“Determined to Make the Best Fight They Could” The Union Forces Defense of Trent’s Reach, January 1865
Join Henricus Historical Park for a living history program demonstrating the Union Army and Union Navy victory over the Confederate States James River Squadron of the CSA Navy. Those Confederate ships steamed down from near Richmond attempting to destroy General Grant’s Union Army headquarters at City Point, VA (Hopewell). On January 24, 1865, troops of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, manning their cannons, plus support units like the 116th United States Colored Troops and several other regiments in the Army of the James, were joined by the USS Onondaga of the Union Navy and defeated the Confederates on a land-water action. It was the last major naval action in Virginia during the war.
Living history interpreters will be demonstrating various units and troops that were involved in the fighting around the Dutch Gap Canal and Trent’s Reach in January of 1865. Come see artillery firing over the James River near where those guns of the 1st CT originally engaged, Infantry of the 41st New York Infantry will be in camp near the trenches, guarding a few Confederate deserters, and members of the United States Sanitary and Christian Commissions will be set up demonstrating the civilians that supported the northern war effort.
Artillery and musket firings will be through the day. Our closing program will be a sunset artillery barrage where our Civil War cannon will fire several rounds at sundown in remembrance of the battle that occurred around our grounds in 1865.
Date: Saturday, January 27
Time: noon – 5 p.m.
Cost: $12/adult, $8/children ages 5-12; Henricus Members: free