Ed Besch’s Historical Report on The Battle at Fort Pocahontas
Ed Besch rediscoved the history behind Fort Pocahontas. This report was so powerful that Harrison Tyler bought the land that Fort Pocahontas sits on and restored it. This is the military historical document that started it all.

The A Arter letters
Letters written by a soldiers who stayed at Fort Pocahontas and raided President Tyler’s home Sherwood Forest.

New A Arter letter
This letter seems to be written by the same soldier staying at Fort P. Discusses a massacre at Fort Watkins. Also confirms that the USCT soldiers were accepted by the regulars troops after they proved their meddle.

Map of Petersburg showing Fort Watkins
Link to 1895 Civil War Map in the David Rumsey Map Collection that shows Fort Watkins in Petersburg where the USCT from Fort Pocahontas killed every rebel soldier in retailation for the Fort Pillow massacre..

IP Farmer letter
This letter from I.P. Farmer, a soldier from the 143rd sent to the “The Buckeye State” newspaper on July 7, 1864 in New Lisbon, Ohio, recently given to me by Timothy Brooks who was the guest speaker at the last reenactment. This letter gives independent confirmation to the reciprocal action to the “Fort Pillow Massacre.” It also mentions the raid on President Tyler’s house.

Wellsville Union Letters
This letters were written by soldiers from the 143rd, Ohio, and were mailed to the “Wellsville Union” newspaper and published in 1864. They recently given to me by Timothy Brooks who was the guest speaker at the last reenactment. These letters gives independent confirmation to the raid on Sherwood Forest mention in the A. Arter letters.

Marrian Patterson Journal
Pages from Kevin West’s 2nd great grandfather’s Civil War journal.  In the journal he mentions a few days there at Wilson’s Landing, which is Fort Pocahontas.  His name is Marion Patterson.  He was a 1st Lieut. with the 22nd Reg’t USCT at that time, eventually becoming a Captain with the 19th Reg’t USCT by the end of the war.

Pictures of soldiers from the 143rd, Ohio,
Unidentified Sgt COD 143rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry
Lt John LaCock COA 143rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry
Cap William S. Brunt COI 143rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry
1864 May- Lt john N. Taylor COI 143rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry
These recently given to me by Timothy Brooks who was the guest speaker at the last reenactment.

Major General Godfrey Weitzel
The engineer who originally designed Fort Pocahontas in 1864.

“Valor at Wilson’s Wharf”
Article written by Leonne Hudson and published in Civil War Times Illustrated. in March, 1988.

Dig Unearths Details Of Historic Civil War Battle
This story was recently published in the William & Mary News.

Field Fortifications
Excerpts from Field Fortifications by P E MacDuffie

General Edward Wild’s Report on May 25, 1864

Major-general Benj. F. Butler Report on May 25, 1864

Second Lieutenant Julius M. Swain’s Report on May 25, 1864

“NO DANGER OF SURRENDER” An Historical Archaeological Perspective of the Civil War Battle of Wilson¹s Wharf, Charles City County, Virginia by Jameson M. Harwood

FORT POCAHONTAS: RESULTS FROM THE 2001 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SEASON by Dennis Blanton

Related Fort Pocahontas Links
(Movies, Blogs and Newspaper articles)

The New World is
the blockbuster movie and many of the scenes of the movie were filmed at Fort Pocahontas. Watch the trailer and see how many Fort Pocahontas scenic views you can identify.

http://www.28thva.org/fort_pocahontas_2004.htm

http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/pocahontastower.htm

http://shamrock4u.250free.com/pocahontas.html

http://www.rense.com/general50/blacks.htm

http://www.28thva.org/blog_fortpocahontas2004.htm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04333/417825.stm

http://members.aol.com/sdusctnews/ffftour.htm

http://washingtontimes.com/civilwar/20040813-102311-7713r.htm

http://washingtontimes.com/civilwar/20030523-083447-5549r.htm

Related Links

Sherwood Forest Plantation

Sherwood Forest Plantation has been the home of the 10th U.S. President John Tyler and his family since the President purchased it in 1842. It is the longest frame house in America, longer than a football field at over 300 ft. Open for grounds tours daily. Harrison R. Tyler, the grandson of President John Tyler and resident owner of Sherwood Forest, is also the owner of Fort Pocahontas.

www.virginia.org

Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia

www.charlescity.org

Charles City County invites you to visit a place where you can discover it all – Four Centuries that made a nation, Three Cultures that formed a union, Two Rivers that embraced the land – all in One County, founded on the idea of representative government – the idea that made America.

From the United States Civil War Center and Book Page

Civil War Book Review

Civil War Times Illustrated

The American Conflict in Words and Images. For more than a quarter century Civil War Times Illustrated has been telling the complete story of America’s Civil War, with all its action, romance and modern-day significance. A general-interest magazine in a specialized field.

Shirley Plantation

Home of the Hill-Carters for 11 generations, was the birthplace of Anne Hill Carter, mother of Robert E. Lee. The house was built in 1723 and features original furniture, silver and family portraits.

Evelynton Plantation

Evelynton was originally part of William Byrd’s Westover and named for his daughter Evelyn. Since 1847, it has been the home of the Ruffins, whose patriarch, Edmund Ruffin, fired the first shot of the Civil War.

Berkeley Plantation

The birthplace of Benjamin Harrison and ancestral home of two U.S. presidents, and the site of the first Thanksgiving in 1619.

Civil War Trails

A state-by-state listing of the Civil war attractions open today. Includes a list of all reenactments scheduled.

C-History.com

History site with personal stories from the Civil War.

Civil War Richmond

An online research project designed to collect documents, photographs, and maps pertaining to Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War.

Civil War Mysteries

A site dedicated to identifying unknown images from the Civil War.

The Civil War Courier

The Civil War Courier, a newspaper with articles, event calendar, and classifieds.

The Camp Curtin Historical Society

The Camp Curtin Historical Society Home Page-Civil War History.

Generals on the Web

Generals on the Web-Site with links to information on over 300 Civil War Generals.

Richmond Liberation Day U.S.C.T. Memorial Celebration

Richmond Liberation Day-Chronicle of the 135th Anniversary of the Fall of Richmond.

Civil War Photography Center

Site dedicated to Civil War photography.

The United States Civil War Center

United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State University.

TUS Army Military History Institute

Located in Carlisle, PA. Extensive collection of documents, photos, diaries, etc. covering the history of the United States Army

Civil War Archive at the Library of Congress

Selected photographs from the library’s Civil War Collection.

The Camp Chase Gazette

“The Journal of Civil War Reenacting” Reenactment event articles, event calendar, Civil War history.

Godey’s Ladies Book

Civil War era Ladies fashions from the most popular women’s magazine of the time.

Poetry and Music of the War Between the States

The thoughts and emotions of the people of the time as expressed by those on both sides of the conflict.

Sutler Directory

Listing of Civil War Period Sutlers. Reproduction items to recreate the past! (This listing does not constitute recommendations of any of the products or sellers contained therein.)

Southern Horizon

Southern Horizon has been performing 19th century period music since 1987 for reenactments, museums, conventions, schools and private engagements.