Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: May 21st to 22nd, 1863: What Was That Monster Ship?

MAY 21ST

Union ships push up the Yazoo River from Haynes' Bluff to Yazoo City, Mississippi.  As they approached, Cmdr. Isaac N. Brown, CSN, who had commanded the CSS Arkansas, was forced to destroy three "powerful steamers, rams" and a "fine navy yard, with machine shops of all kinds, sawmills, blacksmith shops, etc..."

Admiral Porter noted that the Confederate steamers destroyed were the Mobile, Republic and "a monster, 310 feet long and 70 feet beam."    Had the latter been completed, "she would have given us much trouble."  I wonder what the name of this behemoth would have been?

Farragut wrote Captain John R.  Goldsborough, commanding the blockade off Mobile and congratulated him on the number of captures made off that port.


MAY 22ND

Early in the morning, Union ship sengaged Vicksburg's hill batteries and temporarily silenced the works.  Then other gunboats attacked the water batteries, getting to within a quarter mile of them.  When it became apparent there would be no Union Army assault, Porter withdrew.

The gunboats were hit numerous times, but no major damage and were about out of ammunition.

Union Army steamer Allison destroyed schooner Sea Bird with a cargo of coal near New Bern, NC.

Old B-Runner

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