Belle Isle

  • Also Known As: Broad Rock Island also Washington's Island also Harvey's Island also VDHR N

  • Address: US 1 - US 301
  • Vicinity: James River
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

Stormy and disagreeable weather. From fifteen to twenty and twenty-five die every day and are buried just outside the prison with no coffins-nothing but canvas wrapped around them. John L Ransom

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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1607/07/00 John Smith (Explorer) Explorer Captain John Smith explores Belle Island, calling it "Broad Rock" island. Voyage of Discovery on the Chesapeake
1862/06/00 Confederate officials buy a 54 acre island in the James River from Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works and establish Belle Isle Prison for Union privates and non-commissioned officers. The prison's first commandant is Captain Norris Montgomery.
1862/07/01 Seth N Eastman MD Prisoner of War Seth Eastman is captured by the advancing Confederate forces and spends three months in Libby and at Belle Isle military prisons. Seven Days Battles
1862/07/22 The Dix-Hill cartel is codified, allowing for the exchange of Union and Confederate prisoners of war.
1862/08/00 Henry Wirz Commandant Captain Henry Wirz replaces Norris Montgomery as commandant of Belle Isle Prison in Richmond. Enclosed by a 3' high earthworks, Belle Isle's 6-acre compound holds roughly 300 Sibley tents (conical, pole tents), that sleep about 10 men each.
1862/09/23 Seth N Eastman MD Prisoner of War Belle Isle Prison on the James River in Richmond closes as Union prisoners are exchanged.
1863/01/17 Belle Isle Prison in Richmond reopens after the Battle of Fredericksburg, but it will soon close. Battle of Fredericksburg
1863/05/13 Belle Isle military prison in Richmond reopens after the Battle of Chancellorsville. Battle of Chancellorsville
1863/10/05 The Richmond Examiner publishes that the capital is overrun with the "'azure-stomached' race this winter." Confining 6,000 to 8,000 prisoners, Belle Isle's population is at least twice the prison's capacity.
1863/11/22 John L Ransom Union Prisoner of War John L Ransom is confined in the Confederation Army's Belle Isle military prison, Richmond.
1863/12/00 Smallpox infects Belle Isle's population.
1864/02/00 Confederate authorities begin moving Union Prisoners of War from Belle Isle south to Andersonville in Georgia, Danville in Virginia or Salisbury in North Carolina.
1864/02/11 John L Ransom Union Prisoner of War "... a good deal of fighting going on among the men ...They are "just like so many hungry wolves penned together." - John L Ransom's diary entry.
1864/05/00 Lucius Chittenden is sent by President Lincoln to investigate former prisoners from Belle Isle. Published in the late 1890s, Recollections of President Lincoln and His Administration, tells of Union prisoners freezing and starving to death by the CSA.
1864/10/00 Belle Isle Prison is closed.
1904/00/00 Virginia Electric Power Company builds a hydroelectric power plant on Belle Isle. They operated the plant until 1963.

Data »

Particulars for Belle Isle:
Military Event American Civil War
Site Type Archaeological Site
Historic Use Energy facility
Historic Use Extractive facility
Structure Type Fortification
Sight Category Historic District
Criteria Historic Event
Area of Significance Industry
Historic Use Manufacturing facility
Area of Significance Military
Historic Use Military facility
Level of Significance National
Confinement Attribute Prisoner of War
Owner Private
Historic Use Water Works



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 17th March 1995

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Belle Isle
Registry Address: James R. at US 1301
Registry Number: 95000246
Resource Type: District
Owner: Private
Architect: unknown
Architectural Style: Other
Attribute: Industrial Archeology
Area in Acres: 54
Contributing Buildings: 1
Non-Contributing Buildings: 1
Contributing Sites: 16
Contributing Structures: 5
Non-Contributing Structures: 2
Other Certification: Date received-pending nomination
Certification: Listed in the National Register
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Military, Industry
Applicable Criteria: Event
Significant Year: c 1814, 1862, 1865
Historic Function: Transportation, Defense, Industry, processing, extraction
Historic Sub-Function: Military facility, Water works, Energy facility, Extractive facility, Manufacturing facility, Fortification, Manufacturing facility
Current Function: Recreation and Culture, Landscape, Vacant, not in use
Current Sub-Function: Park Outdoor recreation

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