CSS Jamestown
Sidewheel Gunboat · Confederate States of America · Lost 1862 · Chesapeake Bay
A former New York passenger steamer that fought at Hampton Roads before being deliberately sunk to block the James River at Drewry's Bluff.
The Vessel and Her Loss
Built in 1853 as a civilian passenger steamer, Jamestown was seized by Virginia in 1861 and served the Confederate James River Squadron, fighting alongside CSS Virginia during the Battle of Hampton Roads in March 1862. In April 1862 she helped capture Union merchant schooners in Hampton Roads. As Union forces pressed toward Richmond in May 1862, she was deliberately sunk near Drewry's Bluff to obstruct the river channel, where her wreck remained visible for the rest of the war.
Vessel
- 1853
- William H. Webb
- New York City, New York
- Wood
- 250 ft
- 34 ft
- 1300
- Steam, side paddle wheels
- New York and Old Dominion Line (civilian); seized by Virginia Navy, later Confederate States Navy
Loss
- May 15, 1862
- Intentional sinking
- James River near Drewry's Bluff, Virginia
- James River, Chesapeake Bay watershed
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Lt. Joseph Nicholson Barney, CSN (commanding officer during her active service)
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Photographed still partially visible in the James River near Drewry's Bluff as late as 1865.
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- 37.43° N 77.46° W
- General area only
- Drewry's Bluff, Virginia
General area only: coordinate of Drewrys Bluff, Virginia from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, marking the named place of loss recorded for this vessel ("James River near Drewry's Bluff, Virginia"), not a surveyed wreck position.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (88/100)
Naval History and Heritage Command, Confederate Ship Histories
Construction, service history, deliberate sinking as obstruction.
USGS Geographic Names Information System — Drewrys Bluff, VA
coordinate of the named place of loss
