Drewy's Bluff (Fort Darling)


Rebel Flag Drewy's Bluff (Fort Darling)!

Union Flag
 

Date: May 15, 1862
Estimated Casualties: 41 total

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. (Text Source: U.S. Gov't, National Park Service)
 


 

Drewy's Bluff 1865 and 1998 shows the Cannons pointing to the James River.
The Confederates held their position and denied the Union access to Richmond
throughout the war.





A view of the James River from Drewy's Bluff (Fort Darling)
   





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