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