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| A forgotten fighter on the Pamunkey Here on the Pamunkey River, her ports dropped and exposing her gaping gun-muzzles, lies one of the vessels hastily converted into gunboats to serve the early needs of the navy along the shores and rivers of the Atlantic coast. Manned by brave men who rendered yeoman service for the Federal cause, many of these small craft sank into oblivion, over-shadowed by the achievements of the great monitors and ironclads which were eventually provided by the Navy Department for service along the shore. Some of the converted ferryboats, when their term of charter was up, returned to their wonted peaceful occupation before hostilities ceased; others served till the end, and then, doffing their armor, returned to commercial life. Such vessels were early useful in the York and Pamunkey Rivers in aiding the military efforts to advance upon Richmond by way of the Peninsula. White House on the Pamunkey was twice the base of the Federal army, and the Peninsula was a contested field till near the close of the war. Flotillas of these small vessels were constantly rendering aid to the army in keeping communications open and safe. |
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[59]
Review of Reviews. New York. 1912.
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