Another big blow to the Confederacy on top of one after another losses along the coast and rivers.
MAY 11TH
The CSS Virginia, no longer possessing a home port after the capture of Norfolk, is blown up by its crew off Craney Island to avoid capture. It was discovered that the ship drew too much water to go up the James River. The ship's commander, Josiah Tattnall wrote, "Thus perished the Virginia and with her many highflown hope of naval supremacy and success."
For the North, the ship's destruction eliminated the continuing threat to Fort Monroe and the Chesapeake Bay, but also allowed Flag Officer Goldsborough's fleet passage up the James River as far as Drewry's Bluff. This greatly helped the Union's Peninsular Campaign then going on.
MAY 12TH
Union gunboats made a reconnaissance of Pamuckey River in support of an Army advance to a new supply base at White House, Virginia, within 22 miles of Richmond.
Officers and crew of the CSS Virginia ordered to establish a battery below Drewry's Bluff on the lft bank of the river to prevent Union ships from passing. It was to be under the command of Lt. Catesby ap R. Jones.
MAY 13TH
The Confederate steamer Planter in Charleston Harbor was taken by its entirely black crew under Robert Smalls to the Union fleet. The ship's commander was ashore when the ship was taken. I'll be writing about this tomorrow.
The USS Iroquois occupied Natchez, Mississippi as Farragut's fleet continues ascending the Mississippi River to Vicksburg.
B-R'er
No comments:
Post a Comment