A Brief History of Tuckahoe

Tuckahoe, Virginia is a small town with a rich history. Founded in 1614, Tuckahoe was one of the first English settlements in the New World. The town's name comes from the Algonquian word for "a meeting place."

For most of its history, Tuckahoe was a sleepy backwater. But all that changed during the American Civil War. Tuckahoe became a major battleground, with both Union and Confederate troops marching through its streets. Today, Tuckahoe is a quiet town once again, but its long and storied history lives on.

The Early Years

Tuckahoe was founded in 1614 by Captain John Smith and the English settlers of the Virginia Company. The town was originally located on the banks of the James River, but it was later moved to its current location on higher ground.

Tuckahoe quickly became an important hub for trade and commerce. The town was home to several gristmills and sawmills, as well as a tobacco warehouse. In 1727, construction began on a stately brick mansion that would come to be known as Tuckahoe Plantation. The plantation would remain in operation for nearly 200 years, until it was destroyed by fire in 1925.

The Civil War Years

During the American Civil War, Tuckahoe was a major battleground. Union and Confederate troops marched through the town numerous times, and skirmishes were fought in its streets. The most famous battle to take place in Tuckahoe was the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, which was fought just outside the town limits.

In 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee made his headquarters at Tuckahoe Plantation while he planned his last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the war at the Battle of Appomattox Court House. But Lee's plans came to naught, and he surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox just days later. With Lee's surrender, the Civil War came to an end.

Today

Today, Tuckahoe is a quiet town once again. The tobacco warehouse has been converted into a museum, and Tuckahoe Plantation is now a historic site operated by the National Park Service. Visitors can tour the plantation house and learn about life on a 18th-century Virginia plantation.

Tuckahoe is a small town with a big history. Founded in 1614, it was one of the first English settlements in North America. For most of its history, it was a sleepy backwater village. But during the American Civil War, it became a major battleground, with both Union and Confederate troops marching through its streets. Today, it is once again a quiet town, but its long and storied history lives on.