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{{ACWbattle
|name=Battle of Aquia Creek
|image=
|begin=May 29, 1861
|end=June 1, 1861
|place=Stafford County, Virginia
|theater=Eastern Theater
|campaign=Blockade of the Chesapeake Bay
|result=Inconclusive
|combatants1=USS ''Thomas Freeborn''<br/>USS ''Anacostia''<br/>USS ''Resolute''<br/>USS ''Pawnee''
|combatants2=
|commanders1=James H. Ward<br/>Commander, USN
|commanders2=Daniel Ruggles<br/>Colonel, CSA
|strength1=3 U.S. gunboats
|strength2=Battery garrison
|casualties1=10 total (US and CS)
|casualties2=10 total (US and CS)
}}
The '''Battle of Aquia Creek''' was a minor engagement which lasted May 29-June 1, 1861 in Stafford County, Virginia. Aware of the construction of fortifications at Aquia Creek to protect the northern terminus of the Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad to the Confederate capitol of Richmond, four Union naval vessels bombarded the batteries near the mouth of Aquia Creek for several hours on May 29, and again four five hours on June 1, without results. The Confederates, fearing a landing of troops, brought in some reinforcements and constructed two more batteries (one on a bluff; the other at Brent Point), but the landing did not materialize.
Despite the increase in defenses - including the laying of mines in the nearby waterways - the batteries at Aquia Creek were not threatened for over a year; the garrison there was withdrawn completely by General Joseph E, Johnston to augment his own forces in preparation for the [[Peninsula Campaign]].
{{Template:ACW Battles of 1861}}