Virginia State SealDHR logo
Richmond Ironclads at Trent's Reach

Photograph

Detail from Library of Congress photo: LC-DIG-cwpb-01513


Officers and Crew,

USS Onondaga


At 2:10 a.m., Union launch No. 4 and a second tug warned the Onondaga that Confederate warships had passed the obstructions.

Having sat out the battle for more than six hours off Aiken's Landing, with her watch logging the sounds and signals of the contest, the lone U.S. heavyweight finally got underway at 3 a.m.—she fled.


After ripping through the Varina pontoon bridge without stopping, she ran aground.
Previous / Next

19 of 27