Contributed report

Robert E.L. Krick with the National Park Service will be the guest speaker at the Thursday, July 16 dinner meeting of the Powhatan Civil War Round Table.

Drewry’s Bluff, located in Chesterfield County on the James River, halfway between Hopewell and Richmond, successfully defended Richmond against Union forces for three years, earning it the title “Gibraltar of the Confederacy.” 

Ironically, the defenders were often young school boys, attending the Confederate Naval Academy aboard its ship, the Patrick Henry,  or members of the James River Squadron with three companies of Confederate marine sharpshooters.The story of the Confederate Naval Academy is one of the great true stories of the Civil War.

The PCWRT dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. July 16 at The County Seat Restaurant, 3867 Old Buckingham Road in Powhatan Courthouse.  Dinner reservations should be made by mailing checks to PCWRT, P.O. Box 1144, Powhatan, VA 23139 by Tues. July 14.  Dinner is $16 for members; $20 for guests.  Membership is open, and guests are welcome. 

For additional information, log on to PowhatanCWRT.com or call (804)794-58331.