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 Click HerePhoto of my front yard 150 years ago!!!! Photo taken by the Brady Group (most likely by Gardner when he worked for Brady) of Aquia landing (canterbury estates) ca Dec 1862 or Jan 1863 and were manned by the 95h Regiment of New York Volunteers. Here at Aquia Landing right on my front yard the VERY FIRST Union naval engagement of the Civil War took place from May 31, 1861 thru June 2, 1861 where 3 to 4 Union gun boats bombarded Confederate Artillery emplacements protecting the Landing, Railroad to Richmond, and the Wharves! We've found union 3 ringer minie balls, railroad spikes, spoon, steel boot cleats used by union soldiers, part of a percussion fuse from a union artillery shell using our metal detector. |
 Click HereHanddrawn Union Map done in June 1862 Shortly After the Union too it over from the Confederacy! Shows the small 1/4 mile strip of land and cove now known as Canterbury Estates. acquia creek landing and canterbury from the hand drawn map dated June 1862 of the proposed union defenses and found confederate artillery batteries. Black marks indicate found confederate battery emplacements and their orientation, Red marks indicate the proposed union emplacements and their orientation. One of the shown confederate batteries is located on a bluff in our backyard up on a cliff which is higher than the roof of our house. Prior to the union taking over the area it was manned by Confederate Army Artilleryman from Virginia and Tennessee who in turn were led by Confederate Navy Officers who themselves were members of the Confederate Secret Service. Canterbury was also a Confederate Communications Relay Point and they used the trees on the bluffs as shown on the map (along the ridge now behind our homes) to send signals across the Potomac River to another communications relay stations in Maryland to send/receive messages from Wash DC and Baltimore to Richmond, Va. |
 Click Photo!The Pirate's Lair and Canterbury Estates @ Aquia Creek Landing circa 2010! Photo is taken from Canterbury Drive which was originally a single horse footpath and then a railroad spur from the dock to the main rail line terminus at Aquia Landing. This link will take you to another web page showing more contemporary views of Canterbury shown in the civil war photos - kind of like before and after. |
 Click Photo!Paw Paw's at Canterbury Estates Aquia Landing Stafford VA - A favorite fruit and stape of American Colonists and American Indians! |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. Aquia landing found at canterbury estates civil war union minie ball .58 caliber |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. Aquia landing found at canterbury estates civil war union minie ball .58 caliber bottom showing 6 line star |
 Click HereFRONT - RF&P (Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac) Boxcar Railroad Seal was used to ensure the integrity of a shipment of goods. Almost 3/4 of an inch in diameter... Thick and heavy and has that old chalky white patina that lead gets... "Acquia Creek" can be made out on one side and "S&H Pat 1857" can be made out on the other... The rest of the letters are difficult to decipher... Some of the letters are clear and some are not... Dug right near where the railroad crossed the creek... |
 Click HereREAR - RF&P (Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac) Boxcar Railroad Seal was used to ensure the integrity of a shipment of goods. Almost 3/4 of an inch in diameter... Thick and heavy and has that old chalky white patina that lead gets... "Acquia Creek" can be made out on one side and "S&H Pat 1857" can be made out on the other... The rest of the letters are difficult to decipher... Some of the letters are clear and some are not... Dug right near where the railroad crossed the creek... |
 Click HerePair of RF&P Sugar Tongs (Richmond, Fredericksburg, Potomac). No maker marks. Obviously made for the well heeled during their long journey from Richmond to Stafford, VA! Available For Sale: $295. |
 Click HereShowing Design on the Tongs. No maker marks. Pair of RF&P Sugar Tongs (Richmond, Fredericksburg, Potomac). Obviously made for the well heeled during their long journey from Richmond to Stafford, VA! Available For Sale: $295. |
 Click HereSome relics and artifacts dug on canterbury drive next to acquia creek landing. Note the artillery fuse sleeve most likely from the May/June 1861 Federal Gun Boat bombardment and the railroad spike that the Union Forces constructed to connect the newly constructed Burnside Wharf to the main rail line |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. Artillery fuse sleeve most likely from the May/June 1861 Federal Gun Boat bombardment of Confederate Forces protecting the railhead at Aquia Creek Landing |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. Another View. Artillery fuse sleeve most likely from the May/June 1861 Federal Gun Boat bombardment of Confederate Forces protecting the railhead at Aquia Creek Landing |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. Another View. Artillery fuse sleeve most likely from the May/June 1861 Federal Gun Boat bombardment of Confederate Forces protecting the railhead at Aquia Creek Landing |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. A Railroad spike from the railroad spur constructed by Union Engineering Battalion ca 1862-1863 which connected the newly built Burnside Wharf to the main Aquia Landing railroad line. |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. large spoon bowl and stem, possibly part of a combination fork-spoon implement |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. Buckle, possibly part of a Union haversack/knapsack or harness. |
 Click HereDug on Lot 2. union boot cleat |
 Click Photo!This appears to be part of a steam engine or railroad car wheel or some sort of part. It is iron with a 19th century "N" monogram, possibly part of "NY" with the Y missing. |
 Click HereWe even had "camp followers" here at Canterbury back in the day! Newspaper report of aquia creek landing evacuation in 1863. Funny observations: "an immense throng of sutlers and other camp followers collected at Aquia Creek for evacuation to Washington"... and in closing "fever and ague prevail during the summer, forbidding the growth of a village, the place will doubtless sink into oblivion, except as connected with the military operations of the great rebellion" .. niether newspaper reporters nor the soldiers thought very highly of our little community at that time! |
 Click Herenewspaper line drawing of aquia creek landing evacuation in 1863 |
 Click Hereacquia or aquia creek landing boat wharf |
 Click Hereacquia creek landing hospital. this hospital was probably the one identified in the June 1862 hand drawn map entitled "Proposed Defenses of Aquia Creek" found further on this page. Thousands if not tens of thousands of wounded union troops were evacuated and transported through the Landing from the battlefields to home or hospitals in the north. |
 Click Herestereoview of acquia or aquia creek landing view from clerks office |
 Click Hereacquia creek landing from thorny point - possibly from the clerks office |
 Click Hereacquia or aquia creek landing boat wharf |
 Click Hereacquia or aquia creek landing, captain hall's wagon camp |
 Click Hereacquia or aquia creek dock around 1864 |
 Click Hereacquia or aquia landing around late 1862 or early 1863, just beginning the rebuilding of the wharf after capture from the confederate forces in May 1862, or even possibly the second rebuilding in late 1863 after returning from the evacuation. |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek map showing burnsides wharf which is now the community dock at Canterbury Estates. The union engineers also called Burnsides Landing the "lower landing or dock" and sarcastically The YubaDam Wharf (not to be confused with the upper dock or Aquia Landing also known by a similar name YuBeDam Landing) |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek railroad overview canterbury estates |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek lincoln telegram |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek lincoln telegram visit to Aquia Landing which was later cancelled due to the evacuation. |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek quartermaster building |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek personnel |
 Click Hereaquia landing newspaper reporter drawing of gun battle may 1861 |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek union gun boat confederate artillery battle may june 1861 |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek confederate canon artillery batteries gun boat battle |
 Click Hereaquia landing, aquia creek confederate canon artillery batteries gun boat battle |
 Click HereCurrently our Canterbury Estate Community Dock. Aquia landing burnside's wharf aka by the union engineers as YuBa Dam Dock. The photo was taken from out on the dock towards the shore and shows what is now our common area, lot 10, parcel a and b. This dock was built up extensively since the low water draft of 10' was substantially deeper than what was otherwise found off of the Aquia Landing Wharf. |
 Click HereCurrently our Canterbury Estate Community Dock. aquia landing, aquia creek burnside's wharf aka YuBa Dam Dock. The photo was taken from shoreside possibly from parcel a. Some of the cement material and poles of the dock that is in the foreground can still be seen, especially at low tide. (possilby photo of City Point, Petersburg) |
 Click Hereaquia landing, acquia creek railroad car float barges. Using railroad cars on barges from Alexandria to Burnsides Wharf was the very first of "container ships" where material was put onto railroad cars from the point of manufacture and then transported by rail to the nearest water port for further direct transportation to a port closest to where a battle was to be fought, or troops were to be supplied. |
 Click Hereaquia landing Company D Co D 93rd NY New York Volunteers 1863 provost duty |
 Click Herefort monroe embarkation of 9th Army Corp from Aquia Landing |
 Click HereNote the wooden coffins!!! fort monroe embarkation of 9th Army Corp from Aquia Landing. Note the wooden coffins in the foreground! The steamer looks packed full of troops and is dangerously listing over. |
 Click Hereaquia landing evacuation 1863 |
 Click Hereaquia landing evacuation 1863 |
 Click Hereaquia landing former slaves joining union |
 Click Hereaquia landing fredericksburg railroad construction |
 Click Hereaquia landing ny new york herald tribune article about union gun boat battle and confederate artillery locations |
 Click Hereaquia landing new york herald tribune article gun battle |
 Click Hereconfederate sea mines first use at aquia landing |
 Click Hereoverall proposed aquia landing canterbury brooke marlborough road defences |
 Click Hereaquia landing artillery shot fired by confederates at union gun boats 1861 |
 Click Hereaquia landing suttlers or camp followers selling to troops |
 Click Hereaquia landing union engineers burnsides wharf |
 Click Hereaquia landing view from commissary office 1863 |
 Click Hereaquia landing canterbury estates proposed defenses june 1862 showing confederate artillery emplacements and proposed union defenses |
 Click Hereaquia landing union captain forsyth provost marshal 1863 |
 Click Hereaquia landing commissary clerks |
 Click Hereaquia landing history burnside's wharf identifying railroad tracks |
 Click Hereaquia landing transportation office captain tombs |
 Click Hereaquia landing newspaper line drawing |
 Click Hereconfederate naval officer assigned at aquia landing 1861-1862. Little known was that it was Confederate Naval Officers who were in charge of the Aquia Landing defenses in 1861 and 1862. Some of these CSN officers were also part of the Confederate Secret Service and used the bluffs on Canterbury as a Communications Station to send/receive messages to/from Wash DC and Baltimore down to Richmond, Virginia the capitol of the Confederacy. |
| Click Here Overview of Stafford County's 2011 Archeological Study and Information about the Battle of Aquia Landing which took place May 29th thru June 1st 1861 at the Outbreak of the Civil War. |
| Click Here Project Map of Showing Aquia Creek, Potomac River and Canterbury Estates for Stafford County's 2011 Archeological Study about the Battle of Aquia Landing which took place May 29th thru June 1st 1861 at the Outbreak of the Civil War. |
| Click Here Aerial Map Overlays of Showing Erosion of Aquia Creek Landing for Stafford County's 2011 Archeological Study about the Battle of Aquia Landing which took place May 29th thru June 1st 1861 at the Outbreak of the Civil War. |
