During the first significant Civil War battle between the U.S. Navy and Confederate shore batteries on May 31 and June 1, 1861, this gun emplacement was manned by Colonel William C. Bate of the Tennessee (Walker) Legion, who successfully operated four 3 inch rifled cannons from this position and inflicted some damage on ships of the Potomac Flotilla. Federal gunboats under John A. Ward withdrew after the action but continued to monitor the landing.