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Civil War History
Ann Efimetz
Civil War enthusiasts don’t need to travel outside our area to find history. It’s right in our own backyard.
Redoubt Park on Quarterpath Road is a testimonial to the Battle of Williamsburg, which was fought on May 5, 1862. The park was dedicated May 5, 2007 to celebrate the 145th anniversary of the battle.
People may be unaware of the pastoral setting and historical significance at Redoubt Park. A lovely wooden ramp winds its way through the wooded area. Historical markers recount the history of the battle.
Here’s a rundown from the City of Williamsburg website:
“When Virginia left the Union on April 17, 1861, Southern leaders recognized that the Federal army could approach their capital at Richmond by way of Williamsburg.
Benjamin Stoddard Ewell, a West Point graduate and president of the College of William & Mary, conceived the construction of the Williamsburg defensive line. During the summer of 1861, Confederate Army of the Peninsula commander General John Bankhead Magruder organized the construction of 14 redoubts between College and Queens creeks.
The two redoubts, #1 and #2, preserved in Redoubt Park, were built by soldiers and slaves to guard Quarterpath Road and the right flank of the Williamsburg Line overlooking Tutters’ Mill Pond.
On May 5, 1862, the Williamsburg Line was the scene of a terrific battle with over 3,800 Union and Confederate casualties. This inconclusive engagement left the Union in control of the Virginia Peninsula.
These fortifications remain a stark tribute to those who served, defining America’s future.”
The park is a testiment to this important event and makes an ideal outing which combines nature and history.
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