- Warwick River (Virginia)
The Warwick River is a short
tidal estuary which empties into the James River a few miles fromHampton Roads at the southern end ofChesapeake Bay in southeastVirginia in theUnited States . Originating in York County near the northern side a few miles west of Yorktown, it flows southeasterly across about 2/3 of theVirginia Peninsula and is almost entirely located in theindependent city of Newport News.The Warwick River took its name from Robert Rich, second
Earl of Warwick and a prominent member of theVirginia Company of London who was proprietor ofRichneck Plantation inWarwick River Shire , one of the eight originalshires of Virginia created in 1634. The shire became Warwick County in1643 , and became part of theindependent city of Newport News in1958 through a municipal consolidation.In 1862, during the
Peninsula Campaign of theAmerican Civil War , theWarwick Line , a defensive works across the peninsula, was maintained along the river by Confederate GeneralJohn B. Magruder against much larger Union forces under GeneralGeorge B. McClellan . Through the use of elaborate ruse tactics, "Prince John" Magruder, who was also an actor, provided valuable time for the ultimately successful defense of Richmond led by GeneralRobert E. Lee which culiminated in theSeven Days Battles .The Warwick River adjoins
Fort Eustis , aU.S. Army base, on its western shore, which also occupies historicMulberry Island . During the 20th century, upper reaches of the river were dammed to create fresh water reservoirs for Newport News and other communities nearby.ee also
*
List of Virginia rivers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.