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On ichmond’sFront Line Volume 14, NumberR 2 Fall 2015 The Battle of Trent’s Reach DESPERATE TIMES ON THE JAMES RIVER Dantzler. This battery anchored the north end of the Howlett line that paralleled Butler’s line all the way to Behind the Dutch Gap Conservation Area in the Appomattox River. Chesterfield County is a long, shallow body of water known as Trent’s Reach. Cut off long ago by the By mid-June of 1864 the lines in Bermuda Hundred modern shipping channel at Dutch Gap, this quiet were firmly established and the siege of Petersburg stretch of the old river is now visited by the occasional was under way. At Trent’s Reach a series of fisherman or kayaker. The 4-mile loop trail at the obstructions and torpedoes were placed to keep the Dutch Gap Conservation Area follows along its edge Confederate James River Squadron up river and far and is a very popular spot for hikers and cyclists. Few away from the busy supply base that was taking shape people who visit are aware that in the shallow waters at City Point. In addition to the barrier, Union of Trent’s Reach, Union and Confederate ironclads ironclads frequently entered the waters of Trent’s squared off in one of the last naval engagements of the Reach to lob shells at Battery Dantzler and to Civil War. discourage any Confederate naval The eastern end excursions of Trent’s Reach downriver. Union was occupied by concerns at Trent’s Union General Reach were very Benjamin F. Butler real. While limited in May of 1864. in its area of Butler landed operations, the 40,000 troops at James River Bermuda Hundred, Squadron still had quickly marched the ability to pack a west, and punch in the form established a of three ironclads, defensive line. This the Virginia II, the line began at the Richmond and the Appomattox River Fredericksburg. All at present day R. C.S.S. Fredericksburg & C.S.S. Virginia II under fire from Union shore batteries and the U.S.S. three ironclads had Garland Dodd Park Onondaga. Copyright Tom W. Freeman, courtesy of SM&S Naval Prints, Inc. all rights reserved. 4 guns and a crew at Point of Rocks of approximately and stretched north until it reached the James River 150 men. During the summer and fall of 1864 these where the River’s Bend subdivision is located today. ships made occasional forays down the James, but Butler had three gun positions constructed on the their role had mostly been to act as floating batteries in bluffs overlooking the James River. These batteries support of land operations. As the war dragged on into named Wilcox, Parsons and Spofford commanded the the winter of 1864-65, the ironclads would finally get one mile length of Trent’s Reach. At the western end their opportunity to take the fight to the enemy. of the reach, the Confederates constructed Battery At 5:00 PM on January 23, 1865, the James River 2015 Annual Meeting & Tour Squadron under the command of Captain John K. Saturday, October 24, 10 am Mitchell began to descend the James River from Second Deep Bottom Chaffin’s Bluff. The Fredericksburg led with the (details & map inside) gunboat Hampton and torpedo boat Hornet lashed to its side. Next was the Virginia II with the gunboat In late January 1865, the Confederacy’s James River Parsons and small arms from along the shore. By 1 Squadron finally seized an opportunity to take an active AM the passage was clear but the Fredericksburg and part in the defense of Richmond and, if it were the Hampton were the only vessels that ventured successful, affect the outcome of the war in the Eastern downriver. At the western end of Trent’s Reach, the Theatre. The result was the battle of Trent’s Reach. — John M. Coski, historian & author of Virginia II and the Richmond had both run aground. Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations The gunboats Nansemond and Beaufort spent three of the James River Squadron hours trying to free the Virginia II. During the night the Drewry and Scorpion also ran aground. The Nansemond, the tug Torpedo and the torpedo boat Fredericksburg and Hampton were recalled upriver to Scorpion secured to her sides. The ironclad Richmond protect the other ships. was last with the gunboats Drewry and Beaufort and As the sun rose, the Fredericksburg and the smaller the torpedo boat Wasp alongside. Their mission was to vessels retreated to a sheltered bend in the river slip past Federal guns at Fort Brady, cut through the opposite Battery Dantzler. The Richmond, Virginia II, obstructions at Trent's Reach, and attack the supply Drewry, and Scorpion were still stuck in the mud. The depot at City Point. Federal land batteries open fire, and a shot soon hit the The decision to make the attack was brought on by powder magazine of the Drewry, causing the ship to two factors. A reliable report indicated that recent explode. Gen. Grant is reported to have heard the floods had washed away some of the obstructions at explosion at his headquarters at City Point. The Trent’s Reach. Also, most of the Federal ships Scorpion was abandoned and fell into Federal hands. patrolling this part At 7:30 AM, the of the James had Federal batteries been sent to North trained their fire Carolina to take part onto the Richmond in the attack on Fort and Virginia II. Fisher. Timing was While this was critical and the occurring the USS movement toward Onondaga was City Point would be downriver near Deep a risky one. The Bottom. Commander James River William A. Parker, Squadron would who was in charge first have to get past of naval operations the guns of the 1st on the James, made Connecticut Heavy the decision to move Artillery at Fort the previous night in Brady. They would order to obtain what then need to cut he believed was a through the river more advantageous obstructions and get position. The following morning the ship made its way past the three batteries at Trent’s Reach. Waiting back upriver. At 10:15 the Onondaga joined the somewhere downriver was the double-turreted gunboats Hunchback and Massasoit and the torpedo ironclad Onondaga, one of the most powerful ships in boat Spuyten Duyvil at Trent’s Reach. By this time the the Union navy and one of the few left behind to guard rising tide was lifting the Virginia II and Richmond the James. Navigating the twists, turns, and shallows out of the mud. From a half-mile the Onondaga’s of the James River was another challenge. two15-inch guns made several hits on the vessels but Accomplishing all of this in darkness on a cold both were able to get upriver to safety. January night was a tall order. The Confederate ships remained under the shadow By 8 PM the flotilla reached Fort Brady where they of Battery Dantzler that day as another attempt to push received 25 shots from two 100 pounder and three 30 downriver was contemplated. After assessing the pounder guns. “The fort was instantly opened upon by damage his ships had suffered, Captain Mitchell the rebel land batteries, and their fire soon disabled decided to take the James River Squadron back one of the 100 pounder guns” reported Union Colonel upriver. The ships exchanged fire one more time with Henry Abbot. A design flaw in Fort Brady did not Fort Brady as they moved north and returned to their allow the guns to fire downriver as the Confederates anchorage at Chaffin’s Bluff. The attempt to break out sailed by. Soon the James River Squadron was past its and attack City Point was over. first obstacle. While now considered a minor footnote in the war, The Confederate flotilla reached Trent’s Reach at the action at Trent’s Reach caused quite a stir in the 10:30 PM. The Fredericksburg and the gunboat Hampton went forward and cut through the obstructions while under mortar fire from Battery Masthead photo on page 1: James River naval collage HELP RBA BUY LAND Directions 1. From I-295 go EAST on ROUTE 5 for 1.9 miles. NOT PAPER 2. Turn LEFT onto LONGBRIDGE RD, go 0.8 miles. 3. Turn LEFT onto YAHLEY MILL RD, go 1.3 miles. Save on Printing & 4. Turn RIGHT onto private drive marked by RBA signs. Mailing $$ 5. Proceed SLOWLY on gravel drive to parking area. Sign up for email delivery of the RBA newsletter • immediate delivery • full color • high quality pdf Request delivery at: [email protected] RBA NOTES 2015 ANNUAL MEETING & TOUR - SECOND DEEP BOTTOM It has been 6 years since we last met at Fussell’s Mill. There have been RBA members continue to opt for a number of exciting developments since then. Through a half-dozen electronic delivery of the RBA acquisitions, RBA has preserved over 50 critical acres of this important newsletter. You too can help us 1864 battlefield — 32 acres of the Aug. 14th site & 25 acres of the save money by choosing electronic Aug. 16th site. In addition, the historic miller’s house is being carefully delivery of “On Richmond’s Front restored. Join your fellow preservationists at Fussell’s Mill again this Line”. Just send your name and year. Bring a chair, pack a lunch, and tour the new property you helped email address to: save along Darbytown Road. This event is free and open to the public. [email protected] Don’t forget to stay up to date with TRENT’S REACH (continued) should report to City Point and RBA news & events on our website Union command.

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