Thursday, September 20, 2012

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: September 20th to 25th,1862-- Riding the Storm Out

SEPTEMBER 20TH

Answering a letter to Asst. sec. of Navy Fox,  who was pushing for the capture of Charleston, SC, Rear Admiral Du Pont replied that it was a much bigger job than Port Royal.

However, this same day, he wrote Senator Grimes in Iowa: "The thorn in my flesh is Charleston, they have been allowed seventeen months to prepare its defenses-- and in no part of the wretched Confederacy has there been more industry, energy, and intelligent zeal, and science displayed."

Throughout the fall, the ironclads he would need were being built.


SEPTEMBER 22ND

Writing during a storm ("I suppose the true equinoctial gale"), Rear Admiral Farragut noted that "these are the times that try the commander of a squadron.  I could not sleep last night, thinking of the blockaders.  It is rough work lying off a port month in and month out...I have 6 vessels off Mobile, so that one can always come in for coal.  They are at all times breaking down and coming in for repairs."

SEPTEMBER 25TH

The USS Kensington, Rachel Seaman and Henry Janes bombard Confederate batteries at Sabine Pass, Texas until the defenders abandon the works and spike the guns.  Sabine City surrendered the next day.

Old B-Runner

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