The James River Squadron was formed shortly after the secession of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

. The squadron was part of the Virginia Navy before being transferred to the

Confederate States Navy The Confederate States Navy (CSN) was the Navy, naval branch of the Confederate States Armed Forces, established by an act of the Confederate States Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the Amer ...

. The squadron is most notable for its role in patrolling the

James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesap ...

, which was the main water approach to the Confederate capital,

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, Californi ...

. It had two phases: early war, when it consisted mostly of wooden ships (besides the famous CSS ''Virginia'') which ended with the

Battle of Drewry's Bluff The Battle of Drewry's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Fort Darling, or Fort Drewry, took place on May 15, 1862, in Chesterfield County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. Four Union Navy warships, incl ...

on May 15, 1862; and its later ironclad composition with the flagship CSS ''Virginia II''.

History

Background

The Provisional Navy of Virginia was established by an ordinance of the Convention of Virginia on 27 April 27, 1861, when

seceded from the Union. The James River Squadron was formed as part of this navy. When Virginia joined the

Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...

, Governor

John Letcher John Letcher (March 29, 1813January 26, 1884) was an American lawyer, journalist, and politician. He served as a Representative in the United States Congress, was the 34th Governor of Virginia during the American Civil War, and later served in ...

issued a proclamation on 6 June 1861, transferring "all officers, seamen, and marines of the Provisional Navy of Virginia" and they were absorbed into the

First phase

John Randolph Tucker was the commander of the James River Squadron during its first real action at the

Battle of Hampton Roads The Battle of Hampton Roads, also referred to as the Battle of the ''Monitor'' and ''Virginia'' (rebuilt and renamed from the USS ''Merrimack'') or the Battle of Ironclads, was a naval battle during the American Civil War. It was fought over t ...

on March 8–9, 1862 near

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia B ...

. At that time, the squadron included the ironclad CSS ''Virginia'' (aka ''Merrimack''), the side-wheel steamers CSS ''Thomas Jefferson'' (aka ''Jamestown'') and CSS ''Patrick Henry'' (aka ''Yorktown''), and the propeller-driven gunboats CSS ''Beaufort'' and CSS ''Raleigh''.

The part taken by the little James River squadron is not the least remarkable part of that great fight. It was lost sight of in the battle of the ironclad giants, but in the days of oak walls would have been recorded with honorable mention among the acts of bravery and seamanship which illustrate a navy.Scharf, J. Thomas, A.M., LL.D., ''History of the Confederate States Navy From Its Organization to the Surrender of Its Last Vessel'', New York: Rogers & Sherwood, 1887.

For the part played by the CSS ''Jamestown'', its commander, Joseph N. Barney, was promoted. The diminution of the squadron came when the Federals were able to travel up the James River after the Confederates destroyed its guardian, CSS ''Virginia''. In an attempt to bolster the obstructions at

Drewry's Bluff Drewry's Bluff is located in northeastern Chesterfield County, Virginia, in the United States. It was the site of Confederate Fort Darling during the American Civil War. It was named for a local landowner, Confederate Captain Augustus H. Drewry, ...

, the CSS ''Jamestown'' was sunk and its guns mounted on the bluff. Its crew, along with the crews of the rest of the squadron, fought at the

on May 15, 1862. The hull of the new ironclad CSS ''Richmond'' was towed from

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the Nor ...

during this withdrawal.

Second phase

After May 1862 to the end of 1863, life was relatively quiet on the James River. Because of this lack of activity, the War Department decided that the

Army of Northern Virginia The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most oft ...

, always hard pressed for troops, needed the sailors more than the navy. Detachments of sailors were assigned temporarily to cover the Richmond defenses and free troops for use in the field. Sailors continued to be used ashore for the rest of the war, especially at Drewry's Bluff. At the end of May 1864, obstructions were removed from the James River by the Confederates, and the squadron was sent down river, only to find that the Federals had built their own barricades. The squadron continued shelling the Federals ashore at intervals until August 13, when a full naval bombardment was opened on the

Federal Army The Mexican Federal Army ( es, Ejército Federal), also known as the Federales in popular culture, was the military of Mexico from 1876 to 1914 during the Porfiriato, the long rule of President Porfirio Díaz, and during the presidencies of Franci ...

. For the rest of the year, periodic duels between the James River Squadron and the Federal shore batteries were the rule. The squadron stayed almost constantly below Drewry's Bluff. In January 1865, the James River Squadron ran past the barricades in the river in an attempt to disrupt Gen.

U.S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General of the United States ...

's supplies. During the fight, many of the ships were lost, others damaged to varying degrees. That night the river rose, floating the ironclads, and the James River Squadron tried to run under the cover of dark. They were spotted, and heavy fire opened up on the fleet. The order to retreat was given and the gunboats retreated. From that point on, the navy did little other than work heavy guns in the Richmond defenses. As Richmond fell, the James River Squadron was ordered to destroy their vessels and join Gen.

Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, towards the end of which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of Nor ...

's army. By the time they had burned the vessels,

was in flames and no road was open to join Lee. Cut off from Lee's army, they marched to the outskirts of Richmond and, finding a train there, made their way to join Gen.

Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was an American career army officer, serving with distinction in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and the Seminole Wars. After Virginia secede ...

's army. There were several men from this squadron, however, who did join Lee and fought a desperate rearguard action at the

Battle of Sayler's Creek The Battle of Sailor's Creek was fought on April 6, 1865, near Farmville, Virginia, as part of the Appomattox Campaign, near the end of the American Civil War. It was the last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, ...

, then surrendered with the army at Appomattox. On May 1, 1865, Johnston's army, including the last of the James River Squadron, was surrendered to General

William T. Sherman William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

, and disbanded.

Composition

Commanders

Coski (1996), John M. ''Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron'', Campbell, CA: Savas Woodbury Publishers. . *

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

French Forrest French Forrest (1796 – December 22, 1866) was an American naval officer who served first in the United States Navy and later the Confederate States Navy. His combat experience prior to the American Civil War included service in the War of 181 ...

(July 10, 1861 – February 27, 1862) *

Franklin Buchanan (February 27 – March 29, 1862) *

Josiah Tattnall III Commodore Josiah Tattnall (November 9, 1795 – June 14, 1871) was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War and the Mexican–American War. He later served in the Confederate Navy during the American C ...

(March 29 – May 15, 1862) *

John Randolph Tucker (April 19 - May 1862) *

Sydney Smith Lee (May 15, 1862 – November 3, 1862) *

Samuel Barron (November 3, 1862-March 1863) *

(March 24, 1863 – May 6, 1864) *

John K. Mitchell John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(May 6, 1864 – February 18, 1865) *

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star " admiral" rank. It is often rega ...

Raphael Semmes Raphael Semmes ( ; September 27, 1809 – August 30, 1877) was an officer in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. Until then, he had been a serving officer in the US Navy from 1826 to 1860. During the American Civil War, Semmes ...

(February 18, 1865 - end of war)

Flagships

* CSS ''Patrick Henry'' (first flagship under Virginia Navy)Historical Information
Library of Virginia. Retrieved 27 December 2016 * CSS ''Virginia'' (I) * CSS ''Patrick Henry'' (during the detachment period, and then after the destruction of the ''

'') * CSS ''Virginia'' (II)

Ships of the Squadron

First Phase

* CSS ''Virginia'' * CSS ''Jamestown'' * CSS ''Patrick Henry'' * CSS ''Teaser'' * CSS ''Beaufort'' * CSS ''Raleigh'' * CSS ''Hampton'' * CSS ''Nansemond''

Second Phase

* CSS ''Virginia II'' * CSS ''Richmond'' * CSS ''Fredericksburg'' * CSS ''Drewry'' * CSS ''Patrick Henry'' * CSS ''Teaser'' * CSS ''Beaufort'' * CSS ''Raleigh'' * CSS ''Hampton'' * CSS ''Nansemond'' * CSS ''Torpedo''

Footnotes

References

* {{cite book , title=Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron , author=John M. Coski , publisher=Savas Woodbury Publishers , location=Campbell, CA , year=1996 , isbn=1-882810-03-1

External links

James River Squadron in ''Encyclopedia Virginia''

James River Squadron The James River Squadron was formed shortly after the secession of Virginia during the American Civil War. The squadron was part of the Virginia Navy before being transferred to the Confederate States Navy. The squadron is most notable for its ...