Battle of Drewry's Bluff

Other Names: Fort Darling, Fort Drewry

Location: Chesterfield County, Virginia

Campaign: Peninsula Campaign (March-September 1862)

Date: 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]

Casualties and losses: 41 total

Result(s): Confederate victory

Brief 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. During the battle, Corporal John F. Mackie became the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor. The massive fort on Drewry's Bluff had blunted the Union advance just 7 mi short of the Confederate capital, at a loss of seven Confederates killed and eight wounded. Richmond remained safe.