Rebels crossing the Potomac River by Alfred Waud.
After the First Battle of Manassas, the Confederate army established a defensive line from Centreville, along the Occoquan River, to the Potomac River. In October, the Confederates constructed batteries at Evansport, Freestone Point, Shipping Point, and Cockpit Point to close the Potomac River to shipping and isolate Washington. The Blockade of the Potomac River Campaign lasted from October 1861 to January 1862. By mid-December, the Confederates had 37 heavy guns along the river.
Cockpit Point – (January 3, 1862) – Also known as the Battle of Freestone Point or the Battle of Shipping Point, this attack took place in Prince William County, Virginia. On January 3, Cockpit Point was shelled by the Anacostia and Yankee, with neither side gaining an advantage. Union ships approached the point again on March 9. Still, they discovered that the Confederates had abandoned their works and retired closer to Richmond after effectively sealing off the Potomac River for nearly five months. The number of casualties in the inconclusive battle is unknown.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated October 2025.
Also See:
Sources:
Battlefields.org
National Park Service Battle Descriptions (no longer available online)
National Park Service Civil War