Fort Darling (Drewry's Bluff) | military, place with historical importance, fortification

 military, place with historical importance, fortification

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Confederate earthen fort built to defend Richmond from a Federal naval attack in 1862.

The high bluffs and clear line of fire downriver made plunging fire from the fort's guns particularly devastating against approaching ships.

Sailors from the CSS Virginia manning the guns in 1862 defeated a Federal flotilla that included the USS Monitor and the experimental ironclad USS Galena. The Monitor was seriously battered and the Galena was reduced to a floating wreck.

The fort remained in Confederate hands and successfully defended Richmond until April 1865 when Confederate troops abandoned the works and retreated towards Appomattox.

As of January 1865 it was armed with six 10" columbiads, two 8" columbiads, one 7" Brooke rifle, two 6" Brooke rifles, three 12-pounder howitzers and three 32-pounder smoothbore guns. It was manned by Confederate Marines from Company A, B & C, the Neblett Artillery under Captain Coleman and the First Maryland Artillery under Captain Dement.