page_title: James River Squadron
section_title: First phase
hierarchical_section_title: James River Squadron / History / First phase
caption_attribution_description: Battle between the Monitor and Merrimac--fought March 9th 1862 at Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, Va. CALL NUMBER: PGA - Kurz &amp; Allison--Battle between the Monitor and Merrimac (D size) [P&amp;P]. REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZC4-1752 (color film copy transparency). MEDIUM: 1 print&#160;: lithograph, color. CREATED/PUBLISHED: c1889. CREATOR: Kurz &amp; Allison. Source: Library of Congress. Caption cropped.
context_page_description: The James River Squadron was formed shortly after the secession of Virginia during the American Civil War. The squadron was part of the Virginia Navy before being transferred to the Confederate States Navy. The squadron is most notable for its role in patrolling the James River, which was the main water approach to the Confederate capital, Richmond. It had two phases: early war, when it consisted mostly of wooden ships which ended with the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on May 15, 1862; and its later ironclad composition with the flagship CSS Virginia II.
context_section_description: John Randolph Tucker was the commander of the James River Squadron during its first real action at the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8–9, 1862 near Norfolk, Virginia.  At that time, the squadron included the ironclad CSS Virginia (aka Merrimack), the side-wheel steamers CSS Thomas Jefferson (aka Jamestown) and CSS Patrick Henry (aka Yorktown), and the propeller-driven gunboats CSS Beaufort and CSS Raleigh.
  The part taken by the little James River squadron is not the least remarkable part of that great fight. It was lost sight of in the battle of the ironclad giants, but in the days of oak walls would have been recorded with honorable mention among the acts of bravery and seamanship which illustrate a navy.
  For the part played by the CSS Jamestown, its commander, Joseph N. Barney, was promoted.
  The diminution of the squadron came when the Federals were able to travel up the James River after the Confederates destroyed its guardian, CSS Virginia. In an attempt to bolster the obstructions at Drewry's Bluff, the CSS Jamestown was sunk and its guns mounted on the bluff. Its crew, along with the crews of the rest of the squadron, fought at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on May 15, 1862.  The hull of the new ironclad CSS Richmond was towed from Norfolk to Richmond during this withdrawal.
caption: Battle Between the Monitor and Merrimac
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