Fort Darling - Defenses Bolstered & Their First Test

Defenses Bolstered & Their First Test

In May the crew were joined by those from C.S.S. 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.

Then on May 15, 5 Union Navy vessels steamed towards Richmond. Led by Commander John Rodger, the Monitor, Galena, Port Royal, Aroostook and Naugatuck engaged the defenses at Fort Darling at 7.45am . The concussion from the 10-pounder was so strong that eight miles away the windows in Richmond rattled with the firing of the Confederate's canons, however it broke its casing with the first shot and was inactive for the rest of the battle.

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 Monitors guns could not elevate enough to hit the fort . In the end Galena stood alone, but after 18 hits pierced her armor and caused fires to start the battle was called off and Rodgers turned around. It became known as the Battle of Drewry's Bluff