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Xperts, Inc.

Fort Pocahontas was an earthen fort built and manned by hundreds of United States Colored Troops under the direct command of Brigadier General Edward Augustus Wild. The May 24, 1864, action resulted in a victory for the USCTs against an attack led by Major General Fitzhugh Lee, Robert E. Lee's nephew.

Harrison Ruffin Tyler, grandson of 10th President John Tyler and the resident owner of  Sherwood Forest Plantation, purchased the well-preserved earthen fort site known as Wilson's Wharf in 1996. Virtually untouched for over 130 years, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources views Fort Pocahontas as "one of the best preserved fort sites." It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A new letter from A. R. Arter, a soldier in the fort has recently been acquired. This letter has tremendous impact on the current view of how USCT troops were viewed during the Civil War.

"Fort Walker being the outside and strongest
fort of the Rebs was taken entirely by the blacks.  it is said by the knowing
ones even Grant himself that at this fort was the hardest fight of the whole war. 
this fort was took on wednesday evening commencing the attack about 4
o'clock and was took about 8 & silenced.  meanwhile the negroes were repulsed
some 4 or 5 times and would rally until they finally succeeded in reaching
the top of the works.  there the tug of war commenced.  the Rebs yelling to
them to come on and they would make another Fort Pillow case.  the
Blacks could not see it that way.  on the taking of the fort the Blacks
murderd every Reb that was left supposing to be some 4 or 5 hundred.  I saw
and talked with quite a number of blacks that was in that engagement
they say when they took the fort the Rebs begged of them to spare their
lives but their orders was to remember Fort Pillow. and that was the
way they remembered it.  this engagement I was in a position that I
could see the whole thing.  Fort Stephens the inside fort was taking
the next evening.  the gun boats and heavy seize guns plaid on it all
day keeping up one continual volley along in the afternoon. 
 
The fort was silenced at which time the negros
went over and took possession as they did the other which
they now hold.  they here also remembered Fort Pillow all in
fact all of the heavy works around Petersborough was taking
by the Blacks,  the idea that the whites will not take part
when the blacks are engaged is entirely plaid out.  I find
by talking with the white troops that they have no objection to the
Black Troops taking a position with them in the field, and if
necessary they lead the column and take all the Honor..."

The commander of the Confederate troops that attacked Fort Pocahontas was General Fitzhugh Lee, the nephew of General Robert E. Lee. General Edward A. Wild, who commanded the USCT troops, had only one arm and was a fervent abolitionist.

Black Soldiers like these troops from the 107th Infantry would never stand up to real combat, the critcs said; but the truth came out along the James River in the spring of 1864.

Reenactors from all over the East Coast, including the famous 54th from Massachusetts who starred in the movie "Glory," attend the reenactment each year.