The James River, as viewed from Fort Darling
Fort Darling overlooks the James River, which empties into the bay below here. We are looking downriver here. About where the buoy in the river is was where the USS Galena and the USS Monitor came upriver and attempted to attack Richmond, the capitol of the South, a few miles upstream from here. The river was blocked by purposely sunk boats, and the guns of Fort Darling rained fire upon the two Union ships, which sat in the River broadside, as though they were targets. After receiving much withering shelfire, the two ships withdrew and left th James River.