December 30, 1864: Porter Demands Butler's Removal for Another Attack on Fort Fisher

DECEMBER 30TH, 1864:  Determined to take Wilmington  and close the South's last important harbor but dissatisfied with General Butler's leadership, Rear Admiral Porter strongly urged the general's removal  from command.

General Grant wrote Porter:  "Please hold on where you are  for a few days and I will endeavor to be back again with an increased force and without the former commander."

Ships of Porter's squadron kept up a steady bombardment of Fort Fisher to restrict the construction of new works and repair of the damaged faces of the fort.

--Old B-Runner

Talking About the CSS Richmond

From the December 27, 2019, Augusta Free Press "CSS Richmond steams into Pamplin Park."

Pamplin Historical  Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will welcome speakers Bill Walldrop and Mike Nusbaum Thursday, January 2 at 7 p.m..  They will be speaking before the Petersburg Civil War Round Table about the Confederate ironclad CSS Richmond.

They are divers and underwater archaeologists who have explored the remains of shipwrecks from the American Revolution and Civil War.  Both faced risks while exploring the wreck of the CSS Richmond in the James River by Richmond.

Ironclads revolutionized naval warfare and the CSS Richmond followed the famous CSS Virginia as a Confederate warship.    It was designed by naval architect John L. Porter and was launched May 6, 1862, and immediately had to leave Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, for its namesake city, Richmond before Federal forces occupied that navy yard.

It was completed at Richmond and joined the Confederate Navy's James River Squadron where it saw action in 1864 and 1865.  The Union breakthrough at Petersburg on April 2, 1865, caused the evacuation of that city and Richmond.  The fate of the Richmond was sealed the next day when she and the other Confederate ships were burned and sunk to prevent capture.

The two speakers have an hour-long video on the internet about their efforts with the CSS Richmond.

I would sure like to be at this meeting.

Well Worth Watching.  --Old B-Runner

Dec. 23-24, 1864-- Part 2: Explosion of Powder Ship USS Louisiana

Fort Fisher and its garrison, however,  were not measurably affected, although the blast was heard many miles away.  In fact, Colonel Lamb, the fort's commander, wrote in his diary:  "A blockader got aground near the fort, set fire to herself, and blew up."

It remained for the massed gunfire from ships of Porter's huge fleet, the largest ever assembled up to that time under the American flag, to cover the landings of troops and reduce the fort.

On paper, the powder ship experiment seemed to be a good idea.  Porter certainly thought it might come to something as I believe I heard somewhere that he had his ships remove themselves quite a bit further out to sea from where they usually would have been stationed for fear of destruction.

But, I also have to wonder why he picked then to explode the ship when U.S. troops were not in the vicinity for a landing.  I'm thinking he was hoping that if the venture worked, he could get the credit for capturing Fort Fisher.

One Just Has To Wonder.  --Old B-Runner

December 23-24, 1864-- Part 1: Powder Ship USS Louisiana Blown Up Off Fort Fisher

DECEMBER 23-24TH, 1864:  After many days of delay because of heavy weather. the powder ship USS Louisiana, Commander Rhind, towed by the USS Wilderness late at night, was anchored and blown up 250 yards off Fort Fisher, North Carolina.

After Rhind and his gallant crew set the fuses and a backup fire at the stern, they escaped by small boats to the Wilderness.  Rear Admiral Porter and General Butler, who was awaiting in Beaufort, N.C., to land his troops the next morning and storm Fort Fisher, placed great hope in the exploding powder ship, hope that Dahlgren, as an ordnance expert, no doubt disdained its success.

The clock mechanism failed to ignite the powder at the appointed time, 1:18 am, and after agonizing minutes waiting, the fire set by Rhind  in the stern of the Louisiana reached the powder and a tremendous explosion occurred.

Big Boom!  --Old B-Runner

CSS Tallahassee-- Part 2: Built for Chinese Opium Trade, Became a Blockade Runner

From Wikipedia.

The CSS Tallahassee was a twin screw iron steamer  and cruiser in the Confederate Navy, purchased in 1864, and used for commerce raiding off the U.S. Atlantic coast.  She later operated under the name of CSS Olustee and CSS Chameleon.

It was named after the capital of Florida and was built on the River Thames by J & W Dudgeon of Cubitt Town , London, for London, Chatham & Dover Railway Co. to the design of T.E. Symonds, ostensibly for the China opium trade.

She was previously the blockade runner Atalanta and made the Dover-Calais English Channel crossing in 77 minutes on an even keel.  The ship made several runs between Bermuda and Wilmington, N.C., as the Atalanta before the Confederacy bought her.

I am unable to find any information on a blockade runner named Atalanta.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Tallahassee-- Part 1: Ship of Many Names and Careers

From Wikipedia.

The CSS Tallahassee was a twin screw steamer (blockade runner) and cruiser used in the Confederate Navy.

It originally was the blockade runner Atalanta and then purchased by the Confederate Navy and renamed the CSS Tallahassee and became a cruiser preying on Northern shipping.

Late it became the CSS Olustee and went for a crusier under Lt. William Henry Ward and lastly, became a blockade runner again, this time named CSS Chameleon.

Chameleon was definitely a good name for the ship.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, USN

As I mentioned earlier, William Henry Ward was in the U.S. Navy until the Civil War.

From the Naval Historical Center U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Officers 1775-1900.

Midshipman  17 February 1849

Passed Midshipman   12 June 1855

Master  16 September 1855

Lieutenant  9 September 1856

Dismissed 16 July 1861

I was unable to learn anything more about his U.S. Navy service.

After this, he joined the Confederate Navy.

--Old B-Runner

December 16-17, 1864: Torpedoes Deactivated at New Inlet, N.C.in Preparation for Fort Fisher Attack

DECEMBER 16TH-17TH, 1864:    Acting Master Charles A. Pettit,  USS Monticello, performed a dangerous reconnaissance  off New Inlet, North Carolina,  removing several Confederate torpedoes and their firing apparatus near the base of Fort Caswell.

Pettit's expedition  was part of the Union navy's extensive preparations for the bombardment and assault on Fort Fisher and the defenses of Wilmington, planned for late December.

I believe this should have been listed as being at Fort Fisher which is by New Inlet.  Fort Caswell is by Old Inlet.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward Grave

From CS Navy.org. 

His grave is located in Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina.

Sadly, in an unmarked grave  Lot 31,  Square 36.

Service:

CSS Louisiana
Ponchartrain
Richmond
CSS Palmetto State
CSS Tallahassee
CSS Chickamauga

Died 17 April 1920

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward-- Part 4: After the War Served in Egypt

In the service of the Khedive of Egypt, 870, as lieutenant colonel of Marines, on a pay rate of 1,066 francs.

Served in the Egyptian Army for nearly ten years.

Returned to the United States about 1882

Died at Norfolk, Virginia,  April 15, 1892.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, CSN-- Part 3: A Prisoner Three Times

Ward's vessel, the CSS Chickamauga was destroyed after the capture of Fort Fisher as an obstruction in the Cape Fear River.

After that, he returned to the Richmond Station once more and took command of the guns below Drewry's Bluff.

He was captured during the Confederate retreat at the Battle of Saylor's Creek, Virginia, on April 6, 1865 and sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio, and released after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

But. His Service Wasn't Over.  --Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, CSN-- Part 2 Ironclad and Cruiser Duty

Captured at New Orleans in April 1862 and sent to Fort Warren as a prisoner for the second time in two years.

Exchanged after two months and proceeded to the Richmond Station for service aboard the CSS Richmond.

Applied for more active service and sent to Charleston Station to report for duty on the CSS Palmetto State in 1863.

Returned to the Richmond Station and shortly afterwards was sent to the Wilmington Station.

Next served as executive officer under Lt. John Taylor Wood on the cruiser CSS Tallahassee in 1864.

Subsequently transferred to the command of the cruiser CSS Chickamauga, December 1864.

--Old B-Runner

December 11, 1864: Confederates Have a New Secret Weapon

DECEMBER 11TH, 1864:  Commander George H. Preble, commanding the Naval Brigade fighting ashore with the forces of Major General Foster up the Broad River, South Carolina, reported to Rear Admiral Dahlgren concerning a unique "explosive ball" used by the Confederate forces against his skirmishers.

"It is a conical ball in shape, like an ordinary rifle bullet.  The pointed end is charged with fulminate.  The base of the ball separates from the conical end, and has a leaden  standard or plunger.  The explosion of the charge drives the base up, so as to flatten a thin disk of metal between it and the ball, the leaden plunger is driven against the fulminate, and it explodes the ball....

"It seems to me that the use of such a missile is an unnecessary addition to the barbarities of war."

Quite a confusing explanation but sure sounds like something to avoid.

--Old B-Runner

William Henry Ward, CSN-- Part 1: Former U.S. Navy Officer, Two-Time Prisoner at Fort Warren

In my October 29 post I wrote that he was in command of the CSS Olustee (CSS Tallahassee) when he eluded blockaders off Wilmington, N.C. and went on a commerce destroying mission along the Atlantic coast.

From the North Carolina Civil War Sailors Project site.

In 1861, resided in Norfolk, Virginia.    He had previous service in the U.S. Navy and was arrested for disloyalty and sent to Fort Fort Lafayette, New York August 31, 1861, and then to Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, until paroled and exchanged in January 1862.

An official Navy document has him being appointed as an acting sailing master in the Confederate Navy on October 21, 1861, at Tallahassee, Florida,  and was ordered to report to New Orleans  and report to Captain George N. Hollins for duty.

Served aboard the CSS Louisiana and appointed lieutenant March 13, 1862.  He was captured on the Mississippi River April 1862 and sent as a prisoner to Fort Warren again.

Same Old, Same Old.  --Old B-R'er

Butler's Powder Ship, the USS Louisiana- Part 6: Explosion Was a Failure, But Fort Fisher Later Captured

In the last post on Dec. 6, we saw that the explosion of the gun powder-laden USS Louisiana did not have the hoped for result of literally knocking the huge Confederate Fort Fisher down.  No damage was done, other than at least some of the garrison being awakened.

Later that day, the huge Union fleet, the largest collection of American warships ever assembled up until that time, opened the largest-ever bombardment on the fort which continued for two days before the attack on the fort was aborted.

Three weeks later, the fleet returned and another huge three-day bombardment ensued before Union army troops captured the fort.

In 1994, state underwater archaeologists and students from East Carolina University conducted a survey off  Fort Fisher .  Many Civil War wrecks were mapped, but none of those remains could be associated with the Louisiana.

--Old B-Runner

Marine Corps Honors Oldest Pearl Harbor Survivor John Campbell, 99, in Solana Beach, California

From December 6, CBS 8 News.

A Pearl Harbor Day luncheon commemoration was held at the La Vida retirement home.

He knows he is one of the few surviving members of that day still alive and that number gets smaller every year.  The exact number of survivors is not known, but the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper estimates the number at seven.  I imagine that number is how many in the San Diego area.

"It was a Sunday morning," Mr. Campbell said.  "It's a mystery, all day and all night.  What is this?  What happened?  What is going on?  But we knew they were real bullets.  One guy on each side of me got wounded."

He has written a memoir "The Campbells Are Coming."

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Commemoration to Continue, Despite Death of Last Survivor in Inland Northwest

From the December 6, 2019, Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington) "Pearl Harbor commemoration to continue in Inland Northwest despite deaths of aging survivors" by Kip Hill.

The death of Ray Garland, 96, the last surviving survivor in April this year will not stop the commemoration of the event.

The Lilac City Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association living in the Spokane  and north Idaho area once numbered near 100 members.  They would travel to schools, churches, bookstores to talk about their experiences.

For years, Vina Mikkelsen, 88, has been organizing these commemorations on behalf of her husband Denis, a U.S. navy radioman at Pearl Harbor on the USS West Virginia, who died in 2013.

And They Go On.  --GreGen

It's a Christmas Open House at the Fort: Fort Fisher

From the Friends of Fort Fisher.

This Saturday, December 7 (don't forget Pearl Harbor day.) at the fort.


10 a.m. to 3p.m.

9 a.m.--  Visitors Center opens.
10 a.m.--  Make and take an ornament--  kids craft

10 a.m.--  Music and story telling with John Golden.
11:30 a.m.--  Cannon firing

12 noon--  Music by Masonboro Quintet
1 p.m.--  Cannon firing

1:30 p.m.--  Fort Fisher Assistant Site Manager John Mosely will present the history of Santa Claus.
2:30--  Cannon firing

All Day--  Discounts and specials in the gift shop.  EVERYTHING'S on SALE!!!

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.--  Refreshments courtesy of the Fort Fisher United Daughters of the Confederacy.

As usual, too far away for me to attend.

--Old B-Runner

Butler's Powder Ship, the USS Louisiana-- Part 5: The Effort to Blow Up

Once off Fort Fisher, the USS Wilderness took up the tow .

Commander Alexander Rhind and a volunteer crew prepared to attack.  The Wilderness towed the Louisiana toward Fort Fisher, but were turned back by heavy swells.  Worsening weather caused the attack fleet to be unable to leave Beaufort so the first attack was called off.

The final attempt was made December 23, 1864, when the Wilderness brought the Louisiana in as close as it could to Fort Fisher late in the evening.  The Louisiana had been set up with a series of fuses to explode her, but, just in case, Rhind and his men set a fire aft, then escaped in small boats to the Wilderness.

Then came an anxious wait until 1:18 24 December, when the fuses were set to blow.  The effort had failed.  But wait!!!  The small fire they had set aft managed to burn its way fore to the powder and the Louisiana finally blew up.

Unfortunately, the whole effort failed.  No damage was done to the fort, where the garrison thought a blockade runner had run aground and blown up.


--A Failure, But a Good Idea.  --Old B-Runner

Butler's Powdership, the USS Louisiana-- Part 4: "Blowing Up" Fort Fisher

With the impending fall of Charleston, S.C., Wilmington, N.C. became the port to which foreign weapons and trade could proceed and it became the target of General Butler and Admiral Porter.  They had a plan to try to blow up a ship full of explosives with enough force to knock the bug sand fort over.

Wilmington was guarded by the huge sand fort named Fort Fisher.

O 26 November 1864, contrary to the beliefs from naval ordnance experts that it wouldn't work, the USS Louisiana was designated as the ship to carry all that powder and in early December, she proceeded to Hampton Roads  to be partially stripped and made to look like a blockade runner and then was laden with explosives.

She left Hampton Roads on December 13, towed by the USS Sassacus and went to Beaufort, N.C.,  where the loading of powder was completed and five days later, arrived off Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner

December 3, 1864: Defending Savannah

DECEMBER 3RD, 1864:  As Union pressure on Savannah increased, the Confederate squadron under Captain W.W. Hunter, CSN, played an increasing role in the defense of the city and the important railway above it.

This date, Hunter wrote Lieutenant Joel S. Kennard, CSS Macon:  "The Charleston and Savannah Railway bridge at Savannah River is a very important point to defend, and, should it become necessary, endeavor to be in position there to defend it.

"In order to do so, and also to patrol the Savannah River, watch carefully the state of the river, and to not be caught aground or be cut off from the position at the bridge."

--Old B-Runner

Butler's Steamship Greyhound: The End

Admiral Porter described the Greyhound in his memoirs as deserving "her name, for she was a long, lean-looking craft and the fastest steamer on the river."

But it was not the fastest steamer for much longer.

Porter continued in his memoirs and wrote about her last voyage, a few miles below Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, "a torpedo" blew out the engine room and set the ship afire, the admiral, general, their staffs and crew  barely escaping as the Greyhound was "wrapped in flames from one end to another" in a final"grand spectacle."

Some Southern saboteurs had planted one or more torpedoes in the bunkers disguised as chunks of coal, which the stokers dutifully shoveled into the fires.

Very Sneaky.  --Old B-Runner

Butler's Steamer Greyhound, the Belle, "Captain Henry" and the Admiral

The USS Connecticut's crew also recognized "Captain Henry"as being a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, now lieutenant in the Confederate Navy, George Henry Bier.

The Connecticut sent the Greyhound to Boston with a prize crew under the command of Acting Ensign Samuel Harding, Jr., USN.  However, Lt. Biel was able to get Harding tohelp him escape from Boston to Canada.  For this, Harding was dismissed from the Navy in disgrace, but was later able to get to England where he married Belle Boyd.  (Makes you wonder about this arrangement.)

The Greyhound and its cargo was assessed at $484,000 in prize money which no doubt pleased the Connecticut's crew.  That was a lot of prize money.

Some sources believe that this was the ship that became General Butler's headquarters on the James River in late fall 1864.  On her, Butler visited Admiral Porter at Dutch Gap.  The Greyhound was faster than the admiral's USS Malvern at the time and they went to Fortress Monroe to consult with Assistant Secretary Gustavus V. Fox.

--Old B-Runner