North Chesterfield in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff

Attack on the 39th Illinois

— The Bermuda Hundred Campaign —

The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 1, 2025

1. The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff Marker

Inscription.

The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff. Attack on the 39th Illinois. These earthworks were dug by soldiers of the 39th Illinois on the night of May 15, 1864. These men were part of the Army of the James commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. After making a demonstration toward Richmond, Butler halted his army here. This location marked the far left of the Union line, which stretched east to the James River. About 2000 feet to your front was the main line of the Confederate defenses protecting Drewry's Bluff., On May 16, 1864, Confederates under the command of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard attacked the Army of the James. The attack, which took place in a blinding fog, was initially successful, but stalled due to poor visibility and determined stands by union troops on the right and center of the line. Rather than counterattack, Union commanders ordered a withdrawal back to their defensive positions in Bermuda Hundred. In the confusion of battle, word of the withdrawal never reached the men of the 39th Illinois. The brigade of Confederate Brig. Gen. Montgomery Corse attacked this portion of the line. After repulsing several attacks, the 39th Illinois was isolated and overrun. The survivors fled south along the railroad on your right toward Chester Station., The 15th Virginia Infantry was one of the Confederate regiments that attacked the 39th Illinois that day. As the 15th was about to advance from their own earthworks toward where you are now standing one soldier recalled "The enemy fired at anything that moved and their shots thudded against the opposite side of the parapet. The order to charge meant that some who mounted that parapet would look their last on earth from its summit." Comprised of men from Richmond, Hanover and Henrico, the 15th Virginia lost over 100 men killed or wounded. It was their bloodiest day of the war., The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff was the largest battle of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. The fighting took place on a 3-mile wide front and involved over 28,000 troops. The battle resulted in 3,000 Union and 1,000 Confederate casualties.

These earthworks were dug by soldiers of the 39th Illinois on the night of May 15, 1864. These men were part of the Army of the James commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. After making a demonstration toward Richmond, Butler halted his army here. This location marked the far left of the Union line, which stretched east to the James River. About 2000 feet to your front was the main line of the Confederate defenses protecting Drewry's Bluff.

On May 16, 1864, Confederates under the command of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard attacked the Army of the James. The attack, which took place in a blinding fog, was initially successful, but stalled due to poor visibility and determined stands by union troops on the right and center of the line. Rather than counterattack, Union commanders ordered a withdrawal back to their defensive positions in Bermuda Hundred. In the confusion of battle, word of the withdrawal never reached the men of the 39th Illinois. The brigade of Confederate Brig. Gen. Montgomery Corse attacked this portion of the line. After repulsing several attacks, the 39th Illinois was isolated and overrun. The survivors fled south along the railroad on your right toward Chester Station.

The 15th Virginia Infantry was one of the Confederate regiments that attacked the 39th Illinois that day. As the 15th was about to advance

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

from their own earthworks toward where you are now standing one soldier recalled "The enemy fired at anything that moved and their shots thudded against the opposite side of the parapet. The order to charge meant that some who mounted that parapet would look their last on earth from its summit." Comprised of men from Richmond, Hanover and Henrico, the 15th Virginia lost over 100 men killed or wounded. It was their bloodiest day of the war.

The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff was the largest battle of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. The fighting took place on a 3-mile wide front and involved over 28,000 troops. The battle resulted in 3,000 Union and 1,000 Confederate casualties.

Erected by Chesterfield County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 16, 1864.

Location. 37° 23.966′ N, 77° 27.356′ W. Marker is in North Chesterfield, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It is on Proctors Run Court north of Proctors Run Drive, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on a park trail east of the cul-de-sac, within the 39th Illinois Civil War Site county park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8913 Proctors Run Ct, Richmond VA 23237, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

39th Illinois Fieldworks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 1, 2025

2. 39th Illinois Fieldworks

Erected on 15 May 1864 and attacked on the 16th. This stretch of earthworks is within 39th Illinois Civil War Site park, just east of the marker.

flies: 39th Illinois Earthworks (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff (approx. 0.7 miles away); Our American Indian Ancestors (approx. 1.1 miles away); A-6E Intruder (approx. 1.1 miles away); African American Pioneers (approx. 1.1 miles away); Drewry’s Bluff Defences (approx. 1.2 miles away); F-16 Fighting Falcon (approx. 1.3 miles away); First Baptist Church (Centralia) (approx. 1.3 miles away).

More about this marker. The park itself was created by donation of the subdivision's developer, so it is deep within a residential neighborhood.

Railbed the 39th Illinois Retreated Down image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 1, 2025

3. Railbed the 39th Illinois Retreated Down

The modern railway uses the historic roadbed and is on the eastern border of 39th Illinois Civil War Site Park. It was down this railway that the 39th Illinois retreated when they were overrun on 16 May 1864.

39th Illinois Civil War Site Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 1, 2025

4. 39th Illinois Civil War Site Park

Park entrance on the east side of the Proctors Run Ct. cul-de-sac.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 20, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.