APRIL 11TH
Confederate General Beauregard wrote Lt. Webb, CSN, urging him to attack the Union's seven ironclads while they were still anchored inside the bar "with at least two of your spar-torpedo row-boats.... I believe it will be as easy to surprise them...on the first calm night."
As the boats approach the ironclads and are hailed, they should answer, "Boats on secret expedition" or "Contraband" (referring to runaway slaves.
However, on the 12th, the ironclads withdrew outside the bar, foiling the Confederate attack.
Union Army officers at Suffolk, Va., believed there were a large number of Confederates threatening them and requested Union Admiral S.P. Lee for additional ships to protect them. Lee replied that he already had three ships there, but sent the USS Commodore Barney, under Lt. William B. Cushing to help them.
Southerners also threatened positions along the York River and Yorktown requested gunboats. Lee ordered another gunboat there.
Secretary Welles instructed Du Pont to "retain a large force off Charleston even should you find it impossible to carry the place." Keeping that large fleet there will worry Confederates and perhaps keep them from North or West "to aid rebels with whom our forces will soon be in conflict...."
Old B-Runner
No comments:
Post a Comment