Due to an upcoming trip the rest of the month, I will be trying to get ahead on these Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago posts. I don't take that huge Civil War Naval Chronology book with me.
MARCH 16TH
Attack on Fort Pemberton renewed. USS Chillicothe badly damaged. The next day the expedition fell back and no more major attacks made on the fort.
General Grant orders General Sherman's troops to cooperate with Porter's expedition through Steele's Bayou.
MARCH 18th
The USS Wissahickon seized and destroyed the steamer Georgiana attempting to run into Charleston with a valuable cargo, including rifled guns. It was said to be pierced for 14 guns and thought to be intended for commerce raiding.
Welles wrote Du Pont that he would rather have had her captured (probably for use as a blockader), but was glad it was no longer a threat.
MARCH 19TH
Farragut, in the USS Hartford, had managed to run past Port Hudson and began operations north of the stronghold as far as the mouth of the Red River. Engaged the batteries at Grand Gulf on this date.
Porter says the Steele's Bayou had reached to within one and a half miles of Rolling Fork, Mississippi., saying, "No one would believe that anything in the shape of a vessel could get through Black Bayou, or anywhere beyond."
Confederates were felling trees into the river and sharpshooters were all along the banks.
Du Pont wrote of problems with his monitors saying the Montauk had been damaged heavily by the mine at Fort McAllister. "I think these monitors are wonderful conceptions, but, oh, the errors of details, which would have been corrected if these men of genius could be induced to pay attention to the people who are to use their tools and inventions."
Old B-R'er
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