![]() Navy was now on Richmond.Ī view of Rockett’s Landing shipyard in Richmond, VA circa 1864. However, Confederate Norfolk was abandoned in May of 1862 and the gray fleet withdrew up the James River. At the beginning of the war, Confederate defenses of the lower Chesapeake Bay and the James River were centered around the port of Norfolk (Coski 1996:1-2 Dabney 1996:300-303). Seagoing vessels could sail to within cannon-shot of downtown. Located at the upper reaches of the tidal James River, and only one hundred miles from Washington, D.C., the Confederate capital at Richmond was vulnerable to attack from both land and water. Warships stationed around southern states bottled up ports and choked trade. Navy, under the direction of the War Department, enacted a total blockade on the Confederacy early in the conflict. No matter how expensive, Confederate ports required protection and sea-lanes for outbound cotton and inbound war supplies were crucial to keep the economy running. As many governments have discovered, the money required to maintain a fleet of ships can be astounding. The state of Virginia also recognized a need for naval defenses and organized the Virginia State Navy, which ended up as a squadron within the Confederate States Navy.Ĭartoon The Blockade on the “Connecticut Plan” which makes fun of makeshift Union ships trying to blockade a well-built Confederate steamer by Currier & Ives, 1862 (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress).īuilding a navy is no small task for any country. Formerly the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs for the United States, Mallory arrived in Richmond in June of 1861 and began assembling his navy for war (Coski 1996:1-2). ![]() ![]() The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America established a navy on Februand appointed Stephen Mallory as Secretary of the Navy. Richmond and the Confederates States Navy
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |