thumb|324px|The 10 inch [[columbiad gun at Fort Darling]]
Fort Darling (Drewry's Fort, Drewry's Bluff) was a Confederate military installation during the American Civil War located at Drewry's Bluff, a high point of 80–100 feet overlooking a bend in the James River south of Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It protected the Confederate capital of Richmond from Union naval attacks throughout most of the war.
Drewry's Bluff
On 17 March 1862, Captain Augustus H. Drewry a local landowner (after whom the name Drewry's Bluff is taken) moved in with his artillery unit and began constructing earthworks, defenses and installing three large guns (one ten-inch and two eight-inch columbiads), the installation of which was overseen by General Robert E. Lee's eldest son Brigadier General G.W.C. Lee. Fort Darling was to defend Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, in anticipation of a Union attack by gunboats from along the river.
Defenses bolstered and their first test
thumb|Obstructions placed in the James River around Fort Darling
In May 1862 the garrison was joined by the crew of the CSS Virginia, who had scuttled their ship with the fall of Norfolk on May 9. With them, defenses were expanded further and obstacles sunk into the James River and six more guns placed in a battery upriver. Men worked around the clock for the anticipated battle. engaged the defenses at Fort Darling at 7.45 am. The concussion from the 10-inch gun was so strong that eight miles away the windows in Richmond rattled with the firing of the Confederate's cannons; however, it broke its carriage with the first shot and was inactive for the rest of the battle. In that time Fort Darling served as a training site for the Confederate States Naval Academy, as well as the Confederate Marine Corps Camp of Instruction.
Evacuation
Following the Battle of Namozine Church began the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond on April 2, 1865. The troops, marines and sailors of Fort Darling joined the movement westwards and eventually surrendered after the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9. On April 4, the obstacles in the James River were cleared and Abraham Lincoln passed the fort on his way to Richmond.