From the Civil War Naval Chronology.
Essentially, 1862 was an absolutley horrific year for the Confederate naval aspirations. Ports and forts fell with regularity and the blockade was becoming more and more effective.
JANUARY 1ST
Confederate warships under Major Leon Smith defeated Union blockading forces at Galveston during a surprise attack combined with a troop advance on shore. Smith's flotilla (an Army officer commanding naval ships?) included the improvised cotton-clads CSS Bayou City and Neptune with troops on board tenders John F. Carr and Lucy Gwin.
The Union squadron under Cmdr. William Renshaw, consisted of the USS Harriet Lane, Owasco, Corypheus, Sachem, Clifton and Westfield, was caught by surprise.The Harriet Lane put up a fight and rammed the Bayou City and then she was rammed by the Neptune. The Neptune was so damaged by the impact and a shot from the Harriet Lane, that it sank in 8 feet of water.
The Bayou City then rammed the Harriet Lane and the two ships got entangled. Confederate troops boarded the Lane and after heavy hand-to-hand fighting, the Harriet Lane was forced to surrender after its commander was killed.
The USS Westfield, under Commander Renshaw, ran aground and was destroyed to prevent capture. Renshaw and his boat crew were killed when the ship blew up prematurely.
The rest of the Union ships ran out to sea under heavy fire.
The recapture of Galveston was a huge blow to the Union effort in the West Gulf operations.
Old B-Runner
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