Wednesday, June 5, 1861
On June 5, 1861, the USS Harriet Lane engaged a Confederate battery at Pig Point in an early naval skirmish of the Civil War. Unable to get close enough for effective fire, the Union gunboat suffered minor damage and withdrew, marking a small but impactful Confederate defensive success.
Narrative
The Engagement at Pig Point was fought on Wednesday, June 5, 1861 between a Union gunboat commanded by Capt. John Faunce and a Confederate battery commanded by Capt. Robert Pegram in Suffolk, Virginia.
Since April 27, 1861, the U.S. Navy had been enforcing an economic and military blockade on Virginia ports, and several small fleets of U.S. Navy ships and converted civilian vessels had exchanged fire with Confederate shore batteries in the Potomac and James rivers. U.S. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, commanding Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, had ambitions to clear these shore batteries.
To accomplish that goal, he tasked John Faunce, captain of the converted revenue cutter USS Harriet Lane, to reconnoiter Pig Point across the Nansemond River from Newport News. Captain Faunce observed activity at the Confederate battery and sailed close to see if he could draw their fire. Fire they did, but due to shallow water the USS Harriet Lane couldn’t get close enough for its own guns to be effective.
The Portsmouth Rifles, a company of infantry acting as gunners, manned the Confederate artillery. The Confederate guns struck the Harriet Lane twice, wounding five sailors. One Confederate cannon was damaged, but none of the gunners were hurt. Seeing that nothing was to be gained by continuing the engagement, the Harriet Lane broke off and returned to port for repairs.
Opposing Forces
Confederate
Flag-Officer French Forrest, Commanding Navy-Yard, Gosport
| Unit | Commander(s) | Strength | Killed | Wounded | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Rifles | Capt. Robert B. Pegram Capt. John C. Owens | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Union
Flag-Officer Garrett J. Pendergrast, Commanding West India Squadron
| Unit | Commander(s) | Strength | Killed | Wounded | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USS Harriet Lane | Capt. John Faunce | 100 men, 5 guns | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Timeline
May 21, 1861: Virginia Col. John B. Magruder takes command at Yorktown.
May 22, 1861: Massachusetts Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler assumes command of the Union garrison at Fort Monroe in Hampton Roads.
May 27, 1861: Union troops occupy Newport News Point and establish Camp Butler.
June 5, 1861: The converted revenue cutter USS Harriet Lane exchanges fire with Confederate shore batteries at Pig Point at the mouth of the James River.
Location
GPS Coordinates — 36.90584, -76.44209
Primary Sources
News Articles
Zanesville Daily Courier (Zanesville, OH) 5 June 1861.
Charleston Daily Courier (Charleston, SC) 6 June 1861.
Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH) 7 June 1861.
Charleston Daily Courier (Charleston, SC) 10 June 1861.
Reports and Letters
- May 1st Letter from Commandant French Forrest to Maj. Gen. Walter Gwynn
- May 1st Letter from Maj. Gen. Walter Gwynn to Commandant French Forrest
- June 4th report of Captain Faunce, commanding U.S.S. Harriet Lane
- June 5th report of Captain Faunce, commanding U.S.S. Harriet Lane
- June 5th Report of Commander Pegram, Virginia Navy, Commanding Pig Point battery
- June 5th Report of Commander Pegram, Virginia Navy, Commanding Pig Point battery (2nd)
- June 5th Report of Brigadier-General Huger, Commanding at Norfolk
- June 7th Report of Brigadier-General Huger, Commanding at Norfolk
Secondary Sources
Trask, Benjamin H. 9th Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1984.
Updated: 5 March 2025
Created: 12 February 2021
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