Library of Congress

Civil War

Gallery

First Deep Bottom

View our collection of photos and images from the 1864 First Deep Bottom battlefield in Virginia.

(18 photos in gallery)

First Deep Bottom - 2013 Target Property

David Duncan

The Civil War Trust is currently working to preserve 30.5 acres of the First Deep Bottom battlefield

Marked for Development

David Duncan

The land the Trust is currently working to preserve at First Deep Bottom has already been marked for future development. This particular plot is slated to be a housing development.

Cul-de-Sac

David Duncan

Typically, paved roads such as this one on the Trust's target property at First Deep Bottom are modern intrusions that mar the historic landscape. However, in this particular instance, this road will allow future visitors to access this part of the battlefield.

The First Deep Bottom Battlefield

Rob Shenk

The Civil War Trust worked to preserve this 104-acre portion of the First Deep Bottom Battlefield in 2010.

Saved battlefield land at First Deep Bottom

Saved Property at First Deep Bottom

Rob Shenk

The Civil War Trust and its members helped to save this tract in 2010.

Residential Development Plan for First Deep Bottom

First Deep Bottom: What Would Have Been

Civil War Preservation Trust

This subdivision plat for the Mansfield Woods development project shows what this Civil War battlefield was going to be turned into. The Civil War Trust worked to preserve the section in yellow.

Enroughty House

National Archives

This 1842 structure, known alternately as the Enroughty or Darby house occupies a central position on the First Deep Bottom Battlefield.

Enroughty House Today

Rob Shenk

View of the preserved Enroughty House as it appears today.

Saved Land at First Deep Bottom

Rob Shenk

This 125 parcel of land containing the Enroughty House was saved by the Civil War Preservation Trust in 2008.

Victory at First Deep Bottom

Rob Shenk

This 125-acre parcel (which includes the Enroughty House) was saved by the Civil War Preservation Trust in 2008.

Pontoon Bridge at Deep Bottom

National Archives

These pontoon bridges over the James River allowed U.S. Grant to ferry troops back and forth from Petersburg to Richmond, while trying to break the stalemate in the summer of 1864.

Deep Bottom Bridgehead

National Archives

Historic photo of the Union bridgehead at Deep Bottom

Deep Bottom on the James

National Archives

Historic photo of Union boats on the James River near Deep Bottom.

Federal Entrenchments at First Deep Bottom

Rob Shenk

In their efforts to draw Confederate forces away from Petersburg, Union troops fortified the bridgehead at Deep Bottom. Some of these trenches are still visible today.

Satellite View of First Deep Bottom

This aerial view of the First Deep Bottom Battlefield shows the development that continues to threaten this important part of Civil War history as well as CWPT's efforts to save this hallowed ground.

Inroads of Development

Rob Shenk

The road seen here was originally intended to serve a housing subdivision that was to be built on the First Deep Bottom Battlefield.

Color Bearers at First Deep Bottom

Rob Shenk

CWPT Color Bearers tour the First Deep Bottom Battlefield with historian Bobby Krick at the 2010 Advanced Guard event.

Development Threats at First Deep Bottom

Tom Gilmore

The Civil War Trust's ongoing efforts at the First Deep Bottom have helped to prevent this important battleground from becoming another subdivision, like this one near the Glendale Battlefield