USS Two Sisters-- Part 2: Captured Lots of Prizes

After commissioning 30 January 1863, the Two Sisters was assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and took her first prize on 1 February. off Boca Raton, Florida.  On 30 April it captured the Agnes off Tortugas carrying cotton.    Then it took another runner off Anciote Key, Florida.

It continued patrols and kept special attention on blockade running between Bayport, Florida, and Havana.  Bayport is north of Tampa.

On 15 October the Two Sisters, USS Sea Bird and USS Fox assisted the USS Honduras in the capture of the Havana bound British steamer Mail which was running with cotton and turpentine.

Bayport proved to be good hunting grounds as the Two Sisters captured the  schooner Maria Alberta there on 27 November.  This is the capture I wrote about Tuesday and why I am writing about this ship now.  Like I said, I'd never heard of it before.

--Old B-Runner

USS Two Sisters-- Part 1: Former Confederate Blockade Runner

From Wikipedia.

The USS Two Sisters was a small 54 ton schooner captured from the Confederates and acquired by the Union Navy from the prize court.  It served both as a blockading gun boat and as a ship tender when needed.

Not much is known about it other than it used sails for propulsion and had one 12-pdr. gun.

It was built in 1856 in Baltimore, Maryland, and captured 21 September 1862 by the USS Albatross off the mouth of the Rio Grande while attempting to pass through the Union blockade into Brownsville, Texas, with a cargo of 87 bales of gunny cloth.  (Gunny cloth was used for the baling of cotton.)

It was later purchased by the U.S. Navy at the Key West Prize Court and commissioned January 30, 1863, at Key West, Acting Master William A. Arthur in command.

--Old B-Runner

November 27, 1863: USS Two Sisters Seized Blockade Runner in Florida

NOVEMBER 27TH, 1863:  The USS Two Sisters, Acting master  Charles H. Rockwell, seized blockade running schooner Maria Alberta near Bayport, Florida.

--Old B-Runner

Donaldsonville, La. --Part 5: Battle of Fort Butler

Part of Fort Butler's garrison included  the 1st Louisiana Volunteers, a black military group, as well as some Louisiana Native Guard and some fugitive slaves.

In June 1863, Confederate forces consisting of more than 1,000 Texas Rangers under General Tom Green attacked Fort Butler.  Free Blacks and fugitive slaves joined in the successful defense of the fort.  This is one of the first instances of Blacks fighting as a group for the Union.

The Fort is on the NRHP.

The American Civil War site:

Major Thomas Greens's cavalry was joined by Major General James P. Major's troops.  On June 28, 1863,  in the early morning hours, they attacked the fort.  The small garrison was aided by Union gunboats in the river.  There was some close hand-to-hand combat, even at times with bricks being thrown.

With daylight, the Fort was still in Union hands and the Confederates withdrew.

It Is Hard To Find Information On This Battle.  --Old B-R'er

Donaldsonville, La.-- Part 4: Fort Butler

Many escaping slaves entered Union lines to gain their freedom.  General Benjamin Butler declared them to be contraband and would not return them to their owners.  They stayed and worked for the Union and helped build the star-shaped Fort Butler in Donaldsonville.

It was a work of earth and wood, one 381 feet long facing the Mississippi River.  The other sides were protected by Bayou Lafourche and the land side had a deep moat.  A stockade surrounded the fort which contained a high and thick earth parapet.

It was built to accommodate 600 men, but in 1863, only manned by a small force of about 180.  Their commander was Major Joseph Bullen of the 28th Maine.

--Old B-Runner

Donaldsonville, La.-- Part 3: No Good Confederate Rangers

"A citizens' committee met and decided to ask Governor Moore to keep the [Confederate] Rangers from firing on Federal boats.  These attacks did no real good and brought only crude reprisals against the innocent and helped to keep the Negroes stirred up."

A citizen complained that the Rangers were useless and lawless, and unable or unwilling to protect Confederate property.  The citizen added  that the Confederate people "could not fare worse were we surrounded by a band of Lincoln's mercenary hirelings.  Our homes are entered and pillaged of everything that they [Rangers] see fit to appropriate for themselves."

Union forces established a base at Donaldsonville for their occupation of river parishes.  They took over some plantations, running them as U.S. government plantations to supply the  forces and produce cotton.

--Old B-Runner

Donaldsonville, La.-- Part 2: Destroyed By Farragut

After the war, in 1868, people of Donaldsonville elected Pierre Caliste Landry mayor, the first Black elected to be a mayor of a U.S. city.

In the summer of 1862, the city was bombarded by the Union navy.  Gunboats were sent to town to  warn residents that  if shots were fire from the town, that the area from nine miles north to six miles south would have every structure destroyed.

Admiral Farragut, after ordering its inhabitants to leave, destroyed much of the city and put Ascension Parish under martial law.  According to Louisiana historian John D. Winters, the citizen:  "...left their homes and went to the bayou....a detachment of Yankees went ashore with fire torches in hand."

The hotels,  warehouses, dwellings, and some of the most valuable buildings of the town were destroyed.  Plantations were bombarded and set afire.

Mean Ol' Farragut.  --Old B-R'er

Donaldsonville, Louisiana-- Part 1: Former State Capital and Fort Butler

From Wikipedia.

Abner Read was mortally wounded in a fight with Confederates near here on July 7, 1863.  He died the next day.

I'd never heard of this town before or its role in the Civil War.

It was the former capital of Louisiana (1829-1831), moved from New Orleans as English-speaking people in the state wanted to get the capital away from all the French people on New Orleans.

Union forces attacked and occupied the city in 1862.  Fort Butler was built to protect the city and it was successfully defended on June  28, 1863,  against a Confederate attack.  This marked the first time that free blacks and fugitive slaves fought as soldiers on behalf of the Union Army.  The fort is listed on the NRHP.

--Old B-Runner

Nov. 20, 1863-- Part 2: Send Those Light-Draft Monitors

Farragut noted that there were some  turreted ironclads building at St. Louis and suggested:  "They draw about 6 feet of water and will be the very vessels to operate in the shallow waters of Texas, if the Department would order them down there."

Three days later, the Secretary asked Rear Admiral Porter to "consider the subject and inform the Department as early as practicable to what extent Farragut's wishes can be complied with."

Porter replied on the 27th that he could supply Farragut with eight light drafts "in the course of a month" and that "six weeks from to-day I could have ten vessels sent to Admiral Farragut, if I can get the officers and men...."

--Old B-Runner

November 20, 1863-- Part 1: Farragut Needs More Ships for Gulf Blockade

NOVEMBER 20TH, 1862:  Rear Admiral Farragut, eager to return to sea duty in the Gulf, informed Secretary Welles from New York that the USS Hartford and USS Brooklyn "will not be ready for sea in less than three weeks, from the best information I can obtain.

"I particularly regret it, because I see that General Banks is in the field and my services may be required."

The Admiral noted that he had received a letter from Commodore Bell. commanding  in his absence, which indicated that there was not enough ships to serve on the Texas coast and maintain the blockade elsewhere as well.

--Old B-Runner

July 7, 1863: Death of Abner Read, USN

From the Civil War Naval Chronology.

JULY 7, 1863:  The USS Monongahela, Commander Abner Read, and the USS New London, Lt. Cmdr. George H. Perkins, engaged Confederate field batteries behind the levee about twelve miles below Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

Read, characterized by Farragut as "one of the most gallant and enterprising officers in my squadron," was  mortally wounded in the action.

This should be accurate, so Abner Read was on and in command of the Monongahela at the engagement and was in the company of his former command, the USS New London.

--Old B-R'er

Dr. Ezra Read, Surgeon and Abner Read's Brother

I have been writing about him in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog the last several days.

He was a very successful physician at Terre Haute, Indiana, before and after the war.  He took part in the Texas Revolution during the 1830s and treated captured Mexican leader and general Santa Anna.

During the Civil War he was the surgeon of the 21st Indiana Infantry and then the 11th Indiana Cavalry.

Click on My Blogs Saw the Elephant: Civil War to read about him.

--Old B-Runner

Sgt. Albert Husband, USMC

From Find-A-Grave.

Sergeant Albert Husband was also aboard the USS Monongahela on the action where Abner Read was mortally wounded.

Born 7 April 1837  Died 6 May 1921

USMC

Enlisted  7 July 1864
Mustered out February 1868

The enlistment was considerably after when Read was killed in 1863.  Perhaps Husband was in the Navy and transferred to the Marines.

Burial Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

USNH Plot 3  Row 9  Grave 8

This U.S. Navy Plot has many naval Medal of Honor winners buried there.  I'll have to write about it some time in the future.

--Old B-Runner

Was the Agawam At Donaldsonville, Louisiana?

From Wikipedia.

I have the Agawam as being launched 21 April 1863, but not commissioned until 9 March 1864.  If it was launched in April 1863, it might have been, but not if it had no active duty until 1864.

Plus, there is no mention of the Agawam being in the Mississippi River.

As such, I am not sure the Agawam was at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on July 7, 1963.

America's Navy site has the ships Dewey served on 1861 ti 1867 as follows:  USS Mississippi, USS Brooklyn, USS Agawam, USS Colorado, USS Kearsarge, USS Canadiagua, and back to the USS Colorado.

--Old B-Runner

George Dewey At Battle Where Abner Read Killed

From Wikipedia.

The future Spanish-American War hero George Dewey was at the engagement where Abner Read lost his life.

George Dewey was a young Union officer in 1863 and really making a name for himself on the Mississippi River.  He was highly complimented by his superior officers and Farragut himself.  Farragut made Dewey the executive officer on the USS Agawam, a small gunboat that the admiral often used to carry dispatches and he would be on it when he personally reconnoitered.

Because of its movements, the ship was often under fire by Confederate sharpshooters and temporary batteries.

In July 1863, there was a small engagement at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, which resulted in the death of the USS Monongahela's commander, Abner Read and the severe wounding of its executive officer.

Dewey was present and so distinguished himself for conspicuous gallantry that he was recommended for promotion.  He was given temporary command of the Agawam.

Dewey would later be at the Battles of Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner

November 14, 1863: "The Notorious James Duke" Foiled

NOVEMBER 14, 1863:  The USS Bermuda, Acting Lieutenant  J.W. Smith, recaptured schooner Mary Campbell after she had been seized earlier the same day by Confederates under the command of Master Duke, CSN, whose daring exploits five months before, 8 June 1863, had resulted on the capture of a Union ship near New Orleans.

The Bermuda also took an unnamed lugger which the Confederates had used to capture the Mary Campbell.  The captures took place off Pensacola after the ship had come out of the Perdido River under Duke's command.

Lieutenant Smith reported that  "...the notorious James Duke ... also captured the Norman, with which vessel he, with ten of his crew, had made for the land upon my heaving in sight, and I have reason to believe that he beached and burned her...."

Another John Yates Beall?  --Old B-Runner

Was Abner Read On the Monongahela or New London When He Was Mortally Wounded?

As I mentioned in the last two posts, there is some question as to which of these two ships Abner Read was on when he was mortally wounded, plus, the Wikipedia article on him has him dying the following day after the wound, July 8, 1863.

The Find-A-Grave site has his dying on July 12, 1863.  Also, he was commanding the USS New London at the time of his death.A page listing Union naval officer deaths accompanying the Find-A-Grave site has Abner Read dying on July 12, 1863 and having been on the USS Monongahela.

The Together We Served site on Melancton Smith has him commanding the USS Monongahela 1862-1863.  (He also commanded the frigate USS Wabash at both Battles of Fort Fisher.)

The USS Monongahela Wikipedia article has that ship, accompanied by the USS New London involved in the July 7, 1863 battle 12 miles below Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in which the Monongahela's new commander, Abner Read, was killed in action.

So, Go Figure.  --Old B-R'er

Abner Read, USN-- Part 7: Held in High Regard By Farragut "A Source Of Terror To the Rebels"

Regardless of what ship Abner Read may have been on: the USS New London or USS Monongahela,
he was wounded in both the abdomen and his right knee by a Confederate shell that crashed through his ship's bulwarks on the port quarter.

He was taken to a hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he died on the evening of the following day.

Farragut and the other officers of the fleet were lavish on the praise they heaped on their fallen comrade  Farragut said that Read  had "...perhaps done as much as any man in this war ....  The very mention of his name was a source of terror to the rebels."

On another occasion, Farragut said, "I know nothing of him prejudicial as a man, but I do know  that no Navy can boast a better officer and I deem him a great loss to both the Navy and to his country."

Legacy:  The destroyers USS Abner Read (DD-526) sunk by a kamikaze in World War II and USS Abner Read (DD-769), a planned ship that wasn't built because of the end of World War II, were named after him.

--Old B-Runner

Abner Read, USN-- Part 6: Wounded in Battle

While repairs were being made to the New London, Read was detached from her on 22 June and ordered to relieve Captain Melancton Smith, commander of the USS Monongahela.  Six days later, in command of his new ship, he headed up the Mississippi River to defend Donaldsonville, Louisiana, which was being threatened by Confederate troops.

The Confederates were desperately try to hold on to Vicksburg and Port Hudson on the river at the time.

At this point, it is not clear whether Abner Read was in command of the USS New London or the USS Monongahela and whether the USS New London was accompanying the Monongahela.

Anyway, Read was patrolling  the Mississippi River between Donaldsonville and New Orleans, when, on the morning of 7 July 1863, Confederates opened fire on the ship with field artillery and musketry.  A shell crashed through the port quarter of the ship and Read was wounded in the abdomen and his right knee.

--Old B-Runner

I Put My Flags Out for Veterans Day / Armistice Day

Well, actually I put them out yesterday in honor of the 243rd birthday of the USMC.  But, they remain up today for the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I with Armistice Day, which in the United States is now also a day to honor those who have served, our veterans.

Armistice day famously dealt with those elevens.

An American artillery gun in the 11th Field Artillery Regiment names "Calamity Jane" fired a single shot at 11 a.m..  This is known as the closing shot of the war.

"There Are Only Two Kinds of People Who Understand Marines"

243 Years Ago, the United States Marines were established.  Today, current and former Marines all over the world will honor the Corps.

"There are only two kinds of people who understand Marines:  Marines and the enemy.  Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.

General William Thomsen, U.S. Army.

--Old B-RunCorps

Abner Read, USN-- Part 5: The Lighthouse Battle

Again, the reason I am writing about him is that I have been writing about the ship  named after him that had its stern blown off by a Japanese mine and later was sunk by a kamikaze in World War II.

Read was promoted to lieutenant commander on 16 July 1862.

On April 18, 1963, he led a  boat expedition which landed  near the lighthouse at Sabine Pass, Texas.  They were attacked by a large group of Confederates who had been hiding in the lighthouse keeper's home.  All but one of Read's group were wounded as they raced back to their boat and rowed out to the New London.

Read suffered a serious wound  to his eye.  Yet, despite this painful wound, he remained on duty until his ship returned to New Orleans for repairs in late May.

--Old B-Runner

Abner Read, USN-- Part 4: Takes Over 30 Prizes, Farragut's Impressed

In the next months, the USS New London took over 30 prizes.  Her success was so remarkable that Flag Officer David Farragut felt he had to have the ship in his new command when he took command of the eastern section of the Gulf Squadron, now called the East Gulf Blockading Squadron.

He wrote:  "...Lieutenant Read's  having made her such a terror to the Confederates in this quarter that justice to the service required me to keep her ...,"    He continued, she was "...absolutely necessary  to command the inland passage...."

For his part, Read was ready for any undertaking.    When he found "...two rebel steamers...at Pass Christian..." on  25 March 1862, the New London headed straight for the CSS Pamlico and CSS Oregon and drove them off to the protection of Confederate shore batteries. after a two-hour engagement.

--Old B-Runner

Abner Read, USN-- Part 3: Helped Save Fort Pickens and Took Command of the USS New London

Read was aboard the USS Supply in Pensacola, Florida,  when the secession crisis came after Abraham Lincoln was elected president.  The USS Wyandotte arrived and needed its hull scraped.  The steamer was short of officers since so many had resigned to cast their lots with the fledgling Confederacy so Read was sent to it.

In her, he helped prevent the Confederates from taking over Fort Pickens.  During this time, though, he fell sick and was sent home to recuperate.

Once recovered, he took over the newly acquired USS New  London on her commissioning 29 October 1861.  Assigned to the Gulf Squadron, he was stationed in Mississippi Sound where she was joined by the USS R.R. Cuyler.  They rook the schooner Olive  on 21 November 1861 with a load of lumber.

--Old B-R'er

Abner Read, USN-- Part 2: Service Aboard Many Ships

Continued from November 5.

Abner Read was born in Urbana, Ohio, and studied at Ohio University, but left before graduation to take a warrant as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy, effective 2 March 1839.  He was assigned to the schooner USS Enterprise in South American waters.  Next, he was on the ship of the line USS Delaware (this ship was burned at Norfolk Navy Yard on April 20, 1861, to prevent capture by Confederates).

After Navy School in Philadelphia, he spent time on the USS Dolphin searching for slavers off the coast of Africa through the summer of 1847.

Then he was on the store ship USS Fredonia at the end of the Mexican War and then to California during the gold rush.  Other duties were on the USS Union, USS Saranac, USS Falmouth and USS Supply.

--Old B-Runner

November 7, 1963: Confederate Guerrillas Attack Unprotected Steamer

NOVEMBER 7, 1863:  Merchant  steamer Allen Collier, with cargo of cotton, was burned by Confederate guerrillas at Whitworth's Landing, Mississippi, after she left the protection of the USS Eastport, Acting Ensign Sylvester Pool.

The uneasy quiet on the river required constant gunboat protection.

--Old B-Runner

Abner Read, USN-- Part 1: Had a WW II Destroyer Named After Him

I have been writing a lot about a World War II destroyer named after him in my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog last month and this month.  The ship had a 70-foot section of its stern blown off in 1943 which was just found this past summer.  It was later sunk by a kamikaze.

If you want to read more about it, click on My Blog List to the right of this.  I have decided to learn more about him.

From Wikipedia.

(5 April 1821 to 7 July 1863)

Was an officer in the Union Navy who distinguished himself during the Civil War.  He died of injuries received while patrolling the Mississippi River in the USS New London.  At the time of his death he was a lieutenant commander.

--Old B-Runner

USS Emma-- Part 3: At Both Battles of Fort Fisher

She remained with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the end of the war.  It participated in the destruction of the blockade runner Ella off Wilmington, N.C. on 6 December 1864.

It was also at the two battles of Fort Fisher, December 24 and 25, 1864, and January 13-15, 1865.

On 26  April 1865, the Emma sailed from Fort Caswell, N.C., with an urgent message for  from General William T. Sherman to Rear Admiral Dahlgren of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which warned the admiral that Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet had not been located and might be heading for Cuba.

The Emma then put into Key West before returning to the Carolina coast until 24 August when she went to Boston where she was decommissioned August 30 and sold in November.

She operated as the merchant steamer Gaspe from 1866 until her sinking near Miquelon Island (near Newfoundland) 14 June 1872.

--Old B-Runer

The Confederate States Naval Academy-- Part 2: Set Up Like USNA

In general, the curriculum, studies and discipline at the new school was patterned after that of the United States Naval Academy.  The training was truly realistic as the midshipmen were regularly called upon to take part in actual combat.

When they left  the academy they were seasoned veterans.

Commander John M. Brooke, CSN, wrote Navy Secretary Mallory about the midshipmen as follows:  "Though but from 14 to 18 years of age, they eagerly seek every opportunity presented for engaging in hazardous enterprises; and those who are sent upon them uniformly exhibit good discipline, conduct, and courage."

--Old B-Runner