FEBRUARY 7TH
Rear Admiral Porter says that due to the plunging fire from Confederate batteries at Vicksburg, and Union warship inability to elevate high enough to hit them, it would be impossible to take the city without the Army being in the rear of the city.
A daring plan was proposed to Confederate Secretary of the Navy Mallory for a raid on the Great Lakes. Lt. William H. Murdaugh, CSN, proposed leading four naval officers to Canada, purchasing a small steamer, man her with Canadians and arm it with torpedoes, explosives and incendiary materials.
At Erie, Pennsylvania, he planned to board and capture the USS Michigan (the only US Navy ship on the Great Lakes). After that, he would use that ship to destroy shipping and attack Chicago, then Milwaukee and points north.
The plan was approved by the Navy Department, but shot down by Jefferson Davis because it would violate neutrality and England might stop building ironclads for the Confederacy and take other measures.
Commander Ebenezer Farrand, CSN, reported to Alabama governor John G. Shorter of the successful launching of ironclads CSS Tuscaloosa and Huntsville at Selma. Both warships were taken to Mobile.
Old B-Runner
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