Summary

The 2025 issue of The Tiller explores the James River batteau as both history and living tradition. Highlights include Viola Baskerville’s feature on Black boatmen of the James River and the story of Philip Cousins of Fluvanna County; Greg Starbuck and Dan Tucker on the documentary Lynchburg at War and the recreation of tobacco transport by batteau on the Lynchburg waterfront; Rebecca Ledingham’s review of Cabell’s Canal; and Brian Coffield’s article on Hatton Ferry and the possibility of building a historically accurate replacement. The issue concludes with a photo essay from the 40th Annual James River Batteau Festival.

Tags

Black boatmen of the James River; Lynchburg river history; Hatton Ferry; James River and Kanawha Canal; James River Batteau Festival; Viola Baskerville; Lynchburg at War; James River batteaux; Cabell’s Canal; Richmond Folk Festival

Notable People
Viola O. Baskerville; Will Smith; Ralph Smith; Greg Starbuck; Dan Tucker; Rebecca Ledingham; Brian Coffield; Philip Cousins; Thomas Jefferson.

Notable Places
James River; Lynchburg; Richmond; Columbia; Fluvanna County; Hatton; Buckingham County; Madison Heights; Haxall Canal.

Featured Topics
Black boatmen and community history along the James; Philip Cousins of Fluvanna County and postwar Black civic life in Columbia; historical recreation for the documentary Lynchburg at War; batteaux and tobacco transport in Lynchburg; the continuing public interpretation of batteaux in Richmond and Lynchburg; the James River and Kanawha Canal through Cabell’s Canal; the future of Hatton Ferry after the retirement of the steel barge; photo coverage of the 40th Annual JRBF.