Account of the Battle at Drewry’s Bluff May 16 1864
The 11th
Virginia Infantry arrives from North Carolina:
After dark on May 12,
the soldiers trudged past Drewry's Bluff and camped at Brock Rock race course.
For the next two days, the Virginians countermarched through the Drewry's Bluff
lines, "showing the flag" to create an impression of well-manned
trenches.
Preparing for battle:
On May 15, as ordnance
sergeants issued the 11th Virginia soldiers an extra ammunition allowance, Col.
Otey summoned his company commanders. He briefed his captains on the attack
near Petersburg by Butler and of Gen. Beauregard's plan. Beauregard ordered the
Southern troops to start at dusk that evening for their attack jump-off
positions, to sleep in those positions and, at dawn the next morning, to
advance into battle.
Moving into position for
the attack:
The Virginians moved to
a point near Drewry's Bluff, at the extreme left of the Confederate lines. Once
in position, the men lay down in a thick pine forest and tried to sleep. Their
line, near Kingsland Creek, faced east to where Ben Butler had moved from
Bermuda Hundred. Archibald Gracie's Alabama brigade was on the left of Ransom's
division, and William G. Lewis' North Carolina troops were on the right. Fifty
yards behind Gracie and Lewis, in a second line, lay the brigades of Terry and
Birkett D. Fry.
The battle begins early
on the 16th:
The advance began at
4:45 a.m. amidst a dense fog that reduced visibility to fifteen yards.
Immediate skirmish contact began as Gracie's troops, ahead of Terry's brigade,
disappeared into the fog. The skirmish fire grew into general musketry, with
artillery soon joining the combat. Terry's brigade deployed in a line that
placed the 24th Virginia on the right with the 11th, the 1st and 7th Regiments
extending toward the left. Shortly after the battle began, Gracie called for
help. An officer from his command approached the 24th Virginia line and
shouted: 'Hurry up, boys, they are tearing us all to pieces.’
An initial setback:
Solders from the Alabama
units began streaming back through the second line formed by the Virginians.
Gracie appeared and attempted to rally his men. Turning to Terry, Gracie
requested immediate assistance. “General Terry, send me a regiment down there
to take the place of one of mine that has run away." Terry ordered the
24th and 11th Regiments to move forward.
A rebel yell and charge
turns the tide of battle:
In following Gracie's
initial advance, the Virginia regiments had reached the crest of a hill. The
ensuing charge at double time began downhill with a wild rebel yell. The rush
carried the regiments to the foot of the rise, where they came under severe
fire from enemy breastworks barely discernible in the smoke and fog. The
Virginians sought cover and, kneeling or standing, returned the fire. The battle
raged hot for about an hour.
The 11th
Virginians hold on until the battle is won:
Suddenly there occurred
a perceptible slackening of Federal fire. The command rang out to cease fire.
Sending his other two regiments in a flanking attack, Terry had forced the
surrender of the surrounded Federal troops. An entire brigade had been
captured, including its commanding general.
The victory march:
Until the following day,
the Virginians held their position in the woods they had captured. On May 17,
in pursuit of the retreating Federal force, they reached Howlett House. The
next two days were spent near Clay House. On the afternoon of May 19, Terry’s
brigade left for Richmond. On May 20 the capital city roared a tremendous
welcome as the brigade, proudly carrying the Union flags captured at Drewry’s
Bluff, marched through the city.
My great great
grandfather was not there. Allen German Bailey was one of eight 11th
Virginians to die in the battle.
Bailey, Allen G.:
conscripted on 2/20/64, and assigned to Co. A. on 3/2/64, age 41. Present on
3/31 64. KIA 5/16/64 at Drewry’s Bluff.