National Park Service volunteers portraying Confederate sailors of the James River Squadron, as well as soldiers and heavy artillerymen, will be camped at historic Drewry’s Bluff in Chesterfield County on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21. Their camp will be open on Saturday from 10:00 until 5:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 until 4:00. During the day there will be demonstrations, displays, and talks in camp focusing on military life and the role of the fort in the defense of Richmond. Throughout the weekend ranger-conducted walking tours will tell the story of how Confederate soldiers, sailors and marines repulsed this Federal fleet.
During the Civil War Drewry’s Bluff was known as a “Perfect Gibraltar” along the James River protecting the city of Richmond. In May of 1862, while the defenses at Drewry’s Bluff were still under construction, a Federal fleet including the famous ironclad U.S.S. Monitor sailed up the James with plans to shell Richmond into submission. On May 15 that fleet was stopped at Richmond’s last line of defense – Drewry’s Bluff.
