Some More on Charles K. Mallory: A Benjamin Butler Connection?

Midshipman Charles Mallory was the son and namesake of Charles K. Mallory, a lawyer, plantation owner and militia colonel of Hampton, Virginia.  In May 1861, three of the senior Mallory slaves, Frank Baker, Sheppard Mallory and James Townsend, escaped to Union lines.

Their return was demanded of the Union commander in the area, General Benjamin Butler, under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Butler refused stating that since Virginia had claimed independence the Act did not apply.  And, because Virginia was at war with the United States, the runaway slaves, legally being "chattel property" were now "contraband of war."

--Old B-R'er

If You Want to Visit Fort Fisher, Better Do It Before April 16

From the April 9, 2024, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

In the interest of safety and security, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today that the Fort Fisher Historic Site will temporarily close to the public beginning Tuesday, April 16 as workers relocate exhibits, artifacts and staff offices to the site' new 20,000 square foot visitors center.

In addition, work will begin on the restoration of parts of the fort  which were demolished when the fort was used as an anti-aircraft training facility during World War II

This temporary closure refers to all parts of the fort west of US-421, including the museum, restrooms, tour trails around the mounds and parking lots.

The sites Battle Acre, east of US-421, will remain open.

Plans called for a phased reopening during the summer.

But, if you want to see the fort, you'd better get out there before this coming Tuesday.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Midshipman Scalded to Death When Chattahoochee's Boiler Exploded: Charles K. Mallory

From the August 19, 2014, Civil War Talk Forum by Ernie Mac.

When I first saw the last name, I thought perhaps he might have been related to Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory but he wasn't.

Midshipman Charles K. Mallory was one of the casualties  of the CSS Chattahoochee, severely scalded in the explosion on May 27, 1863.  He died several days later (June 1) of his injuries.

Mallory was a native of Virginia who enlisted as a midshipman at the beginning of the war, serving aboard the CSS Virginia during the Battle of Hampton Roads.  He was one of two midshipman who boarded the USS Congress after that vessel struck her colors during the battle.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on the CSS Chattahoochee-- Part 3: In Fairly Good Shape

The wreck was relocated  using a proton precession magnetometer and wreck structure exposed on the bottom  surface was mapped.  A test excavation was carried out near the south end of the wreckage to facilitate assessing the nature and scope of the archaeological record and generate  data concerning the remaining wreck structure.

(Now, that was some last sentence.  Took me forever to type.)

Data recovered during the investigation contributed to a better understanding of the wreck and its scientific and educational value.

On the basis of this reconnaissance,  it is apparent that the remains of the CSS Chattahoochee contain a variety of artifacts associated with the use of the ship.  In addition, the remaining wreck structure survives in good condition below the turn of the bilge and could be raised, conserved, and displayed in conjunction with the stern of the warship presently on exhibit at the Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on the CSS Chattahoochee-- Part 2: Half Recovered

From 1990 report "CSS Chattahoochee:  An Investigation  of the Remains of a Confederate Gunboat" by Gordon P. Watts and Wes Hall.

In the Spring of 1865, the Confederate gunboat CSS Chattahoochee  was scuttled and burned in the Chattahoochee River, just south of Columbus, Georgia.  During the Civil War Centennial the vessel's remains were relocated and the stern of the warship salvaged and preserved at the James W. Woodruff, Jr., Confederate Naval Museum  in Columbus.

In 1984, East Carolina University and the Naval Museum cosponsored an investigation designed to relocate the Chattahoochee, determine the amount of surviving hull structure, and assess the potential for additional research, recovery and exhibition.

--Old B-R'er

Some More on the CSS Chattahooche

From the June 6, 2023, Georgia Public Radio "Are sunken ships from the Civil War still lying in the Chattahoochee?  What a historian says"  by Kelby Hutchinson.

During the Battle of Columbus (Georgia) on April 16, 1865 (Lee had surrendered in Virginia on April 9), two Confederate warships were destroyed.  One was the ironclad CSS Jackson (also called the CSS Muscogee).  The other was the CSS Chattahoochee.

Part of the CSS Chattahoochee still remains at the bottom of its namesake river.  The bow end is still somewhere down below.  The National Civil War Naval Museum is in possession of the stern portion.  The ship was set on fire by its own crew to prevent it falling into enemy hands.

In 1984, East Carolina University and the Confederate Naval Museum (as the National Civil War Naval Museum was then known as) set out to locate the remains of the Chattahoochee, determine its condition and figure out its potential for research, recovery and exhibition.

That report in next post.

The CSS Chattahoochee, Certainly a Hard-Luck Ship.  --Old B-R'er

Confederate Navy Yard Saffold, Georgia-- Part 2

The 130-foot long CSS Chattahoochee was intended to be both a river boat and an ocean-going one.  It was Confederate hopes to sail it down the river and reopen the port of Apalachicola, Florida,  on the Gulf of Mexico.

However, the Chattahoochee turned out to be an unlucky ship.  One mishap after another befell her.

By far the worst took place on May 27, 1863, when her boilers exploded through crew error and inexperience.  Several were killed and others badly scalded.  This knocked the ship out of the rest of the war.

One of the guns on the ship was a IX-inch Dahlgren pivot gun.  The gun was lost and never recovered, even after the ship's hull was recovered near Fort Benning in 1963.

The Chattahoochee's hull is a part of a part of the Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus.  A replica was made of the IX-inch Dahlgren and has been loaned to the Early County Museum for display.

--Old B-R'er

The Confederate Navy Yard: Saffold, Georgia

From the January 2, 2024, Early County (Georgia) News  "The History of the Confederate Naval Yard" by Leah Taylor.

Confederate naval officers and John H. Warner selected this site because of its remote location and abundance of timber around it.  Another reason was that the landowner, David S. Johnson, was an avid Confederate.  He was chosen to run the shipyard.  This proved to be a poor choice because despite all the timber and a large work force of slaves, he had no experience with shipbuilding at all.

The deadline for building his warship, 120 days, came and went with no ship.  He gave in and began placing ads in local papers for experienced shipbuilders.  Eventually the ship was built and delivered ten months late, December 8, 1862.

That ship was the CSS Chattahoochee, taking its name from the river on which it was built.

--Old B-Runner

Others Buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia-- Part 3

Continuing with Road Tripping Through History.

Other Medals of Honor:

2 from Indian Wars

1 from Spanish-American War

2 from the Boxer Rebellion

4 from Civil War (soldiers)

1 from Korea (1871)

2 from peacetime events (1872) and (1903)

Also, three Civil War Union generals and several Union officers.

--Old B-R'er

Some More Naval Medal of Honor Recipients Buried in Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia-- Part 2

There sure are a lot of Navy Medal of Honor recipients buried at this cemetery.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the Philadelphia Navy Yard being there.

John Lafferty, USS Wyalusing, versus CSS Albemarle.  Also received a second medal of Honor in Peru.

Nicholas Lear, USS New Ironsides, Fort Fisher

Thomas G. Lyons, USS Pensacola, Battle of New Orleans

James Martin II, USMC, USS Richmond, Battle of Mobile Bay

Matthew McClelland, USS Richmond, Battle of Port Hudson

John Smith, USS Richmond, Battle of Mobile Bay

William Thompson, USS Mohican, Battle of Port Royal

Alexander Truett, USS Richmond, Battle of Mobile Bay

John Williams, USS Pawnee, Mathias Point, Va.

William Williams, USS Lehigh, Charleston, S.C.

Sure a lot of Navy, Marine Medals of Honor buried in this cemetery.

--Ol B-R'er

Remembering 'Civil War Times' and 'America's Civil War'

I must admit that both magazines, which I just found out ceased publication in February, had started giving a lot more attention to the naval aspect of the war, which is my favorite aspect.  Too often before they overlooked the Navy.  

However, this is very true of Civil War people in general.  It is all the land warfare with water parts taking a distinct hind part.

I sure hope someone buys these two magazines or the other seven history ones which were offered by the same company.

Sad to See You Go.  --Old B-Runner

Road Tripping Through History: Henry Schutes Was Buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia-- Part 1

I was wondering if there were any other persons of interest buried at this cemetery along with Henry Schutes.  According to Find a Grave, there are some 200,000 people buried in the cemetery, but it has fallen upon hard times.

There are quite a few Medal of Honor recipients buried there.

I will list the other Navy recipients:

Charles Baker, USS Metacomet, Battle of Mobile Bay.

James Healey, USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama.

Robert Jordan, USS Mount Washington, Nansemond River, Va.

--B-Runner

How Many Medals of Honor Did Henry Schutes Receive?

I have been doing more research on this question.  I even looked up lists of double Medal of Honor winners and Henry Schutes was not on the list (although there are 19 who have received double Medals of Honor).

I am of the belief that he bravely fought at the Battle of New Orleans but it was his actions on board the USS Wissahickon against Fort McAllister which caused him to get the Medal of Honor.

--Old B-Runner

Was It One or Two Medals of Honor for Henry Schutes?

The more I read about him, the more I'm not sure if he received one or two Medals of Honor.  I am sure he got one for the action against Fort McAllister in 1863.  But not sure about New Orleans.

--Old B-R'er

Navy Medal of Honor Recipient Henry Schutes-- Part 4: Not One, But Two Medals of Honor

Henry Schutes received Medals of Honor for both actions.  This was a new honor created in1861.  t the time of the actions, Schutes was 58, making him the oldest Medal of Honor winner.

It is not clear when he left the Navy, but according to the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, a register of employees at the USNA showed him employed there as a civilian watchman in 1865.  At some point in the mid-1870s, he moved to Philadelphia to the Naval Asylum, which was a home and hospital for retired seamen.

He broke a leg in 1889, but "refused to keep his splint in place and grew increasingly belligerent about eating."  He died on September 10, 1889 and was buried at Mount Moriah.

The cemetery attributes his death to "general failure of willpower."

--Old B-R'er