- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Location
- Louisville, KY
Fort Brady, not to be confused with the fort of the same name in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is an earthwork fortification located just south of Richmond, Virginia along the James River. The fort was built by Union forces in September/October of 1864 in order to help keep the James River Squadron bottled up. The fort was earthern fort built to mount up to 10 guns with a central bombproof in order to protect its garrison and also serve as a magazine for the fort.
The fort's garrison, Co. C of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, saw significant action in January of 1865 when it dueled with various ships of the Confederate's James River Squadron during parts of the Battle of Trent's Reach. On January 23, 1865 members of the squadron including the CSS Fredricksburg, CSS Virginia II and CSS Richmond among others slipped past the defenses at Fort Brady after a short engagement trying to break through Union obstructions further south down the James in order to attack Union forces at City Point.
After Confederate naval forces under John Mitchell realized the attack was futile the squadron turned around and headed back towards safer waters. In the early hours of January 25 Union forces at Fort Brady under the command of Colonel Henry Pierce engaged the returning Confederate ships in what would be a lengthy exchange. Although various sources say Confederate gunners fired anywhere between 750-1500 rounds during the battle only one gun in the fort was knocked out of action with 3 troops killed. The entire operation was far more costly to the squadron in which almost every ship was damaged or sunk.
Following the capture of Richmond and the end of the war Fort Brady was abandoned by Union forces never to be used again. The site was neglected for a number of years with various trees and other growth growing up through the fort's earthworks. However, thanks to the National Park Service the fort is now very well taken care of and is part of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Today the park is open daily to the public where visitors can tour the forts remaining earthworks and see the orginal magazine and other sites within the walls such as the orginal forts well (now filled in)
http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Brady_(1)
http://www.nps.gov/rich/historyculture/chaffins-farm2.htm
Also be sure to check out all other "forgotten forts" in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/
The fort's garrison, Co. C of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, saw significant action in January of 1865 when it dueled with various ships of the Confederate's James River Squadron during parts of the Battle of Trent's Reach. On January 23, 1865 members of the squadron including the CSS Fredricksburg, CSS Virginia II and CSS Richmond among others slipped past the defenses at Fort Brady after a short engagement trying to break through Union obstructions further south down the James in order to attack Union forces at City Point.
After Confederate naval forces under John Mitchell realized the attack was futile the squadron turned around and headed back towards safer waters. In the early hours of January 25 Union forces at Fort Brady under the command of Colonel Henry Pierce engaged the returning Confederate ships in what would be a lengthy exchange. Although various sources say Confederate gunners fired anywhere between 750-1500 rounds during the battle only one gun in the fort was knocked out of action with 3 troops killed. The entire operation was far more costly to the squadron in which almost every ship was damaged or sunk.
Following the capture of Richmond and the end of the war Fort Brady was abandoned by Union forces never to be used again. The site was neglected for a number of years with various trees and other growth growing up through the fort's earthworks. However, thanks to the National Park Service the fort is now very well taken care of and is part of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Today the park is open daily to the public where visitors can tour the forts remaining earthworks and see the orginal magazine and other sites within the walls such as the orginal forts well (now filled in)
http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Brady_(1)
http://www.nps.gov/rich/historyculture/chaffins-farm2.htm
Also be sure to check out all other "forgotten forts" in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/