JANUARY 23-24, 1865: Flag Officer Mitchell's James River Squadron launched its downstream assault against the Union fleet still in the river. The fleet had been depleted with many ships taking part in the attack on Fort Fisher, so there was great hope of success.
The Union fleet there only had one double turreted monitor, the USS Onondaga and ten gunboats, while the Confederate fleet had three ironclads and eight gunboats.
The Union fleet withdrew upon the Confederate advance. Commodore W.A. Parker explained that he moved downstream "because I thought there would be more room to maneuver the Onondaga and to avoid the batteries bearing on Dutch Gap."
--Old B-R'er
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