June 5, 1861 - Battle of Pig Point

June 5, 1861


Battle of Pig Point (or Pig's Point)


Suffolk, VA (across the Nansemond River from Newport News)


Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler: Union gunboat, USS Harriet Lane, commanded by Capt. John Faunce 

vs.

Confederate battery commanded by Capt. Robert Pegram: The Portsmouth Rifles


* Let's get this [naval blockade] started! How early in the war is this? So early that it is sandwiched in-between Philippi and Big Bethel, which both sometimes claim to be the first land battle.

* Please note that this marker is not at Pig Point. In fact, it is nowhere near it, and further than 3 miles away. Read more about this titillating debate at the marker's HMDB.org entry. 

* Maybe not a well-known battle (if we can even call it that), but when I googled "june 5, 1861" it was at least the first five hits. So take that.

* The wonderful folks at Spirit of '61 have compiled some of the primary documents supporting this event. Support them, if you can. 

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=270653

Pig Point Battery

In June 1861, Union Maj.Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, in order to clear a route for the capture of Suffolk, sought to neutralize the Confederate battery at Pig Point three miles north on the James River at the mouth of the Nansemond River. At 9:00 a.m. on 5 June, the steamer USS Harriet Lane shelled the battery. The Portsmouth Rifles, manning the guns there, returned fire and struck the vessel twice. One shot hit a tub of musket balls; the flying balls wounded six men. No Confederates were injured in the engagement, which ended after twenty minutes when the Harriet Lane withdrew.


Yep, my parents are in the car too. We saw a bunch of other stuff while visiting Suffolk, but it occurs on different days. Part of my 1861 Completist Tour
[Summer 2025]

Sources:

https://spirit61.info/battles/chesapeake-front/engagement-at-pig-point/#location

https://americancivilwarhighcommand.com/chronology-day-by-day/chronology-1861/1861-june-5th/

https://spirit61.info/primary-sources/rb-pegram-2/


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