Plans Are Under Way To Interpret
JAMESTOWN, Va. — Confederate earthworks built in 1861 at the colonial Jamestown village site will eventually be restored and interpreted with signage, according to William Kelso, director of archaeology for the Preservation Virginia Jamestown Rediscovery project. Currently there are worn areas from foot traffic as well as excavated dirt on the works, which are under the auspices of Preservation Virginia. While the works adjoin Historic Jamestowne, site of the first permanent English settlement, they are not part of Colonial National Historical Park. Preservation Virginia is a non-profit that endeavors to preserve and manage significant historical properties. Its 23 other sites include the John Marshall House in Richmond and the Mary Washington House in Fredericksburg. According to Kelso, the organization is in the “planning stages for interpretive components for the site of the Civil War earthwork looking forward to commemorate the role Jamestown played in 1861-62.” This would include interpretative signage describing the James Fort’s role in the Civil War, which was primarily limited to “testing of the mock Monitor iron plates,” Kelso says. The works were originally built to help thwart Union penetration up the James River early in the war. They were part of a chain of forts extending across the peninsula to the York River and Williamsburg. Some historians refer to the structure as Fort Pocahontas although this has never been verified. Kelso points out almost no artifacts have been found in the Civil War earthworks “besides the thousands of railroad spikes used to anchor gun platforms.” “For the last 10 years we have carefully excavated and recorded in digital 3D the sections of the Civil War fort that lay adjoining the 1607 James Fort,” Kelso says. While in the short term there are no plans to enhance the Civil War works, Kelso is “confident” the excavated dirt and paths will be removed and the brick powder magazine adjoining the fort will be displayed. Kelso is known for his extensive work and interpretation at Jamestown. His discovery of key settlement sites, including the original settlement fort once thought washed into the James River, sparked new interest from visitors who can view the archeological digs. Jamestown Island has two other Civil War earthworks that are considered in mint condition primarily because of their inaccessibility. They have not yet been studied archeologically. After the works were abandoned by Confederates in 1862, and occupied by Union troops, the island became a rendezvous site for escaped slaves, some of whom were evacuated by the U.S. Navy. Jamestown was also a telegraph relay during the war with wire going from the island to Fort Monroe on to Washington, D.C.
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