shortage led to work on the ironclad being delayed until after Fredericksburg was armored, as there was not enough metal available to work on both ships at the same time. The ship was complete, except for her armament by November 30. High waters on the James River in early 1864 threatened to wash away stockpiles of timer and inundate the shipyard's wharves, further delaying her completion. In March, Fredericksburg was commissioned and taken to Drewry's Bluff on the James River, where she was fitted out, placed under the command of Commander Thomas R. Rootes. She was assigned to the James River Squadron. The James River Squadron had been commanded by Captain French Forrest until May 6, when Captain John K. Mitchell replaced Forrest. As of April 30, Fredericksburgs armament was reported to be close, but not quite, complete, and she was still not fully ready when Mitchell took command. By May 15, she was fully ready for combat. The vessels of the James River Squadron could not initially move downriver beyond Drewry's Bluff, as the river had been obstructed there in 1862 to prevent Union incursions up the river. Pilings had been driven into the river which was also blocked with stone-filled cribs and blockships. However, in May 1864, the obstructions were partially dismantled to allow for a Confederate offensive against the Union vessels in the James. On May 23, Fredericksburg passed through the remainder of the obstructions, and Virginia II and the ironclad passed through the next day. General P. G. T. Beauregard placed artillery batteries along the south side of the river to support the naval advance, but Fredericksburg suffered boiler damage on May 29 that required a day to repair. Mitchell was aware that the Union would have strong advantages in a naval battle, and he and his officers declined to attack. Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant moved across the James as part of an advance against Richmond in June, and established a supply depot at City Point on the James. The primary goal of the Union naval forces on the James became to protect City Point, and to further that goal, five blockships were sunk at Trent's Reach, which was upriver from City Point. On June 21, the James River Squadron and a Confederate shore battery known as Battery Dantzler bombarded Union ships stationed at Trent's Reach. The naval fire was at a range of