The Siege of Petersburg

On the night of Jan. 23, 1865, the Confederate ironclads Virginia II, Richmond, and Fredericksburg, with five smaller vessels, descended the James River to attack the Union supply depot at City Point after floods had partially washed away Union obstructions at Trent's Reach and most Union warships on the river had been sent to North Carolina. Slipping past Union guns at Fort Brady, the force reached the obstructions by 10:30 P.M., and while the Fredericksburg and gunboat Hampton passed through the barrier, the Virginia II and Richmond ran aground in the shoals, followed during the night by the torpedo boat Scorpion and the armed tender Drewry. Fredericksburg and Hampton were recalled upriver to protect the stranded ships, but when the sun rose on the 24th, Union cannon in Battery Parsons opened fire on the Drewry, whose explosion dislodged the Scorpion and sent her drifting into Union hands. Union shore batteries then pounded the Richmond and Virginia II until both floated free by 10:45 A.M. as the double-turreted U.S.S. Onondaga came upriver and from a half mile delivered several direct hits to the Virginia II before the ironclad escaped out of range. The Confederate vessels took shelter opposite Battery Dantzler and the next day retired upriver to Chaffin's Bluff, ending the threat to Grant's supply base.

Virginia · United States