From the Dec, 12, 2012, Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial Blog "USS Cairo Strikes a Torpedo: December 12, 1862."
Yesterday, I wrote about the event and then today read this blog entry so will add to yesterday's information.
The wooden gunboats USS Marmora and Signal had gone on a reconnaissance of the Yazoo River earlier and reported they had found Confederate torpedoes in the river. They could sweep and clear them if some larger warships provided cover fire from Confederates along the banks. Captain Walke assigned the USS Cairo, Pittsburg (correctly spelled) and Queen of the West to do that, but with strict orders to stay out of the main river channel and stay behind the wooden ships.
ENTER SELFRIDGE
Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Selfridge, late executive officer of the USS Cumberland (sunk by the CSS Virginia) reported that he thought the Marmora and Signal had come under Confederate fire and rushed from his position at the back of the squadron to assist. He immediately stopped when he saw the two ships shooting at the torpedoes (mines), but too late, his ship blew up.
After the Cairo sank, the two remaining warships each fire about sixty shells at the woods and received no return fire.
The commander of the Queen of the West, US Army Captain Edwin Sutherland (an Army captain commanding a Naval ship?) reported that the Cairo came up beside him and inquired why he had stopped. He said there were torpedoes ahead and then was shocked as the Cairo hurried on past him and entered the main channel, completely against orders.
He lost his ship, but no charges were ever filed, nor was there a court martial which seemed to have been in order under the circumstances. Of course, Selfridge had the complete support of Admiral Porter which may help explain why there were no charges.
He went on to command another ship, and run it aground and was at Fort Fisher with Porter, of course.
Porter's "Golden Boy?" --Old B-R'er
No comments:
Post a Comment