DESTRUCTION ON THE JAMES RIVER

It is a few minutes before 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6th, 1864. On the James River, Virginia, under orders from Fleet Captain John S. Barnes, the Union gunboats Commodore Jones, Commodore Morris and Mackinaw are slowly heading upriver, preceded by cutters from these vessels, dragging the river for torpedoes.

The leading vessel, the Commodore Jones is one of several former New York ferry boats, which have been purchased by the Union Navy and converted into gunboats for service mainly on inland waterways. She carries eight guns and has a complement of nearly 90 officers and crew. They are commanded by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Thomas F. Wade, and his executive officer, Acting Ensign George W. Adams.

On the right bank of the river, just above Four Mile Creek, an armed boat's crew from the USS Mackinaw, under the command of Acting Masters Mate Jeremiah F. Blanchard, have landed and are searching for torpedo wires and galvanic batteries. About 2 p.m., a loud explosion is heard on the James, and as Blanchard and his crew turn to investigate, they note that the Commodore Jones has been blown up; debris and human bodies falling back into the swirling waters of the river. Blanchard yells out to his crew to return immediately to the boat, and head for the scene of the disaster, in order to save the wounded and the drowning.

As they pull away from the bank, a man is seen running on the opposite shore, and several shots are fired at him, some of which take immediate effect. Blanchard and his boat crew head immediately for the opposite shore to investigate.

Meanwhile, on the site where the Commodore Jones once was, is a scene of utter chaos as drowning and wounded men try to survive. Officers and crew of the other vessels and cutters assist in saving as many as is possible. The executive officer of the Commodore Jones, Acting Ensign Adams, although severely wounded, helps to rescue several of his crew, including the commander, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Wade. Nearly half of the crew of the Commodore Jones have been killed by the explosion.

Back ashore, Blanchard and his crew land at Jones' Point, on the southern bank of the James. They find the galvanic battery and wires used to explode the torpedoes and immediately report to Commander John C. Beaumont, aboard the USS Mackinaw, and are advised to accompany First Assistant Engineer Jefferson Young ashore to investigate the batteries further. On reaching the shore once again, they commence to disconnect wires and also manage to capture two members of the Confederate Submarine Battery Service, Acting Master Peter W. Smith, and Private Jeffries Johnson. They also find the body of the man, seen running from the shore and shot through the head by the crew of the cutter. The prisoners, although not very co-operative, do provide a small amount of information on the composition, placement and operation of the torpedoes in the James River.

As the covering darkness of night slowly creeps across the land, the surgeon's and their assistants from several vessels on the James River are kept busy tending to the wounded. The night closes with sadness in the hearts of those who have witnessed the death and destruction at Jones' Point.

It is the morning of May 7, 1864 and some miles down the James River, the USS Shawsheen is anchored close to the flagship, USS Malvern, 2 miles above Chaffin's Bluff. Aboard the Malvern, Acting Rear-Admiral Samuel P. Lee, commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, issues orders to Acting Ensign Charles Ringot, commanding the Shawsheen, to proceed in his vessel to Chaffin's farm, in the vicinity of Turkey Bend, to search for and destroy torpedoes supposed to be in that locality of the river. At 10.30 a.m. the Shawsheen ups anchor and proceeds on her mission. At 11.20 a.m. the vessel anchors off the farm in six feet of water and all hands are sent for the mid-day meal prior to going ashore in search of the torpedo batteries and wire connections. Some twenty minutes later, masked Confederate batteries, located in the woods on the cliff of the north bank, open up on the vessel, and all hands are called to quarters. The Confederate artillery, under the command of Major Alexander W. Stark, together with four companies of the 25th Battalion Virginia Volunteer Infantry, effectively prevent the gunners aboard the Shawsheen from returning fire.

Strenuous efforts are made to get up anchor, but the continuous artillery and small arms fire prevent this action. Finally, the sailors are successful in unshackling the chain from the bitt and the vessel is then backed off until nearly out of range of the enemy's guns.

Meanwhile, the captain, Charles Ringot, jumps overboard and swims for the south bank, after he is scalded by hot steam, when the steam drum is struck by a shell. Another shot hits the walking beam of the vessel. Several others take to the water to escape the steam jet. Very shortly, a white flag is hoisted as Acting Master's Mate William Rushmore, who is left in command, realises that further effusion of blood will be a waste of precious lives. Rushmore sends a boat to try and save Ringot, but he is beyond assistance, as he sinks into the murky waters of the James. [Ringot's body is found some days after, near Turkey Bend. He has been shot through the right eye, and his body will be laid to rest near Watkins' farm, in Curles Neck.] Out of a crew of about 40 personnel, 27 are captured by the Confederates, who set the vessel on fire, and about 8 are lucky enough to escape capture or death.

Some distance away, Admiral Lee hears the firing in the direction of Turkey Bend, and, boarding the USS Commodore Morris, at 12.10 p.m., heads for the scene of the fight. Ten minutes later, they arrive at the site where the Shawsheen is discovered on fire, and the Commodore Morris fires a few shells in the direction of the Confederate battery ashore. A boat is sent out and picks up six survivors of the Shawsheen from the water. At 1.15 p.m. the fire reaches the ammunition storage area of the Shawsheen, and she explodes furiously. Unable to assist further, the Commodore Morris heads back to base with the survivors.

For a second day running, the James River has been the scene of death and destruction. In spite of what goes on here, the war will continue for at least another year. More sailors will die in tragedies, such as what has occurred on the river, before the war comes to its final conclusion.

(Most of the information included in the article was obtained from the OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE NAVIES IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, Series 1, Volume 10, pages 9 to 16, and pages 26 to 31.)

Copyright, Terry Foenander.

May, 2000.