Drewry's Bluff, VA

Date(s): May 15, 1862

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Peninsula Campaign [March-September 1862]

Battles in Campaign:

• Hampton Roads, VA - March 8-9, 1862 B

• Yorktown, VA - April 5-May 4, 1862 B

• Williamsburg, VA - May 5, 1862 B

• Eltham's Landing, VA - May 7, 1862 D¹

• Drewry's Bluff, VA - May 15, 1862 B

• Hanover Courthouse, VA - June 30, 1863 C¹

• Seven Pines, VA - May 31-June 1, 1862 B

• Oak Grove, VA - June 25, 1862 D¹

• Beaver Dam Creek, VA - June 26, 1862 B

• Gaines' Mill, VA - June 27, 1862 A

• Garnetts & Goldings Farm, VA - June 27-28, 1862 D¹

• Savage's Station, VA - June 29, 1862 C¹

• White Oak Swamp, VA - June 30, 1862 C¹

• Glendale, VA - June 30, 1862 B

• Malvern Hill, VA - July 1, 1862 A

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Cdr. John Rodgers

• Confederate: Cdr. E. Farrand, Brig. Gen. William Mahone, Capt. S. S. Lee, and
  Lt. John Taylor Wood  

Principal Forces:

• Union: 5 gunboats

• Confederate: battery garrison

Description:

• After 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 15th, 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.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification²: B

Casualties³: 41 total

• Union:

• Confederate:

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Websites: 

• Richmond NB

• The Peninsula Campaign - HistoryAnimated.com  

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009