Today in History:

Drewry's Bluff

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

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