Battle of Gloucester Point (1861) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Gloucester Point |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 Virginia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Garrett J. Pendergrast Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr. |
William B. Taliaferro William C. Whittle John Thompson Brown |
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| Units involved | |||||||
| USS Yankee (1861) | Battery garrison | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 gunboat | 60-70 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | none | ||||||
The Battle of Gloucester Point, Virginia was one of the very first times Union and Confederate forces exchanged fire during the American Civil War. It happened on May 7, 1861, soon after the war officially began. This battle took place at Gloucester Point, Virginia, a key location on the York River.
The Union Navy's ship, the USS Yankee, was exploring the area. It was checking on new forts built by the Virginia forces. Shots were fired by both sides, but luckily, no one was hurt. This event showed how the war was starting to spread across the country.
Why the Battle Happened
The Start of the Civil War
The American Civil War began in April 1861. This was after Confederate forces took over Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The U.S. Army garrison there had to surrender.
After this, President Abraham Lincoln asked for volunteers. He wanted 75,000 soldiers to help stop the rebellion. He also wanted to get back federal property that had been seized.
Virginia Joins the Confederacy
Seven Southern states had already left the Union. They formed the Confederate States of America. Four other states that allowed slavery, including Virginia, did not want to send troops to fight against them.
Instead, Virginia decided to leave the Union. On April 17, 1861, leaders in Richmond, Virginia voted to secede. This decision still needed to be approved by the people later. However, Virginia's Governor John Letcher quickly prepared for war. He called for volunteers to defend the state.
On April 22, 1861, Governor Letcher put Robert E. Lee in charge. Lee became the commander of Virginia's army and navy. Virginia forces then agreed to work with the Confederate President. This happened even before Virginia officially joined the Confederacy.
The Union Blockade
President Lincoln saw that Virginia was joining the Confederacy. So, on April 27, 1861, he took action. He extended a naval blockade to include Virginia's ports. A blockade means using ships to stop other ships from entering or leaving ports. This was meant to hurt the Confederacy's trade.
Building Defenses at Gloucester Point
On May 3, 1861, General Robert E. Lee gave an order. He appointed Colonel William B. Taliaferro to command defenses at Gloucester Point, Virginia. This spot was important because it was across the York River from Yorktown, Virginia.
Colonel Taliaferro worked with Virginia Navy Captain William C. Whittle. Their job was to build a shore battery. This battery would have cannons to protect the York River. On May 6, 1861, a group of artillerymen arrived. They were from the Richmond Howitzers, a volunteer artillery group. They brought two small cannons to help defend the area.
The Battle
Union Reconnaissance Mission
In early May 1861, the Union Navy learned about the new forts. They knew Virginia forces were building defenses at Gloucester Point. On May 7, 1861, Union Flag Officer Garrett J. Pendergrast gave an order. He told Navy Lieutenant Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr. to check out these forts.
Lieutenant Selfridge was in charge of the USS Yankee. This ship was a converted steam tugboat. It had two guns. The Yankee sailed up the York River. Its goal was to gather information about the forts at Gloucester Point.
Exchange of Fire
As the Yankee got closer, the shore battery fired a shot. It landed in front of the boat. The Yankee kept going slowly. Then, the battery fired another shot at the ship.
Lieutenant Selfridge reported that the shore battery fired 12 shots. However, a soldier from the Richmond Howitzers later said they fired 13 shots. Selfridge noted that most of the shots missed or fell short.
The Yankee fired back. It shot 4 cannonballs and 2 shells at the battery. Selfridge said his guns were too small to cause real damage. He also said the enemy's guns were too high up for him to hit them well. The Yankee had "light 32s" for guns. Selfridge thought the Rebels had bigger guns, like "long 32s" and an "8-inch shell." He also thought about 40 men were at the battery. In reality, the battery only had smaller "six-pounder" guns that day.
No Casualties
After this exchange of fire, the Yankee turned around. It headed back to its base near Fort Monroe. Selfridge did not report any damage to his ship. A Virginia soldier later recalled that two shots from the battery hit the Yankee.
Most importantly, neither side reported any soldiers killed or wounded. This battle was more of a test of strength than a major fight.
Who Was in Command?
A Virginia soldier later said Colonel Taliaferro was in charge during the battle. But Colonel Taliaferro reported that he arrived after the fighting. He said Captain Whittle had directed the firing. Whittle, however, said he did not.
Lieutenant John Thompson Brown was actually in immediate command. He led the small group of artillerymen at the battery. Some people say he fired the very first cannon shot of the Civil War in Virginia. Brown was promoted to captain two days later.
What Happened Next
Strengthening Defenses
After the battle, the Virginia forces quickly improved their defenses. By May 11, 1861, they had two large nine-inch guns at Gloucester Point. They also had two more ready to be placed there. By June 25, 1861, the Confederates had 14 heavy guns at the battery.
The Richmond Howitzers, who fought in this battle, moved to Yorktown on May 26, 1861. They later fought in the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10, 1861.
Other Early Engagements
The Battle of Gloucester Point was one of several early, small naval battles. Similar fights happened soon after. These included the Battle of Sewell's Point, the Battle of Aquia Creek, and the Battle of Pig Point. All these battles were part of the Union's plan. They wanted to blockade the Chesapeake Bay and the entire Southern coast.
Later Abandonment
The Confederate forces eventually left the naval batteries at Gloucester Point and Yorktown. This happened overnight on May 3–4, 1862. They abandoned them during the Peninsula Campaign. This was when the Confederates retreated up the Peninsula toward Richmond.
Fate of a Commander
Captain John Thompson Brown, who was at Gloucester Point, became a colonel. He commanded artillery for the Confederate Army at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was killed in action on May 6, 1864, during the Battle of the Wilderness.
