Lynchburg Defenses

Lynchburg Defenses is a Virginia historical marker in Amherst County, dedicated 2018.

Rte. 210, 350 feet west of intersection with Main Street

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Confederate earthworks and artillery positions, likely built by enslaved African Americans, were established near here late in 1863 to defend Lynchburg against attack from the north. On 12 June 1864, Confederate Brig. Gen. Francis T. Nicholls, commander of the post of Lynchburg, ordered local militia and convalescent soldiers into these works to repel a possible advance by Federal cavalry under Brig. Gen. Alfred Duffié, but the Federals turned away before reaching this point. Soon after, Nicholls's men moved into defensive works in Lynchburg. Reinforced by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s corps, they helped repel Union Maj. Gen. David Hunter's assault from the southwest on 17-18 June.

TodayHistorical map

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Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library

Historical maps covering this location

1859 · Virginia (Herman Boye, 1859) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1864 · Middle Virginia and North Carolina (Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library)
1865 · Central Virginia showing Lieut Gen'l U.S. Grant's Campaign and Marches. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1869 · Colton's West Virginia (1869) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1892 · Lynchburg, Virginia (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

Middle Virginia and North Carolina, 1864, covering the location of Lynchburg Defenses, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Middle Virginia and North Carolina, 1864, covering this location. Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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