Action Up the Rappahannock River

MARCH 13TH, 1865:  Lt.Cmdr. Hooker led a naval expedition up the Rappahannock River, Virginia, to assist an army detachment engaged in mopping up operations on the peninsula formed by the the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers.  The expedition consisted of the USS Commodore Reed, Morse, Delaware and the Army gunboat Mosswood.

At Tappahannock, a landing party from the Delaware destroyed eight boats including a large flatboat used as a ferry.  The bridge connecting Tappahannock with the evacuated Fort Lowrey was then destroyed by the well-directed gunfire from the Delaware and Morse.

During these operations, the expedition exchanged fire for two hours with two rifled field pieces concealed in a wooded area.  They also opened on Confederate cavalry units in the vicinity and, Hooker reported, "emptied some of their saddles.".

--Old B-R'er