A Confederate fortification located six miles east of Lynchburg in Amherst County, Fort Riverview is strategically situated atop a steep ridge overlooking the James River. This well-preserved defensive work contains artillery emplacements that defended the land approach as well as the river—both downstream to the east and upstream toward the Six-Mile Bridge of the former Southside Railroad. Little documentation exists concerning the fort, which probably was constructed in 1864 when Maj. Gen. David Hunter threatened Lynchburg. This lack of written evidence increases the importance of the archaeological record, which fortunately remains intact. Besides the fortification itself, other features on the Fort Riverview property include the trace of an old road leading to the river and fifty small piles of stone of unknown purpose scattered down the southern slope of the hill.
