Fort Wheaton

 (1864-1865) - A U.S. Civil War Fort first established as Confederated Fort Archer in 1864 near Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Captured by Union forces on 30 Sep 1864 and renamed Fort Wheaton after Captain James Henry Wheaton, 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, killed at Peebles Farm on 30 Sep 1864. Abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

History of Fort Wheaton
Fort Wheaton was originally established in August 1864 as Confederate Fort Archer. While still incomplete, it was captured by Union forces on 30 Sep 1864 during the battle of Peebles Farm. It was then renamed Fort Wheaton for Captain James Henry Wheaton, 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry who was killed in that battle.

After capture, the fort was refaced by closing the original sallyport and creating a new one on the opposite face. Built as a six sided earthen redoubt with six field gun positions for guns mounted en barbette. The gun positions were placed at each angle. There was no magazine structure. The outer ditch perimeter was 725' enclosing about 0.9 acres.

This fort was not on the front lines but provided secondary support for some forts along the "Fish Hook."

Current Status
Part of the Petersburg National Battlefield. Some remains of the earthworks.

See Also:
 * Civil War Defenses of Richmond and Petersburg

Sources: Links:
 * NPS - Assessment of the Principal Earthworks Federal Fish Hook Line, Petersburg, Virginia, October 1998
 * NPS - Assessment of the Principal Earthworks Federal Fish Hook Line, Petersburg, Virginia, October 1998
 * North American Forts - Fort Wheaton
 * Find A Grave - James Henry Wheaton