–29, 1861 Campaign should be abandoned. first battle between ironclad warships was over. Both sides Hampton Visitor Center claimed victory. The Monitor was successful in stopping • First battle between ironclad warships, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, Virginia 23669 As the burning Congress set an eerie glow across Hampton the Confederate ironclad from destroying the Federal fleet. USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (Merrimack). open Mon – Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun 1 – 5 p.m. Roads, the USS Monitor arrived in the harbor. The Monitor The Virginia, however, blocked the James River and closed March 9, 1862 (757) 727-1102 • (800) 800-2202 was an entirely new concept of naval design created by this approach to Richmond to the Union’s use. McClellan, Swedish-American inventor . Its revolving confident that the Monitor could defend Hampton Roads, • First offensive operation organized by President Cover Images turret housed two 11-inch Dahlgren guns and the decided to move forward with his campaign and by mid- , resulting in the capture of Top Fortress Monroe, February 1862, Courtesy of John Moran Quarstein ironclad’s decks were virtually awash with the sea. march elements of his 121,500-man army began to arrive at Norfolk. , 1862 Bottom Courtesy of Ft. Monroe’s Casemate Museum Ft. Monroe. 10-2011 Abraham Lincoln Ruins of Hampton Courtesy of Hampton University Museum and Ft. Monroe’s Casemate Museum visithampton.com Civil War Sites in Hampton

4. HAMPTON MILITARY HOSPITAL LINCOLN COMES 13 6TO HAMPTON The Union occupied the Chesapeake Female 14 95 College in May 1861 and turned it into a 6,000 bed facility. The hospital closed in 1866, however, On , 1862, McClellan WASHINGTON started the Army of the DC it was re-opened as the Hampton Soldiers Home in 1868. Present Site of Hampton Potomac toward Richmond 495 only to be stopped by Administration Medical Center. General Magruder’s Warwick-

Yorktown Line. The Union . D 5. HAMPTON VETERANS R general decided to besiege L L CEMETERY the Confederate fortifications. I H This is the final resting place of numerous The weeks of delay prompted X O www.VirginiaCivilWar.org President Lincoln to refer to F Union soldiers and veterans. President Abraham Lincoln McClellan as the “Virginia Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum 13 Creeper” and decided to go 95 6. to Ft. Monroe to force greater action. Lincoln arrived on This live oak tree was once part of the “Slabtown” May 6, 1862 and was advised that McClellan had fought 64 contraband camp. Several schools were the , and finally the was on the march toward the Confederate capital. While Confederate President Jefferson Davis imprisoned at Ft. Monroe. established nearby. It is under the limbs of this Courtesy of Ft. Monroe’s Casemate Museum E tree where the first reading of the Emancipation pleased with McClellan’s apparent progress, Lincoln was . M RICHMOND Union operation against Fox Hill, 1861. E Proclamation occurred in Virginia. Marker dismayed that the US Navy still hesitated to open the R 295 precautions were taken to ensure that Davis could not Courtesy of Ft. Monroe’s Casemate Museum N C 64 Located adjacent to Emancipation Oak on . James River because of the presence of the CSS Virginia K U

escape. The initial conditions of his imprisonment were I in Norfolk. Consequently, Lincoln organized a two- N R Emancipation Drive, Hampton University campus. harsh, in many ways like solitary confinement. He was G Y

prong naval assault. The Monitor and several other ships S T B chained and shackled on May 23, 1865. Nevertheless, . HAMPTON bombarded the Confederate batteries at Sewell’s Point L thanks to the intercession of Ft. Monroe’s chief medical V 7. while another Union ironclad, the USS Galena, attacked VILLA MARGARET officer, Lt. Colonel John J. Craven, the chains were removed 64 D 95 VIRGINIA Once the summer home of former President John Confederate forts defending the James River. Lincoln went . NORFOLK BEACH within a few days. Eventually, Davis was moved to Fort Wool to observe the action. Ft. Wool, originally Tyler, Villa Margaret was occupied by Union to better quarters in Carroll Hall and released on bail on named Fort Calhoun, was constructed as a companion fort A soldiers and looted. The building was also used as May 13, 1867. R 11 EMBROKE AVE. to Ft. Monroe to close the harbor entrance. Unfortunately, L MI E. P 168 a contraband school. It was located on land now A ST EA occupied by Hampton University. Marker Located it was never completed as designed. Also called the Rip S D

A A Rap battery, it was renamed Ft. Wool in honor of the VE at the Hampton Maritime Center, 710 Settlers

REBIRTH AND L . E 258 Landing Road, Downtown Hampton.

commander of the Union Department of Virginia Major L A

T E General John Ellis Wool. REVITALIZATION O

.

N A E AVE. N OK To Williamsburg D 10 BR . S

V EM K T 8. Once the war was over, efforts were initiated to revitalize . R HAMPTON COURTHOUSE While on Ft. Wool, Lincoln became very disappointed P I E E. 8 N G

as he watched the Confederate ironclad emerge from the the destroyed town. Union veterans and businessmen, . LINCOLN ST. D The Elizabeth City County Courthouse was badly

F S DOWNTOWN former Confederate soldiers and African Americans re- R T N damaged during the August 7, 1861 burning . . Elizabeth River and force the Union warships to withdraw. A St. John’s N HAMPTON A T Lincoln was furious by what he viewed. The President created the community’s social and economic fabric. K Church L E S of Hampton. It was repaired and became the W. QU L LA . EENS ST. I AY S N D 9 N S W R then went in a small boat to survey a landing site on W. QUEEN LE DI M Y largest contraband school in Hampton. Marker S T N O OLD HAMPTON LN. ET G R One community leader was Samuel Chapman Armstrong. T S Ocean View. On May 9, 1862, General Wool began to . O E Located in front of the courthouse, 101 Kings Way, SETTL R R O Armstrong was born in the Kingdom of Hawaii to ERS LAND D W L ferry troops from Ft. Monroe across water to Ocean View, ING RD. Hampton C L Downtown Hampton. . . missionary parents. He joined the US Army and became A ST U A an area of Norfolk which was occupied by the Federals K Hampton University ER E

R L R TY M a colonel commanding the 8th US Colored Troops. E History 7 Museum E. Y M on the next day. This circumstance left the CSS Virginia M 10 C A

C E N . Armstrong was brevetted brigadier general on March 13, Museum M W. COUNTY ST. B 9.

without a base so her crew ran the ironclad aground on I C N ST. JOHN’S CHURCH O

S E I L & Miss Hampton II T P V 1865. Shortly thereafter, he accepted leadership of the T E A Originally constructed in 1728, St. John’s Church

Craney Island and set her ablaze. Lincoln was asleep in U R T D E Hampton Harbor Cruises Y I

Peninsula headquarters of the Bureau for Refugees, O A G . Old Quarters No. 1 at Ft. Monroe when he was awakened Hampton River R 6 was badly damaged during the burning of Hampton Visitor HAMPTON D N D .

Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands at Ft. Monroe. The H . with news of Norfolk’s capture and then watched the huge D 5 T Ft. Monroe: The Key to the South, 1860 on August 7, 1861. One of the first “contrabands,”

Center R

A S

T UNIVERSITY Freedmen’s Bureau thrived under Armstrong’s guidance . Courtesy of John Moran Quarstein

ironclad explode. Lincoln returned to Washington with A V Y 258 Shepard Mallory, etched his name into one of the CAMPUS R E. COUNTY ST. . E 64

the entire Hampton Roads region under Union control. and had a positive effect on Hampton. The purpose of the D N O bricks on the south outer wall of the Church. The LV . B M L Freedmen’s Bureau was to bring some relief to the newly A A L E Mill Creek

I R R RT A . churchyard contains many graves of Confederate O IN M

freed men and women and others set adrift by the upheaval T D C LU M E I T soldiers and veterans. Of particular note is the grave V H . L . L of the war. Armstrong wrote in 1866, “we issue 18,000 E S UNION OCCUPATION R E N of Hannah Nicolson Tunnell, who was known as K I rations to those who would die of starvation were it not for N S G T . the “Paul Revere” of the Confederacy when she J Ft. Monroe continued to serve as an important base for this, and keep their children at school, and get them work R 7 . B PHOEBUS L WATER ST. warned the Confederates of the night advance Union operations in Virginia and along the Southern and prevent injustice.” Armstrong’s interest in L V D. coast. The large Union presence in Hampton resulted in prompted him to establish a school in 1868 for African A of the Union strike force en route to Big Bethel S and the placement of the Elizabeth City County the establishment of the Chesapeake Military Hospital. Americans named Hampton Normal and Agricultural A 4 3 The pre-war Chesapeake Female Seminary was taken Institute, now Hampton University. L Confederate Soldier monument. Marker Located L across from St. John’s Church on Queen’s Way at over as the main hospital building and other facilities E

were constructed to treat Union and Confederate Even though Hampton was virtually a wasteland in 1865, A Hampton History Museum, 120 Old Hampton Lane. To Norfolk & Virginia Beach wounded. Another hospital was created nearby in 1862, many people joined together to re-build the town. Former V Union soldiers like Jacob Heffelfinger, James McMenamin E the United States General Hospital, Hampton. A special . . RD 10. The Burning of facility was established to treat United States Colored and Harrison Phoebus combined their ingenuity, enterprise STILWELL I . N Hampton & the GRAND Troops. Underground Railway heroine Harriet Tubman and capital with Hampton’s untapped resources and re- N RD M GHTA C G vitalized Hampton. Heffelfinger operated a lumber yard KECOU HAMPTON ROADS N CONTRABAND CAMP served as this hospital’s chief patron. A horse-drawn E A A A I R An ironic outcome of the burning of Hampton was S railway was built to transport the wounded and sick and was instrumental in the reconstruction of St. John’s BRIDGE TUNNEL D L T

R L Church. McMenamin perfected the canning of crabmeat A . the establishment of the Grand Contraband Camp from the Old Point Comfort wharves to these hospitals. S VE which earned Hampton’s nickname of “Crabtown.” atop the town’s ruins. It was the largest contraband The medical complex was very efficient in caring for . R the thousands of injured and ill who came for treatment Harrison Phoebus, whose legacy is seen in the Phoebus D camp on the Peninsula. Markers Located at community, acquired the Hygeia Hotel and turned Old . during the course of the war. The Chesapeake Hospital RUCKMAN RD. Carousel Park, 602 Settlers Landing Road and was converted in 1870 into the Southern Branch of the Point Comfort into one of America’s greatest resorts. 12 across the street, Downtown Hampton. RD. Phoebus prompted the C & O Railroad to make Old Point Casemate RD National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The VE. RNA AKE A BE Soldier’s Home cared for Union veterans until 1946, Comfort Milepost 0. He also convinced nine steamship APE Museum ES 11. MARY PEAKE when the last local Civil War , Private Charles lines to make Old Point Comfort a regular port of call. CH FENWICK RD. The Elmerton Cemetery contains the final resting Woodcock, died. Today the facility is known as the These new transportation links brought more people which Battle of the Ironclads 64 Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center. caused the creation of beach resorts like Phoebus, Buckroe, Courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum place of African American educator Mary Peake. 1 2 Chesapeake Bay Grand View and Bay Shore. One of the directors of Bay Hampton Roads Peake operated a school for contrabands until her Shore, Alexander Gardiner, was one of fourteen African death in 1862. Marker Located adjacent to Elmerton HAMPTON ROADS PEACE American recipients and was a former Cemetery on N. King Street, near the intersection CONFERENCE USCT soldier. Bay Shore was the first African American with E. Pembroke Avenue, Downtown Hampton. 8 beach resort in the South. Phoebus and Gardiner were 1. FORT MONROE 1c. OLD QUARTERS NO. 1 2. FORT WOOL One major effort was made to resolve the war via a among the many who transformed Hampton into a major tourist destination by 1900. The only pre-war fort to remain under Union Located at the East Gate, this 1819 building Originally known as Fort Calhoun or the 12. BATTLE OF THE IRONCLADS mediated peace treaty. Lincoln traveled to Ft. Monroe in control when the war erupted, Ft. Monroe would was home and office to Ft. Monroe’s Battery, this pre-war masonry fort was renamed Ft. late January 1865. On February 3, Lincoln and Secretary The Hampton Roads harbor was the scene of Other Northern businessmen came south to Hampton. become known as “Freedom’s Fortress.” The fort commanding officer. It is here where Wool in honor of Major General John Ellis Wool the March 8-9, 1862 Battle of the Ironclads. of State William H. Seward met with Confederate Vice would become a major Union base for army General Butler made his “Contraband of who commanded the Union Department President Alexander Stephens, Robert M.T. Perhaps the most significant was James Sands Darling. J.S. Over 25,000 soldiers and citizens watched this and navy operations throughout the war. Marker War” decision. President Abraham Lincoln of Virginia during the Battle of the Ironclads and Hunter, and Confederate Assistant Secretary of War John Darling and Son became the largest oyster packing firm engagement that revolutionized naval warfare. On located at Casemate Museum, Casemate 20, also used the house to organize the capture the 1862 . President Lincoln Campbell. They talked for four hours. The Confederate in the world and made the Hampton Bar oyster famous. April 11, the CSS Virginia (Merrimack) endeavored Bernard Road. of Norfolk in May 1862. used the fort during his effort to capture Norfolk to engage the USS Monitor. As the two ships insistence on independence, and the Union demand that Many former Confederates also played a key role in the seceded states lay down their arms and return to the in May 1862. Marker located on top Ft. Monroe steamed back and forth threatening each other, the Hampton’s post-war re-development. John H. Willis, walls at the flagstaff , overlooking the Union were irreconcilable. The conference was a failure. a member of the 32nd Virginia Infantry, became 1a. CASEMATE MUSEUM 1d. ENGINEER’S WHARF CSS Jamestown captured three Union merchant Two months later, Richmond was captured and the war harbor channel and FT Wool. Ft. Wool can be toured ships. Marker Located overlooking the Hampton superintendent of schools and guided new educational This museum tells the Ft. Monroe This pier was one of several wharves that through the miss hampton Harbor tour. was basically over. opportunities for Hampton’s students. Another former story from 1607 to 2011. One of this existed on Old Point Comfort during the Roads waterfront, where Chesapeake Avenue Confederate, architect C. Taylor Holtzclaw became a major institution’s major features is the casemate war. Ft. Monroe’s location at the entrance meets East Avenue, Olde Wythe. DAVIS IN CHAINS builder. Many of the houses he constructed still stand today cell where former Confederate president to Hampton Roads enabled it to serve as 3. CAMP HAMILTON within Hampton’s historic neighborhoods. Jefferson Davis was held prisoner in 1865. the base for every Now known as Phoebus, Camp 13. 9Confederate president Jefferson Davis attempted to major amphibious Hamilton was established in May Hampton’s re-birth from the ashes of war was thanks to This park contains remnants and monuments continue the conflict after the fall of Richmond; however, operation during 1861 and would remain active associated with the Civil War’s first land battle, the he was captured in Georgia and taken to Ft. Monroe for these and many other people. All of them recognized 1b. QUARTERS 17 the conflict. throughout the war as a Union base. that despite the destruction wrought by war, the concepts June 10, 1861 Battle of Big Bethel. imprisonment. Davis was eventually charged with three Built in 1819, Quarters 17 is where Marker Located in the parking lot on of freedom, equality and education that the Civil War crimes: treason against the United States, maltreatment Lieutenant Robert E. Lee and his wife, Water Street overlooking Mill Creek, brought to the nation made Hampton a symbol of of Union prisoners of war, and complicity in the Mary Custis Lee, lived from 1831 to 1834. 14. post-war revitalization. Phoebus. FOX HILL of President Abraham Lincoln. A casemate Their first child, Custis This watermen village was raided by an Union was specially prepared to serve as Davis’ cell. Strict Lee, was born in this building. amphibious operation on June 26, 1861. Camp Hamilton, 1861 Courtesy of Ft. Monroe’s Casemate Museum