Picket rewind: No timetable yet for public access to well-preserved Rebel battery that was part of Potomac defenses

Remains of gun emplacements (Courtesy of Prince William County, Va.)

It’s been about four years since a Virginia county acquired the remains of a Confederate battery along the Potomac River that helped block ships from resupplying Washington, D.C., but the site is not any closer to opening to the public.

The well-preserved Cockpit Point Battery is in a “status quo” situation, said Rob Orrison, manager of Prince Williams County’s Historic Preservation Division.

Cockpit Point Civil War Park is a few miles east of Dumfries. The 113 acres are split by a busy railroad line that passes by a chemical facility and the Possum Point Power station, modern facilities that bookend the park. 

“We will do private tours by request if we can work it out with the railroad. But as of now, there is still no access,” Orrison recently told the Picket. “There is a plan for parking lot and trails, but nothing has been decided (location, size) or started.”

Sitting atop a 70-foot bluff, the fort had an air of mystery from the beginning. It was built in secret, with trees left in front to better hide the construction. Curious Federal troops on the Maryland side of the river eventually used a balloon to try to figure out how many men were at Cockpit Point and other batteries in the area.

Federal balloon gazed down on Confederate batteries (click to enlarge)

The Rebel emplacements thrown up early in the war saw relatively little action but did deter Federal vessels from sail upriver.

The Confederacy rotated artillery in and out of the fort. Sometimes there were six, sometimes fewer. A 30-pounder Parrott, nicknamed “Long Tom,” was used, along with guns from the Norfolk naval station. Between 100 and 200 men were in the garrison.

The Picket first wrote about the site in March 2017.

Orrison said those living near the property will be consulted before anything is decided about access and amenities.

“Everything is about timing and there are a lot of park projects that have started before this one that need to be completed before we start on this property,” he said.

“We do plan on access to at least the western portion of the property; the access to the Civil war earthworks is another discussion since there are security concerns with the railroad (and there are plans for high-speed rail along that line which could have an impact on timing).” Officials don't want visitors on site yet, fearing they could damage remaining lunettes and other features.

River view of the fort (Courtesy of Prince William County)

He said the property is monitored daily by ranger staff for vandalism and relic hunting.

A study conducted a few years ago for the county said it should work to maintain surrounding forest to protect surviving earthworks and take steps to prevent vandalism.

The first public tours of the property – the only way to see the site -- began in March 2017.

“Our Blockade Boat Tour is very popular. Our walking tour of the batteries were popular at first, but in 2019 we only did one and have none planned for this year as interest was not big in 2019,” Orrison said. “The biggest question, “When are you going to open this up?”