Fort Conahey

 (1864-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1864 near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Named Fort Conahey after 2nd Lieutenant John Conahey, 118th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, who was killed at the Battle of Peebles Farm on 30 Sep 1864. Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of Fort Conahey
Fort Urmston was established 3 Oct 1864 and completed 26 Oct 1864. Situated in the "Fish Hook" section of the Union siege line between Fort Fisher to the west and Fort Urmston to the east with entrenchments connecting them. Built as a bi-level ovoid redoubt with positions for eleven field mounted guns distributed as follows:


 * 3 Mounted en-barbette
 * 4 Mounted with embrasures
 * 4 Mounted in enclosed casemates (lower level)

The outer ditch perimeter was 636.5 feet enclosing 0.6 acres. The interior fort included two tiers of guns, four sturdy wooden casemates, and a rarely seen interior palisade that acted like a traverse. Located a mile from Confederate lines, Fort Conahey rarely came under fire from the Confederates and was never directly attacked. The garrison was prescribed as 75 men.

Current Status
Part of the Petersburg National Battlefield. In poor condition, details blurred and obscured. The casemated guns positions and magazine were buried by the collapse of the upper level some years ago.

See Also:
 * Fort Fisher
 * Fort Urmston
 * Fort Tracy
 * Civil War Defenses of Richmond and Petersburg

Sources:
 * NPS - Assessment of the Principal Earthworks Federal Fish Hook Line, Petersburg, Virginia, October 1998

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Conahey
 * Historical Marker Database - Fort Conahey