CSS ''Drewry'' was a
gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.
History Pre-ste ...
of the
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy (CSN) was the 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 American ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...
. This wooden gunboat had a foredeck protected by an iron V-shaped shield. Classed as a tender, she was attached to Flag Officer
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 ...
's
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 ...
sometime in 1863 with Master
Lewis Parrish,
CSN ''CSN'' may refer to:
Companies
* CSN Stores, former name of Wayfair, American e-commerce company
* CSN International (Christian Satellite Network), religious radio broadcaster based on radio station KAWZ in Twin Falls, Idaho
* '' Centrala Studie ...
, in command.
In addition to transporting troops and other routine service, she took part in several engagements along the river prior to January 24, 1865, when, in
Trent's Reach, she was destroyed by two shots from a 100-pounder rifle in a battery of the
1st Connecticut Artillery
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
. The second hit exploded her magazine as she assisted
CSS ''Richmond'' to get afloat; all but two of her crew had reached safety before the explosion.
Commanders
The commanders of the CSS ''Drewry'' were:
[Coski]
*
William Harwar Parker
William Harwar Parker (October 8, 1826 – December 30, 1896) was an officer in the United States Navy and later in the Confederate States Navy. His autobiography, entitled ''Recollections of a Naval Officer 1841–1865'', provides a unique insigh ...
(May-fall 1862)
* Master
Lewis Parrish (around October 1863-May 1864)
* Lieutenant
William B. Hall (May 19-May 21, 1864)
* Lieutenant
William H. Wall (June 1864-January 23, 1865)
See also
*
Battle of Trent's Reach
The Battle of Trent's Reach was one of the final major naval battles of the American Civil War. Beginning on January 23, 1865, a powerful flotilla of Confederate warships bombarded Fort Brady along the James River and engaged four Union Na ...
Notes
References
*
* Coski, John M. ''Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron'', Campbell, CA: Savas Woodbury Publishers, 1996,
Drewry
Shipwrecks of the James River
Shipwrecks of the American Civil War
1863 ships
Maritime incidents in January 1865
Hampton-class gunboats
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