City Point Depot
City Point Depot (1864-1867) - A U.S. Civil War post established in 1864 by Union forces in Prince George County, Virginia. Named for the location. Abandoned in 1867.
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City Point Depot History
The town of City Point was located at a strategic point of land at the confluence of the James River and the Appomattox River. This confluence provided deep water access to Union controlled Chesapeake Bay.
Union forces under the command of Major General Benjamin Butler landed at City Point and captured the town on 5 May 1864. The Union force expanded the perimeter around the point and built a line of ten forts to protect it from raiding confederates. City Point rapidly expanded as the Union logistic hub of the battle for Richmond and Petersburg. It became one of the busiest ports in the world with troops and supplies pouring into City Point.
With City Point secured, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant moved his headquarters to City Point on 15 Jun 1864 and began operations against Petersburg in a effort to cut off Richmond from the rest of the south. On 12 Jun 1864, President Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad made a three day visit to City Point to confer with Grant.
City Point again expanded as a logistic hub to support the Union ring of fortifications around Petersburg. A rail line was constructed from the wharf complex at City Point to the Union fortifications around Petersburg. Several modern hospitals were built at City Point to handle the expected large numbers of casualties. General Grant attacked the confederate defenses around Petersburg during the summer of 1864 with limited success and the siege of Richmond/Petersburg settled into a waiting game with City Point supporting the conflict.
President Lincoln again visited City Point on 24 Mar 1865 and stayed two weeks. On 29 Mar 1865 General Grant moved his headquarters from City Point closer to the front. On 2-3 Apr 1865 the Confederate forces were forced to evacuate Richmond and Petersburg and they fled west toward Appomattox Court House where General Lee finally surrendered.
On 4 Nov 1867 the last Federal troop detachment departed the City Point post.
Current Status
Part of Petersburg National Battlefield Park, City Point Unit, Prince George County, Virginia
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Location: National Battlefield Park, Prince George County, Virginia. Maps & Images Lat: 37.3166895 Long: -77.2766865 |
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Visited: 6 Apr 2012
City Point Depot Picture Gallery
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