Fort Darling: Difference between revisions

[[File:CScolumbiadFtDarling.jpg|thumb|324px|OneThe of the 810 inch Columbiad[[columbiad]] gunsgun at Fort Darling]]

'''Fort Darling''' (Drewry's Fort, Drewry's Bluff) was a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] military installation during the [[American Civil War]] located at [[Drewry’sDrewry's Bluff]], a high point of 80–100 feet overlooking a bend in the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] south of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] in [[Chesterfield County, Virginia]]. It protected the Confederate capital of Richmond from Union naval attacks throughout most of the war.

== Drewry's Bluff ==

On 17 March 1862 Captain Augustus H. Drewry a local landowner (after whom the name Drewry's Bluff is taken) moved in with his artillery unit and began constructing earthworks, defenses and installing 3 large guns (1 ten-inch and 2 eight-inch [[columbiad]]s),<ref name=government>{{cite web|title=Drewry's Bluff|url=http://www.nps.gov/rich/historyculture/drewrys-bluff.htm|publisher=www.nps.gov|accessdate=18 November 2012}}</ref> the installation of which was overseen by General [[Robert E. Lee]]'s eldest son Brigadier General [[G.W.C. Lee]].<ref name=leesson>{{cite web|title=The Battle of Fort Darling/Drewry's Bluff (First)|url=http://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/620515b.html|publisher=www.mycivilwar.com|accessdate=18 November 2012}}</ref> Fort Darling was to defend Richmond the capital of the Confederacy in anticipation of a Union attack by gunboats from along the river.

== Defenses Bolstered & Their First Test ==

In May the garrison was joined by the crew of the [[C.S.S.CSS Virginia|CSS ''Virginia'']];, who had scuttled their ship with the fall of Norfolk on May 9. With them, defenses were expanded further and obstacles sunk into the James River and 6 more guns placed in a battery upriver. Men worked around the clock for the anticipated battle.<ref name="government" />

Then on May 15, 5 Union Navy vessels steamed towards Richmond. Led by [[John Rodgers (American Civil War naval officer)|Commander John Rodgers]], the [[USS Monitor|USS ''Monitor'']], [[USS Galena (1862)|USS ''Galena'']], Port Royal, [[USS Aroostook (1861)|Aroostook]] and [[USRC Naugatuck|Naugatuck]]<ref name=naval>{{cite web|title=American Civil War Naval Action May 15, 1862|url=http://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va012.htm|publisher=nps.gov|accessdate=18 November 2012}}</ref> engaged the defenses at Fort Darling at 7.45am45 am. The concussion from the 10-inch gun was so strong that eight miles away the windows in Richmond rattled with the firing of the Confederate's cannons; however, it broke its casingcarriage with the first shot and was inactive for the rest of the battle.<ref name="government" />

[[File:Bombardment of Fort Darling, Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, 15 May 1862.jpg|thumb|left|The 5 Union ships lined up against Fort Darling, Richmond's only defense]]

For 3 hours and 20 minutes the battle ensued. The fire from Fort Darling high on the bluff and the battery on the riverside made it too dangerous for the 3 wooden ships to advance, the ironclad Monitor and Galena advanced on the defenders. However the Monitor's guns could not elevate enough to hit the fort. In the end Galena stood alone, but afterAfter 18 hits pierced herGalena's armor and caused fires to start, the attack was called off and Rodgers turned around. It became known as the [[Battle of Drewry's Bluff]].<ref name="government" />

== Preparations ==

For two years Fort Darling saw no more action,. inIn that time the naval Captain [[Sydney Smith Lee]] (General Robert E. Lee's brother) took command. Defenses were strengthened along with better accommodations, barracks, chapel, etc.<ref name=jstor>{{citeCite webjournal|last=Kay|first=William Kennon|title=Drewry's Bluff or Fort Darling?|urljournal=https://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4247473?uidThe Virginia Magazine of History and Biography|year=3738752&uid1969|volume=2129&uid77|issue=2&uid|pages=70&uid=4&sid=21101313700723191–200|publisher=www.jstor.org|accessdate=18 November 20124247473}}</ref> In that time Fort Darling served as a training site for training ground for the [[Confederate States Naval Academy]], as well as the [[Confederate States Marine Corps|Confederate Marine Corps]] Camp of Instruction.<ref name=government />

Then on May 5, 1864 the Union returned, this time landing 30,000 troops at [[Bermuda Hundred, Virginia|Bermuda Hundred]] only 15 miles south of Richmond, under the command of Major General [[Benjamin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]]. Within a few days they had reached Fort Darling managing to take over some of the outer defenses, but indecisive generals failed to consolidate their hold. Soon 18,000 Confederate infantry under General P.G.T Beauregard arrived and routed the attackers on May 16. Fort Darling and Richmond had again seen the Union driven off.<ref name=second>{{cite web|title=Proctor’sProctor's Creek|url=http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va053.htm|publisher=www.nps.gov|accessdate=18 November 2012}}</ref>

== Evacuation ==

== References ==

{{reflistReflist}}

== External links ==

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