150 Years Ago-- March 7th-9th, 1864

MARCH 8TH, 1864: The USS Virginia captures blockade-running sloop Randall off San Luis Pass, Texas. //// MARCH 9TH, 1864: Porter directs the USS Benton to advise him as soon as General Sherman's troops were sighted coming downriver in transports. Porter was anxious to get underway and had gathered his gunboats at the mouth of the Red River which included the ironclads Essex, Benton, Choctaw, Chillicothe, Ozark, Louisville, Carondelet, Eastport, Pittsburg, Mound City, Osage, and Neosho and the steamers Lafayette, Quachita, Lexington, Fort Hindman, Cricket and Gazelle. The Red River Campaign is about to kick-off. //// --Old B-Runner