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| The Fort that stopped a panic In May, 1862, the news spread throughout Richmond that a Federal fleet of ironclads, led by the dread Monitor, was advancing up the James River. Panic at once seized upon the Confederate capital. The Government archives were shipped to Columbia, South Carolina, and every preparation was made to evacuate the city should the expedition against it succeed in passing up the James. Meanwhile the Confederate forces were working at Drewry's Bluff to establish a battery that would command the river. Earthworks were thrown up and guns were hastily gotten into position seven miles below Richmond. Sailing vessels were sunk in the channel; torpedoes were anchored, and every possible obstruction opposed to the approaching ironclads. When the Monitor and the Galena arrived they did not attempt to run the gantlet, and Richmond breathed freely again. These works ultimately formed Fort Darling. |
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| The shower of shot and shell In the foreground of the picture we see what a mass of missiles were hurled into the fort, at the heads of the doughty defenders of Richmond. The Monitor, the Galena, and the gunboats-when Fort Darling opened on them to dispute the passage of the river, May 15, 1862--responded with a rain of projectiles in an effort to silence the Confederate battery and make it possible to proceed up the James. The Fort was not silenced, and the gunboats, thoroughly convinced of its strength, did not again seriously attempt to pass it. Fort Darling held the water approach to Richmond until the fall of Petersburg made it necessary for the Confederates to evacuate their capital. This picture was taken in April, 1865, after the Fort had been abandoned, and while it was occupied by the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. The cabin seen in the picture was the quarters of the regimental chaplain. |
