Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: Jan. 17th to 18th, 1863-- Porter Praises Yazoo Operations

JANUARY 17TH

The USS Baron De Kalb proceeded up the White River to Des Arc, Arkansas, and found 39 rebel soldiers at a hospital and paroled them.  They also captured quite a bit of ammunition.

The day before, the ship had been at Devall's Bluff on the White River and captured public property and cannons.  He noted that both days, his ship had arrived ahead of supporting Union troops.  With Fort Hindman out of the way, the US was proceeding up the White River.


JANUARY 18TH

With the White River under Union control, Union Admiral Porter turned his attention again to Vicksburg.  and wrote Welles that he thought the December attempt to take the city  "was premature."  The Navy's operations "in the Yazoo are worthy to be ranked amongst the brightest events of the war.  The officers in charge of getting up the torpedoes and clearing eight miles of river distinguished themselves by their patient endurance and galling fire of musketry from well-protected and unseen riflemen."

Old B-R'er