April 30, 1864: Confederate Naval Forces in Virginia and North Carolina

APRIL 30TH, 1864:

Secretary Mallory reported on existing Confederate naval strength on the East Coast in Virginia and North Carolina

James River, Flag Officer French Forest:  eight ships mounting 17 guns in commission, including school ship Patrick Henry.

Inland waters of North Carolina, Commander Robert F. Pinkney, two commissioned ships mounting 4 guns.

Cape Fear River, under Flag Officer William F. Lynch, three ships and a floating battery in commission mounting a total of 12 guns.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Lexington-- Part 1: Timberclad Bought By U.S. Navy

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I mentioned this ship being one of the two who helped turn Shiloh into a Union victory.

The USS Lexington was a Timberclad ship.  (Instead of iron, they were clad in thick wood.)  It was built as a sidewheel ship in 1861 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and purchased  by the U.S. Navy and converted into a gunboat at Cincinnati under the direction of Commander John Rodgers.

It joined the Western Flotilla at Cairo, Illinois, 12 August 1861.

It was 177 feet long and had a 34-foot beam and was armed with four 8-inch Dahlgren smoothbores and two 32-pdr. guns.

--Old B-Runner

U.S. Navy at Battle of Shiloh: USS Lexington and USS Tyler

Today, the McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table is having our monthly discussion group meeting in Crystal Lake at Panera Bread from 10 am to noon.  Today's topic:  the Battle of Shiloh.

Since I am a big Navy buff, I will definitely bring this aspect of the battle up at some point.

The two Navy ships were the USS Tyler and USS Lexington, both converted commercial craft.  When things were at their bleakest for Union forces, these two ships opened fire on advancing Confederates at the river and beyond and stymied the advance.

General Grant sure owed them a big thanks.

--Old B-Runner

N.C. Sesquicentennial, April 1864: Siege and Capture of Plymouth by Confederates and CSS Albemarle

All events in eastern part of state unless (West).

APRIL 17-20--  Engagement, Siege and Capture of Plymouth and Fort Williams, with the aid of ironclad CSS Albemarle (Hoke),  Sinking of the USS Southfield by Albemarle  --  Operations in defense of Plymouth, including naval  actions.  Casualties roughly 2,834 on both sides.

APRIL 21-- Destruction of Confederate salt works at Masonboro  Inlet, near Wilmington.

APRIL  25--  Skirmish at Plymouth.

APRIL 26-30--  Confederate siege of Washington and Federal evacuation.

APRIL 27-28--  Skirmishes at Washington.

APRIL 27-29--  Affair at Masonboro Inlet between USS Niphon and Confederate batteries, near Wilmington.

APRIL 29-30--  Expedition from Newport Barracks to Swansborough.

--Old B-Runner

Mallory Reports the Squib Attack

Extract from Mallory's April 30, 1864, report regarding the attack in the Official Records Navy.

"On the night of the 9th instant, Lieutenant Commanding Hunter Davidson, in command of the torpedo boat Squib, with six officers and men, ran through the enemy's fleet off Newport News, attacked the flagship Minnesota, exploding a torpedo against her, and returned in safety under a heavy fire.

"The extent of the injury inflicted upon the ship has not yet been ascertained, but is believed to be serious.  The cool daring, professional skill, and judgement  exhibited by Lieutenant  Davidson in this  hazardous enterprise merit high commendation and confer honor upon the service of which he is a member."

Honors and Promotion to the Good Lieutenant.  --Old B-Runner

April 23, 1864: The Alabama Captures and Destroys the Rockingham Off Cape Verde Islands

APRIL 23RD, 1864:   The CSS Alabama, Captain Semmes, captured and destroyed the ship Rockingham with cargo of guano at sea west of the Cape Verde Islands.

Semmes said of the capture:  "It was an old spectacle of the panting, breathless fawn, and the inexorable stag-hound.  A gun brought his colors to the peak, and his main-yard to the mast ...,  We transferred to the Alabama such stores and provisions as we could make room for, and the weather being fine, we made a target of the prize, firing some shot and shell into her with good effect and at five p.m. we burned her and filled away on our course."

Ominously, during his gunnery practice, many of the Alabama's shells failed to explode.

--Old B-Runner

USS Monitor Still in the News

From the April 11, 2019, Hampton Roads (Va.) Daily Press  "Notes and Notables:  Area codes, local history and local shopping."

HISTORY AROUND US

When the gun turret from the ironclad ship USS Monitor was pulled up from the Atlantic on August 5, 2002, one historian compared its significance to that of the Apollo 11 module that delivered Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the lunar surface.

That's how much the rotating turret --  which sunk with the rest of the Monitor off the coast of North Carolina at the end of 1862 --  changed the rules and strategies of naval warfare.

That 120-ton turret now  sits at the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, along with the ship's anchor, propeller and thousands of smaller artifacts that have been retrieved.  A painstakingly meticulous conservation effort continues on the turret --  this past week it was lifted about two inches so that the 17-year-old support apparatus could be replaced with a new one that will provide better access.

That Monitor.  What A Ship.  --Old Secesh

April 9, 1864, Squib Attack on USS Minnesota-- Part 4: How To Keep Those Pesky Torpedo Boats Away

The concern caused by the attack on the USS Minnesota, coming so soon after Confederate submarine Hunley had sunk the USS Housatonic was widespread.  William Winthrop, U.S. Consul at Malta, wrote Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward  (was he a relation of William Seward?) concerning precautions recommended for the future.

"In these days of steam and torpedoes, you may rest assured that outlying picket boats and a steam tug at all hours ready to move are not sufficient protection for our ships of war, where a squadron is at anchor.  They require something more, and this should be in  having their own boats rowing round all night, so that in a measure every ship could protect itself.

"If this precaution be not taken, any vessel in a dark and foggy night could be blown out of the water, even while a watchful sentry on board might still have his cry of "all's well' yet on his lips as the fiendish act was accomplished."

--Old B-Runner

April 9, 1864, Torpedo Boat Squib Attacks USS Minnesota-- Part 3:

Little damage resulted, though "the shock was quite severe."  Nevertheless, as Confederate Secretary of the Navy Mallory later said of the attack:  "The cool daring, professional skill, and judgement exhibited by Lieutenant Davidson in this hazardous enterprise merits high commendation and confer honor upon upon a service of which he is a member."

As the Minnesota reeled under the blow, the fate of the seven Southerners aboard the Squib was gravely imperiled, for their tiny craft was sucked under the port quarter of the Union ship.    As the Minnesota rolled back to port, however, Curtis reported, "the pressure of the water shoved us off."

But they were still so close to the Minnesota, that Curtis leaped on the torpedo boat's forward deck and pushed against the Union ship to get the small craft clear.

The Squib escaped under heavy musket fire.  The nearby Union tug Poppy did not have steam up and could not pursue the Confederate boat which withdrew safely up the James River.

Davidson, a pioneer in torpedo warfare, was promoted to commander for his "gallant and meritorious conduct."

--Old B-Runner

April 9, 1864, Confederate Torpedo Boat Squib Attacks USS Minnesota-- Part 2

Continued from April 9, 2019.

This happened off Newport News, Virginia.

The USS Minnesota (one of the most powerful ships in the Union Navy) attempted to open fire, but the distance between the two ships being so close, her guns could not be brought to bear.

The Squib rammed her powder charge of more than fifty pounds into the Minnesota's port quarter.

The log of the Minnesota recorded:  "... a tremendous explosion followed."  John Curtis, second in command of the Squib,  wrote that he closed his eyes at the moment of impact,  "opening them in about a second, I think, I never beheld such a sight before nor since.  The air was filled with port shutters and water from the explosion, and the heavy ship was rolling to the starboard, and the officer of the deck was giving orders to save yourselves and cried out 'Torpedo, torpedo!' "

--Old B-Runner

Putting My Flags Out Today In Honor of the Doolittle Raiders

Today marks the 77th anniversary of an event that, though it didn't change the course of the war between Japan and the United States, it had a huge impact on the morale of both sides.

Sixteen American B-25 bombers took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and launched a surprise attack on the Japanese homeland.

If the Japanese could launch a surprise aircraft carrier attack on the U.S. at Pearl Harbor five months earlier, the United States could repay the favor.  Doolittle's Raiders did some damage, but not a lot.

But, this was huge for American morale as we had little to cheer about at this point.  It was one defeat and loss after another in the Pacific and U-boats prowling off the east  and Gulf coasts were sinking ships on a regular basis.

For the Japanese, it was an awakening that they were not safe from the Americans.

The last member of the Doolittle Raiders, Richard Cole, died nine days ago, at age 103.

--GreGen

April 17, 1864: Confederates Attack Plymouth, North Carolina

APRIL 17TH, 1864:  Confederate troops launched a sustained attack on Plymouth, North Carolina.  Union gunboats moved to support their troops ashore and were promptly taken under fire bu the Southern batteries.  Next day, the fighting at Plymouth intensified as the Confederates pressed  the assault.

The Union Army steamer Bombshell, commanded temporarily by Acting Ensign Thomas B. Stokes, was sunk during the action, but at 9 o'clock in the evening, the Southern advance had been halted.

Lieutenant Commander Flusser reported:  "The Southfield and Miami took part and the general says our firing was admirable,"  The Southern attack required naval support in order to achieve success, and Flusser added meaningfully:  "The ram [Albemarle] will be down to-night or to-morrow."

--Old B-R'er

W.H.C. Whiting Announces Completion of C. Lookout Lighthouse-- Part 3

The color of the tower is red, and the focal plane is 156 feet above the level of the sea.

The keeper's dwelling, which is part of the old tower, is painted red with  white horizontal stripes.

The illuminating apparatus  is a catadioptric Frensel lens of the first order, showing a fixed light of the natural color, which should be visible in ordinary weather a distance of 22 nautical miles.

The position of the light-house, as given by the Coast Survey, is:

Latitude 34 degrees 30 minutes 29 seconds north
Longitude  76 degrees 30 minutes 41 seconds west of Greenwich

The new light-house will be lighted for he first time at sunset  on Tuesday, the first day of November next, and it will be kept burning  during that and every night thereafter until further orders.

By  order of the Light-house Board:

W.R. FRANKLIN, Secretary

Treasury Department
Office Light-house Board, Sept. 19, 1859
Sep 24-3t

Of course, it was turned off less than two years later.  So, the original color was red, instead of the diamonds associated with it today.

--Old B-Runner

W.H.C. Whiting Announces Completion of Cape Lookout Lighthouse-- Part 2: We'll Leave the Light On for You

An announcement about the completion of the North Carolina lighthouse was run in several newspapers.  The one below is from the September 28, 1859, issue of the  the Constitution, a newspaper from the District of Columbia.  It is a notice from W.H.C. Whiting, Corps of Engineers of the United States Army that the lighthouse was fully complete.

OFFICIAL

NOTICE TO MARINERS
________

CAPE LOOKOUT LIGHT-HOUSE, COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA

Fixed Light

Official information has been received at this office from Captain W.H.C. Whiting, corps of engineers United States army, that the new light-house at Cape Lookout has been completed.

The tower is a frustum of a cone.  It is built of brick, and is surmounted by  an iron lantern painted black.

--Old B-Runner

W.H.C. Whiting Announces the Completion of the Cape Lookout Light-House-- Part 1

From NCGENWEB PROJECT  October 10, 2009, "Cape Lookout Lighthouse Anniversary."  By Taneya Koonce.  Family researcher Mark Green posted about this .  His ancestor Joseph Fulford donated the land for the lighthouse back in 1805.

October 10, 2009, marks the 150th anniversary of the second (and still current) lighthouse which was built under the auspices of Captain W.H.C. Whiting, Corps of Engineers of the United States Army.

That would be our W.H.C. Whiting of Wilmington and Fort Fisher fame.

--Old B-Runner

Destruction of the Cape Lookout (NC) Lighthouse-- Part 2:

They failed to bring the light house down, but did significant damage to it.  L.C. Harland's attempt destroyed the light house oil supply and damaged the iron stairs on the interior.  With iron unavailable during the war, the damaged sections of iron were replaced with wooden ones.

The Fresnel lenses from all over North Carolina were found at Raleigh in 1865.    The lenses were shipped back to their original manufacturers to be checked out and repaired.

In 1867, the temporary wooden stairs were replaced with iron ones and the original  first-order Frensel  lens was reinstalled.

In 1873, it was painted in its distinctive black and white diagonal, checkerboard, or diamond, pattern.

--Old B-Runner

Destruction of Cape Lookout (NC) Lighthouse April 2, 1864-- Part 1

I mentioned this in the last post.

This lighthouse was designed and construction overseen by Captain W.H.C. Whiting, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the cost of $45,000 and lit November 1, 1859.  It was the second lighthouse at the site and it still stands.

It had a first-order Fresnel Lens which allowed the light to shine brighter.  On May 20, 1861, North Carolina seceded from the United States.  All lenses were removed from coastal lighthouses as well as navigational beacons to prevent Union forces from using them to navigate southern coasts.

Union forces captured Beaufort and Morehead City, N.C. in  1862 and by the end of the the next year they had a 3rd-order Fresnel Lens installed in the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

On April 2, 1864, a small group of Confederates under the command of L.C. Harland were able to get out to the lighthouse with intent to destroy it.  They failed.

--Old B-R'er

N.C. Sesquicentennial April 1864-- Part 1: A Lighthouse Destroyed

From the N.C. Civil War Sesquicentennial 150 site.  Timeline.

All events are in the eastern part of North Carolina unless otherwise noted.

APRIL 1--  Skirmish near Plymouth.

APRIL 2--  Affair at Cape Lookout.  Destruction of the lighthouse there.

APRIL 5--  Affair near Blount's Creek.

APRIL 10--  Montrevail Ray and 75 bushwhackers raid Burnsville in Yancey County.    Plundering in Watauga County by Vaughn's Confederate cavalry.   (WEST)

APRIL 17--  Skirmish at Beaver Creek.

--Old B-Runner

Richard E. Cole, Doolittle Raider (1915 - 2019)

From Wikipedia.

Richard Eugene Cole (September 7, 1915 - April 9, 2019)

A career officer in the United States Air Force.  He was one of the airmen who took part in the Doolittle Raid, April 18, 1942, serving as the co-pilot to Jimmy Doolittle in the lead airplane on the raid.  He eventually reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Cole remained in China after the raid until June 1943, and served again in the China Burma India Theater from  October 1943 until June 1944.  He later served as Operations Advisor to the Venezuelan Air Force from 1959-1962.  He retired from the Air Force in 1916 and became the last surviving Doolittle Raider in 2016.

April 9, 1864: Confederate Torpedo Boat Squib Attacks the USS Minnesota-- Part 1

APRIL 9TH, 1864:    Confederate torpedo boat Squib, Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, , successfully exploded a spar torpedo against large steam frigate USS Minnesota, Lieutenant Commander John H. Upshur, off Newport News, Virginia.

The Squib was described by Acting Master John A. Curtis, second in command of the torpedo boat, as being constructed of wood, "about thirty-five feet long, five feet wide, drew three feet of water, two feet freeboard; designed by Hunter Davidson....  The boiler and engine were encased with iron; forward of the boiler was the cockpit, where the crew stood and from where we steered her."

The attack, described by a Northern naval officer observer as "a deed as daring as it was vicious", took place about two o'clock in the morning.  The officer of the deck saw a small 150 to 200 yards off, just forward of the port beam.

To his hail, the Confederate answered "Roanoke."  Acting Ensign James  Birtswistle ordered her to stay clear.  Davidson answered "aye, aye!"    Although Birtswistle could discern no visible means of propulsion, the small Confederate boat continued to close the Minnesota rapidly.

And, Then....  --Old B-Runner

The Dram Tree on the Cape Fear River-- Part 2 "A Cup of Conviviality"

As State Representative George L. Morton put it in 1909, the Dram Tree "umpired loving cup conviviality and good fellowship on the Lower Cape Fear."

The Dram Tree was destroyed sometime in the 1940s by the dredging of the Cape Fear in connection with activity at the N.C. Shipbuilding Co. (built over 240 Liberty Ships during WW II) located where the State Port is today.

In 1988, the City of Wilmington opened Dram Tree Park in its memory, on the river front, just north of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge near the intersection of Castle and Front streets, Wilmington.

A young cypress tree was planted as a replica near the park's boat ramp.

And, you just know those old blockade-runners stopped for a dram by that tree.

A Tree of History.  A Drink for Me.  --Old B-R'er

The Dram Tree On the Cape Fear River-- Part 1: A Tradition Thing

I wrote about it in my last post and then realized most readers would not know what I was talking about so here's the stuff.

From the March 9, 2009, Wilmington (NC) Star-News My Reporter  "What is the Dram Tree?"  by Ben Steelman.

The Dram Tree was a bent, somewhat straggly cypress tree, covered with Spanish moss, that stood several yards out in the Cape Fear River, at a marshy patch on the east bank, near the present location of the State Port and the Sunset neighborhood.  Type in Dram Tree Cape Fear River to your search and see it.

CardCow has a nice postcard of it.

It was a landmark to mariners from Colonial times.  Passing it meant that vessels had successfully passed the dangerous Frying Pan Shoals at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.  Tradition had ships pausing near this tree and sailors were allowed a dram of rum, grog (watered-down rum) or some other alcoholic beverage to toast success from a voyage or a safe return if outgoing.

--Old B-Runner

It's A Wilmington Book Thing, Dram Tree Books

Wilmington, North Carolina publisher Dram Tree Books, named after the famous nautical tree on the Cape Fear River, which published many books of local interest, closed shop in 2010, but now will be reopening in 2019.

Jack Fryar ran it then, but now he will be reopening it with Chris Fonvielle Jr, recently retired from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.  He has written numerous books on items of Wilmington interest, especially the Civil War and Fort Fisher.  I doubt that anyone knows more about Fort Fisher.

Perhaps Dram Tree Books will be publishing some more of his books.

--Old B-Runner

Park Day 2019 at Fort Fisher Saturday, April 6

Looking for something to do in southeast North Carolina tomorrow, April 6, and for a good cause?

Head on out to Kure Beach, all the way down to near the end of US Highway 421 on Federal Point, also known as Pleasure Island these days.

And that place you'd be going is Fort Fisher, my number one favorite Civil War place.  I'd sure love to be there, but alas, it is a question of way too many miles between there and here for me in northeastern Illinois.

From 8:30 to noon, they'll put you to work (no pay but you'll feel good to be doing some hood).

Be sure to wear comfortable work clothing and gave a pair of gloves

A luncheon will be provided from Michelangelo's Pizza and participants will get a free Park Day tee-shirt.

For more information, call 910-251-7342.

This is put on by the Friends of Fort Fisher and the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.

Sure'd Like To Be There, But.  --Old Secesh

April 4, 1864: USS Sciota Captures Blockade Runner

APRIL 4TH, 1864:  The USS Sciota, Lieutenant Commander Perkins, captured schooner Mary Sorley attempting to run the blockade at Galveston with a cargo of cotton.  She had previously been the U.S. Revenue Cutter Dodge, seized by the Confederates at Galveston at the war's outbreak.

--Old B-Runner

Update on the Last Post, 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery

In the last post, I wrote about the formation of this group.

From the Lest We Forget, African American Military History.

14th U.S. COLORED HEAVY ARTILLERY

Organized at New Bern and Morehead City, N.C. from the  1st North Carolina  Colored Heavy Artillery March 17, 1864.  Attached to the Defenses of New Bern, N.C., Department of Virginia and North Carolina, to January 1865.

Sub-District of New Bern, Department of North Carolina, Sub-District of  Beaufort,  Dept. of  North Carolina to December 1865.

SERVICE:   Garrison duty at New Bern and other points in the Department of North Carolina till December 1865.  Mustered out December 11, 1865.

--Old B-R'er

March 1864 Events in N.C.-- Part 2: Black Artillery Unit Organized and Skirmishes

All of these took place in the eastern part of the state.

MARCH  17--  14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery organized at New Bern and Morehead City from the  1st North Carolina  Heavy Artillery, African Descent (Union).

MARCH  24-26--  Boat expedition to Swansborough and Bear Creek.

MARCH  25-26--  Expedition to Bogue and Bear Inlets.

MARCH 26--  Skirmish near Blackjack Church.

MARCH 26-  Skirmish at Ivy Bend.

--Old B-Runner

March Events in N.C. Capture of Three Blockade Runners and Sinking of USS Peterhoff

From North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial, Timeline.

MARCH 1--  Capture of British steamer Scotia 85 miles SSE of Cape Fear.

MARCH 1-2--  Naval expedition up the Chowan River to rescue Army steamer Bombshell.

MARCH 4--  Capture of British steamer Don, inbound for Wilmington, 5 days out of Nassau.  Ralph Chandler, who I wrote about last week, commanded this vessel as a U.S. Navy ship after the war.

MARCH 6--  Capture of blockade runner Mary Ann outbound from Wilmington, bound for Nassau.

MARCH 6--  USS Peterhoff sunk by  Confederate artillery (and a collision with the USS Monticello) off Smith's Island, Cape Fear.

--Old B-Runner