Civil War Marines

Deep Web Diver · Aug 25, 2004

National Archives and Records Administration: Researching Confederate Marines in the Civil War, Winter 2001

A common reaction that many researchers have when first confronted with a reference to the Confederate States Marine Corps is, "There was a Confederate Marine Corps?" ...

The Provisional Confederate Congress established the C.S. Marine Corps under the act of March 16, 1861. The act, providing for the organization of the navy, authorized a corps of marines to consist of one major, one quartermaster sergeant, and six companies of one hundred men each. Later an amendatory act of May 20, 1861, increased the size of the corps and raised the rank of headquarters officers. During the war, marines served in small detachments on land and at sea. Many recruits and new officers trained at Camp Beall at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia. Confederate marine guard detachments served at naval stations at Richmond, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, and Charlotte. Marine detachments were also assigned to many of the larger vessels of the C.S. Navy.
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Marine Corps History: Civil War

1861-1865 -- Civil War; nearly half of Marine Corps' officers resign their commissions to join the New Confederate States Marine Corps

-- Confederate Marines' roster reads 539
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National Park Service: Richmond National Battlefield - Drewry's Bluff / Fort Darling

As capital of the newly formed Confederate States of America, Richmond, Virginia, became the constant target of northern armies. During the four years of the Civil War, Union generals made repeated attempts to capture the city by land. Richmond, however, was vulnerable by water as well as by land. Gunboats could navigate the James River all the way to Richmond. The key to the city's river defenses lay in a small fort only seven miles south of the capital. Known throughout the south as Drewry's Bluff, northern troops referred to it as Fort Darling. ...

Expansion at Drewry's Bluff 1862-1864 ...

During this time, Drewry's Bluff became an important training ground for the Confederate Naval Academy and the Confederate Marine Corps Camp of Instruction. ...

Drewry's Bluff at the End of the War

The garrison at Drewry's Bluff took part in the evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg on April 2-3, 1865. Soldiers, sailors, and marines from the fort joined the movement westward, ultimately surrendering at Appomattox Court House. Many of the sailors served as infantry during the fighting along the way.
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[ 14. October 2004, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: Deep Web Diver ]

TA152 · Aug 26, 2004

That's a new one on me!! Thanks for the post and the add on information to the European Marine operations. Did you see all the hash marks on that uniform.

Deep Web Diver · Aug 26, 2004

You're welcome TA152.

R Leonard · Aug 27, 2004

Nice young Marine Lieutenant who led the assault on the engine house at Harpers Ferry to capture John Brown, one Israel Greene, ended up Lieutenent Colonel Israel Greene, CSMC.

Rich

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Civil War Marines

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