Battle Name: |
Drewry’s Bluff |
Other Names: |
Fort Darling, Fort Drewry |
State: |
Virginia |
Location: |
Chesterfield County |
Campaign: |
Peninsula Campaign (March-September 1862) |
Dates: |
May 15, 1862 |
Principal Commanders: |
Cdr. John Rodgers [US]; Cdr. E. Farrand, Brig. Gen. William Mahone, Capt. S. S. Lee,
and
Lt. John Taylor Wood [CS] |
Forces Engaged: |
5 gunboats [US]; battery garrison [CS] |
Estimated Casualties: |
41 total |
Description: |
With the fall of Yorktown, the Confederate ironclad Virginia at Norfolk was scuttled to prevent her
capture. This opened the James River to Federal gunboats. On May 15, five gunboats, including the ironclads
Monitor and Galena, steamed up the James to test the Richmond defenses. They encountered submerged
obstacles and deadly accurate fire from the batteries at Drewry’s Bluff, which inflicted severe damage on the
Galena. The Federal Navy was turned back. |
Results: |
Confederate victory |