Joint Operations In The James River Basin, 1862–1865 by LCDR David K. Zatt

Author:LCDR David K. Zatt [Zatt, LCDR David K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, Civil War Period (1850-1877), Military, Modern, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781786253866
Google: uT1vCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2015-11-06T05:07:50+00:00

Figure 10. Southeastern Virginia

On 14 June, Grant requested that the Navy protect his crossing at Wilcox’s Wharf. Lee immediately sent the Mackinaw and the Atlanta to Wilcox’s Wharf to protect Grant’s crossing from the north side to south side of the James River, which went smoothly. However, on 17 June and again on the 21st, Confederate forces attacked the Army’s supply trains. On both occasions naval bombardment was able to quell the Confederate fire and drive the attackers off.{91}

Admiral Lee’s naval forces were tested again on 21 June 1864, when the Confederate Army and Navy conducted a joint long range bombardment on the Union naval forces. The Confederate Army battery at Howlett’s House commenced bombarding the Union fleet in Trent’s Reach. The Confederate Navy, from concealed positions above Dutch Gap, shelled Trent’s Reach as well as the Union vessels located in Varina’s Reach.{92} The Union Navy counter-fired on the Confederate shore batteries, managing to destroy a few of the positions. The Union Navy did not return fire upon the Confederate Naval vessels, because the Federals could not see their adversary. Although the battle carried on for more than five hours, neither fleet suffered serious damage during the exchange.{93}

This engagement provided Lee with a fantastic opportunity to obtain support from the Army, specifically in the form of shore batteries. Writing Grant two days later, Lee explained the events of the engagement and also the predicament of placing the Union ironclads in a position of continuously defending against the Rebel shore battery at Howlett’s House, unsupported by the Army. Lee finished by saying, “Our Naval resources would thus be reserved for their ironclads and not exhausted on their earthworks.”{94} Grant understood the importance of the ironclads and saw the wisdom of Lee’s request. He immediately wrote Butler to provide assistance:

“I think it will be advisable to put two or four guns of heavy caliber on your shore battery to command Howlett’s battery and the reach above the obstructions. This will enable the monitors to drop down out of range of the land batteries. It is desirable that they [monitors] should not lay habitually under fire, but should be where, in a few minutes, they can run up to engage the enemy’s ironclads or land batteries, if necessary.”{95}

Having received the Army’s assistance, Lee also had more obstructions placed to increase the protection of the Union’s position. This was a matter that Grant felt strongly about to ensure the security of his flank.

Although the Union had brought joint attacks to a halt, the Union Navy’s gunboats and monitors continued to protect Army forces all along the James River ensuring freedom of movement for the Federal field trains. Grant, believing that cutting off his enemy’s logistics lines from Charleston and Wilmington would have a telling effect on their ability to continue the war, ordered the attack of Petersburg. Butler had tried to take Petersburg prior to Grant’s arrival in June, but his generals’ delays and timidity allowed the Confederacy time to establish strong defenses around the city.

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