Battle of Aquia Creek

Other Names: 

Location: Stafford County, Virginia

Campaign: Peninsula campaign

Date: May 29, 1861 – June 1, 1861

Principal Commanders: Commander James Harmon Ward [US] ; Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles [CS]

Forces Engaged: Three gunboats [US]; battery garrison [CS]

Casualties and losses: 10 wounded

Result(s): Inconclusive

Brief Description:

Each side inflicted little damage and no serious casualties on the other. The Union vessels were unable to dislodge the Confederates from their positions or to inflict serious casualties on their garrisons or serious damage to their batteries. The Confederates manning the batteries were unable to inflict serious casualties on the Union sailors or cause serious damage to the Union vessels. Soon after the battle, on Sunday, July 7, 1861, the Confederates first used naval mines, unsuccessfully, off the Aquia Landing batteries.