Shortly following the outbreak of hostilities with the United
States, the Confederacy made the decision to form a
counterpart to the already proven US Marine Corps. These
troops were to act as small arms men aboard naval vessels as
well as guards and ground troops for naval installations. It
was soon discovered that due to the high quality of personnel
and training, the marines would be extremely useful in a
large number of applications. Their duties varied widely,
from manning the great guns (artillery and cannons) on
board ships and shore installations, to acting as field troops
and sharpshooters for naval operations ashore, to repelling
boarders at sea and quelling disturbances.
Recruiting for the fledgling Corps began in March, 1861, in
Montgomery Alabama (seat of the Confederate Government
at that time.) Soon afterward the decision was made to
transfer a company of Marines to Virginia. These Marines
were to provide shipboard troops for the vessels of the
Confederate States Navy in and around the Chesapeake Bay
and in particular, aboard the Confederate ironclad, CSS
Virginia (Merrimac.) Marines aboard the CSS Virginia were
commended by Admiral Buchanan for their coolness under
fire during the famous battle at Hampton Roads with the
Federal ironclad Monitor. By the summer of 1862, three
companies of Marines were posted in Virginia. These
Companies, designated A, B, and C, were posted to various
duties in the Richmond, James River and Chesapeake Bay
area.
The Marine camp in Virginia, Camp Beall (named after the
Corps Commandant, Colonel Lloyd Beall) was established at
Drewery’s Bluff, Virginia, a fortification on the James River,
protecting the river approach to the city of Richmond. From
this location, Marines served in defense of the Confederate
capitol until April 2, 1865, when the battalion marched out
as part of Tucker’s Naval Brigade during the Appomattox
campaign. Marines of the Naval Brigade participated in the
Battle of Saylor’s Creek (the Confederacy’s Waterloo.)
Marines were also present for the surrender at Appomattox.
States, the Confederacy made the decision to form a
counterpart to the already proven US Marine Corps. These
troops were to act as small arms men aboard naval vessels as
well as guards and ground troops for naval installations. It
was soon discovered that due to the high quality of personnel
and training, the marines would be extremely useful in a
large number of applications. Their duties varied widely,
from manning the great guns (artillery and cannons) on
board ships and shore installations, to acting as field troops
and sharpshooters for naval operations ashore, to repelling
boarders at sea and quelling disturbances.
Recruiting for the fledgling Corps began in March, 1861, in
Montgomery Alabama (seat of the Confederate Government
at that time.) Soon afterward the decision was made to
transfer a company of Marines to Virginia. These Marines
were to provide shipboard troops for the vessels of the
Confederate States Navy in and around the Chesapeake Bay
and in particular, aboard the Confederate ironclad, CSS
Virginia (Merrimac.) Marines aboard the CSS Virginia were
commended by Admiral Buchanan for their coolness under
fire during the famous battle at Hampton Roads with the
Federal ironclad Monitor. By the summer of 1862, three
companies of Marines were posted in Virginia. These
Companies, designated A, B, and C, were posted to various
duties in the Richmond, James River and Chesapeake Bay
area.
The Marine camp in Virginia, Camp Beall (named after the
Corps Commandant, Colonel Lloyd Beall) was established at
Drewery’s Bluff, Virginia, a fortification on the James River,
protecting the river approach to the city of Richmond. From
this location, Marines served in defense of the Confederate
capitol until April 2, 1865, when the battalion marched out
as part of Tucker’s Naval Brigade during the Appomattox
campaign. Marines of the Naval Brigade participated in the
Battle of Saylor’s Creek (the Confederacy’s Waterloo.)
Marines were also present for the surrender at Appomattox.
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