Friday, October 24, 2014

150 Years Ago: Action on the James River and Capture of Blockade-Runners

OCTOBER 22ND, 1864:  Union shore batteries on the north bank of the James River at Signal Hill opened fire suddenly on the ships of the Confederate James River Squadron, anchored in the river at that point.  Wooden gunboat CSS Drewry sustained moderate damage, and after engaging the batteries for about an hour, the Southern vessels retired under the guns of Fort Darling on Chaffin's Bluff.

British blockade-runner steamer Flora, after being chased by the USS Wamsutta, Geranium and Mingoe off Charleston, S.C., was run aground and destroyed the next day by fire from the monitors and the batteries on Morris Island.

The USS Eolus capture Confederate blockade running steamer Hope near Wilmington with a cargo of machinery.

--Old B-Runner

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