JULY 24TH
Rear Admiral Porter directed that all his ships in the Mississippi Squadron be provided with an apparatus to destroy torpedoes while on expeditions up narrow rivers. Since a 100-pound torpedo exploding ten feet from a ship won't cause any damage, he wanted a rake some 20-30 feet beyond the bow, "The rake will be provided with iron teeth (spikes will do) to catch the torpedo or break the wire."
The torpedo threat was real.
The USS Iroquois captured the blockade-runner Merrimac off the NC coast with cargo of cotton, turpentine and tobacco (outbound).
The USS Arago captured steamer Emma off Wilmington with the same cargo as the Merrimac.
Bad Day for Wilmington. --Old B-R'er
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