May 1864 - April 1865 - Battery Dantzler

May 1864 - April 1865


Battery Dantzler


near Chester, Virginia, in Chesterfield County


https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=16058

Battery Dantzler
Dueled with Union Gunboats


In 1862, Confederate authorities considered locating the main defensive James River battery here to block the Union navy’s approach to Richmond. They chose Drewry’s Bluff instead because they feared that Union forces would bypass this position by cutting a canal through the river bend at Dutch Gap. The landing of Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred in May 1864 prompted the construction of this fortification. It was named Battery Dantzler in honor of Col. Olin Miller Dantzler, 22nd South Carolina Infantry, killed in action nearby. Battery Dantzler anchored the northern end of the Howlett Line of earthworks across the Bermuda Hundred peninsula from the James River south to the Appomattox River.

The fort mounted two 20-pounder Parrott guns, two 7-inch Brooke rifles, two 8-inch smoothbore Columbiads, and two 10-inch coastal mortars. Battery Dantzler dueled daily with Union gunboats and land batteries until April 2, 1865, when its garrison abandoned it to march westward with Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The march ended a week later at Appomattox Court House.

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The  construction of Battery Dantzler began on May 18, 1864. Two 20-pounder Parrott guns captured on May 16 at the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff were among the first artillery pieces placed here. Union infantry occupied the battery on June 15, after Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard’s forces withdrew from Bermuda Hundred to defend Petersburg against the first Federal threats. The guns here were dismounted and buried, and remained hidden until the Confederates retook the position the following day. Quickly remounted, the guns exchanged fire with Union vessel in Trent’s Reach on June 21. The Union ironclad Tecumseh dismounted one 7-inch cannon with its last shot.


https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=16066

Battery Dantzler
May 1864-April 1865


First named Ft. Howlett, the battery was renamed after Col. Olin M. Dantzler, who was killed on June 2, 1864, in an attempt to capture Ft. Dutton. Leading the 22nd South Carolina Inf. the attack failed. Battery Dantzler played a major role in keeping the Union Navy down river. The Battery was abandoned on June 16th 1864, to send troops to Petersburg and retaken that night. Because of this battery and others along the river the Dutch Gap Canal was started on August 10th 1864, and was never opened until after the war. Several attempts were made by the Confederate Navy to break the Union Blockade, all of which failed. On April 2nd 1865, the Battery was abandoned, the men joining in the surrender at Appomattox CH. on April 9, 1865.


This site was a gift to the people of Chesterfield County by Air Product Inc.

Sponsored by: Chesterfield Hist. Soc. C.W. Sites Committee

Sons of Confederate Veterans Chester Staion Camp

 

Erected by Sons of Confederate Veterans and Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.

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https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=16060

Olin Miller Dantzler

 Olin Miller Dantzler (1826-1824) was a native of South Carolina. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in 1846. He married Caroline Clover on July 10, 1850, and they had five children. Prior to the war Dantzler served as a South Carolina state representative and state senator. He resigned from the South Carolina Senate in October 1861 and accepted a commission in the Confederate army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 20th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers on Jan. 11, 1862, while stationed near Charleston. In April 1864, Dantzler was promoted to colonel of the 22nd South Carolina Regiment and was called to Virginia in May. On June 2, 1864, near present day Howlett Line Park, Col. Dantzler led his regiment in an assault against Redoubt Dutton, which was manned by Company L, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. During the attack, devastating canister shot killed Col. Dantzler along with 16 of his men. On June 13, 1864, Gen P.G.T. Beauregard issued General Orders No. 12 naming the fort at this site Battery Dantzler in the colonel’s honor.

Dantzler and Laurence Keitt


Col. Olin Dantzler  and Col. Laurence Keitt grew up near each other in South Carolina and were political rivals. Prior to the war, their disagreements even led to a duel in which Keitt was wounded. Ironically, both men would die on the same day within miles of each other in Virginia on June 2, 1864, Keitt at Cold Harbor, Dantzler in Chesterfield. Dantzler’s servant and friend, Caleb Clover, collected both bodies and took them back to South Carolina.

Dantzler and the Hunley


At Charleston, Dantzler was in command of Battery Marshall, where the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley was stationed. The Hunley was lost after sinking the U.S.S. Housatonic on Feb. 17, 1864. It was the first submarine to successfully attack an enemy vessel.

“HEADQUARTERS BATTERY MARSHALL, Sullivan’s Island, February 19, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that the torpedo boat stationed at this post went out on the night of the 17th instant (Wednesday) and has not yet returned. The signals agreed upon to be given in case the boat wished a light to be exposed at this post as a guide for its return were observed and answered…”  - O. M. DANTZLER

This sign was sponsored by The Chester Station Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
 
Erected by Sons of Confederate Veterans and Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.

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https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=17113

Battery Dantzler


A half-mile northeast stands Battery Dantzler, named for Col. Olin Miller Dantzler, 22d South Carolina Infantry (killed in action nearby on 2 June 1864), and constructed in May-June 1864 to block the Union navy's approach to Richmond. The battery anchored the northern end of the Howlett Line, a series of Confederate earthworks cut across the Bermuda Hundred peninsula from Swift Creek on the south to the James River on the north. Battery Dantzler's artillery included two 7-inch Brooke rifles, two 8-inch smooth-bore Columbiads, and two coastal mortars. The battery operated until 2 April 1865, when it was abandoned and its naval garrison marched with Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia westward to Appomattox Court House.
 
Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. 
(Marker Number K-201.)



 

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