MARCH 28TH, 1865: The twin-turreted monitor USS Milwaukee, Lt.Cmdr. James H. Gillis, struck a torpedo in the Blakely River, Alabama, while dropping downstream after shelling a Southern transport which was attempting to supply Spanish Fort. Just as Gillis returned to the area that had been swept for torpedoes and "supposed the danger from torpedoes was past," he "felt a shock and saw at once that a torpedo had exploded on the port side of the vessel...."
The Milwaukee's stern went under within three minutes but the forward compartments did not fill for almost an hour, enabling the sailors to save most of their possessions.
Although the ship sank, no lives were lost.
--Old B-R'er
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