Explore and sustain the James River Watershed

The Battle of Drewry's Bluff

Article

On May 15, 1862 a Federal flotilla led by the ironclads USS Monitor and USS Galena made their way up the James River to bombard the Confederate capital at Richmond. The fate of that city was in the hands of a few defenders at Drewry's Bluff

The fort at Drewry's Bluff was the anchor point for the main line of defenses protecting Richmond from a southerly approach. The fort, known as Fort Darling to the Federals, was the main obstacle to a Federal water approach to Richmond in the early years of the war. The fort was constructed in 1862 in response to the threat posed by Federal General George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. Located 8 miles below Richmond, the bluff is situated 90 feet above a sharp bend in the James River and was an ideal spot to protect Richmond from a river-borne attack.

On May 15, 1862 a Federal flotilla led by the ironclads Monitor and Galena attempted to force its way past the fort and obstructions in the river to attack Richmond. This was the same tactic that was used to capture New Orleans just one month earlier. As the flotilla approached to within 8 miles of Richmond, the fort was the only obstacle in their path. When the battle began it was quickly discovered that the Monitor was not able to elevate her guns high enough to fire up at the fort, so the ironclad moved back downriver for the rest of the battle. The Galena was skillfully anchored broadside in the channel just 600 yards downriver from the guns at Drewry's Bluff and bore the brunt of the battle.

For three hours and 20 minutes the battle raged, while the fate of Richmond hung in the balance. During this time the Galena suffered many direct hits resulting in 12 dead and 11 wounded crew members. One account of the scene on the Galena described her gun decks as "looking like a slaughterhouse." Finally, the Federal commander realized that the river blockade could not be breached and signaled for his fleet to withdraw. Richmond was never again seriously threatened by a water-based attack.

During the battle, Marine Cpl. John Mackie took charge of one of the Galena's guns after the original crew had been wounded. For his actions Cpl. Mackie became the first United States Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

In the months following the battle, the Confederate Marine Corps Camp of Instruction and the Confederate Naval Academy were established at Drewry's Bluff. The fort was expanded and several miles of earthworks were constructed to protect the fort and Richmond from a land based attack.  Drewry's Bluff remained a strong point on Richmond's southern defenses until the fall of Petersburg. The last remnants of the Confederate James River Squadron met their end here when the ironclads Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Virginia II were blown up in front of Drewry's Bluff to prevent them from falling into Federal hands.

Drewry's Bluff is maintained by the National Park Service and is part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Learn more and visit Drewry's Bluff

Show Map

Comment

Submit

You Might Also Like

Richmond National Battlefield Park

Richmond's story is not just the tale of one large Civil War battle, nor even one important campaign. Instead, the park's resources include a naval battle, a key industrial complex, the Confederacy's largest hospital, miles of elaborate …

Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park

On Palm Sunday, 1865, Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the end of the Southern States attempt to create a separate nation. On the morning of April 9, while General Robert E. Lee realized that the retreat of his …

Westover Plantation

Originally constructed circa 1750 by William Byrd II—the founder of Richmond, Westover is noteworthy for its architectural details, secret passages, magnificent gardens, and perfect setting in the landscape. It took the artistic ideals of its …

The Origins of Richmond

With its strategic location at the Falls of the James, Richmond has been an important political, military and economic hub since before the arrival of Europeans. It was the capital of the Powhatan tribe long before it was the capital of the Virginia …

The Ghost Fleet

The Ghost Fleet is not as haunted as it sounds, but still potentially dangerous. It is the nickname given to the James River Reserve Fleet-nearly a hundred ships kept for storage between Hog Island and Burwell Bay. After WWII, about 800 boats were …

Flowerdew Hundred Plantation

The site of the first windmill in British America, Flowerdew has seen it's share of history as the commonwealth took shape. This land has been attacked, shelled, burned, divided, sold, and reunited. General Ulysses Grant once crossed the James on a …