JUNE 21ST, 1864: A joint Confederate Army-Navy long range bombardment opened on the Union squadron in the James River at Trent's and Varina Reaches. Flag Officer Mitchell's fleet included his flagship, the CSS Virginia II and CSS Fredericksburg, both ironclads, and gunboats Hampton, Nansemond and Drewry, small steamer Roanoke and tug Beaufort. The ironclad CSS Richmond suffered an incident getting underway and had to be towed upriver
The Virginia II soon suffered engine failure which kept it out of action as well.
The Union monitors and gunboats concentrated their fire on the Confederate Army shore batteries during the exchange, neither fleet suffered serious damage.
Trying to Drive the Feds Off the James. --Old B-Runner
No comments:
Post a Comment