Big Civil War Cannon Destroyed at Battle Creek Michigan 100 Years Ago-- Part 3

Continued from July 23 and 26.

The cannon was used as a war memorial at the Oak Hill Cemetery for years afterwards and was the focal point of Decoration (Memorial) Day observances for may years before World War I.

It featured a plaque that read:

"This gun was in service on the Cumberland (USS Cumberland which was sunk by the CSS Virginia the day before its fight against the USS Monitor) during the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack.  Mounted here by Farragut Post No. 32, Department of Michigan, G.A.R. in commemoration of  the heroic services of Union soldiers and sailors during the Civil War."

(Should have been listed as on the USS Minnesota.

Shortly after Frank Kellogg's death, the gun was donated  to a scrap metal drive.

The story goes that it was removed from the cemetery grounds and loaded into a railway  truck using a ten-ton crane.  But the crane and truck  both overturned.  All had to be donated to the scrap drive.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Civil War Markers in Wilmington, N.C. Area Are Down

From the August 20, 2020, Wilmington (NC) Star-News  Photos:  Wilmington-area   historic markers in need of repair.

At least eight area state highway markers  have been damaged, stolen or knocked down and are waiting to be replaced.  Some by the recent hurricane.  None of these have been done in by BLM.  Thanks, BLM.

These are North Carolina's "History On a Stick" markers.

**  The now vacant post where W.H.C. Whiting  highway historical marker by Fort Fisher was before it was blown down by Hurricane Isaias in August 2020.

It read:  "D 104 /  W.H.C. WHITING /  1824-1865 /  Confederate major general and engineer.  He devised the Cape Fear defense system.  Wounded nearby in fall of fort.  Died in Union hospital."

**  The Fort Fisher state highway historical marker was blown down during Hurricane Isaias and is still missing.  It was located in Fort Fisher.

It read:  "D 12 /  FORT FISHER /  Built by Confederacy.  Its fall Jan. 15, 1865, closed Wilmington., last important  southern port for blockade running."

**  Fort Caswell state highway historical marker was knocked down after Hurricane Florence in 2018 and remains missing.

It read:  "D 8  /  FORT CASWELL  /  Named for Gov. Caswell.  Begun by U.S. in 18226; seized by N.C. troops, 1861; abandoned by Confederates , 1865.  Stands five miles southeast.

Let's Get Those Markers Back Up Again.  You Must Know Your History.  --Old B-Runner

Two U.S. Navy Ships Were Named After Confederate Admirals

From Civil War Talk.

There was discussion about a photograph of Captain Franklin Buchanan, CSN, and Captain Josiah Tattnall CSN sitting together.

One comment was from a person saying he was stationed on the USS Tattnall (DDG-19) while in the Navy.  He also said his ship's sister ship was the USS Semmes (DDG-18).  Both were guided missile destroyers.

The Tattnall was commissioned in 1963 and decommissioned in 1991.

The Semmes was commissioned in 1962 and decommissioned in 1991.

Actually, if these two ships were still commissioned in the U.S. Navy today, there now would be a good chance their names would be changed.

Looking at the pictures of these two ships, I have to say that back then, they still looked like destroyers, whereas the new destroyers, or littoral combat ships, look quite a bit like  Confederate ironclads.

--Old B-Runner

Southport/Smithville, N.C. History-- Part 3: Named For Benjamin Smith

Present-day Southport was founded as the town of Smithville in 1792.  Joshua Potts had requested the formation of a town adjacent to Fort Johnston, and the North Carolina General Assembly formed a commission of five men to administer its founding.

It was named for Benjamin Smith, a colonel in the Continental Army during the American revolution and later a governor of North Carolina.  Smithville grew up as a fishing village and since it supported military activity with its Fort Johnston, it was the county seat of Brunswick County from 1808 to 1977.

In an effort to promote  the town as a major shipping port, Smithville was renamed Southport in 1887.  Smithville Township, in which Southport is located, and other local landmarks like the cemetery continue to use the name Smithville.

The renaming of Smithville as Southport did not bring about its aim and it did not become a major sea port.  But, Southport is now known for its relaxed atmosphere and Victorian-era seaside charm.

--Old B-Southport

"Beast" Butler Is Topic of MCCWRT Discussion Group This Saturday, August 22

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will have a discussion group meeting this Saturday, August 22, at the Panera Bread Co. store at 451 S. Randall Road in Algonquin, Illinois, from 10 am to noon or thereabouts.

It will be outside and everyone needs to wear a mask at all times unless eating or drinking.  You know, that virus-thingie.

This month's topi is "The Beast."  That would be Union General Benjamin Butler, a real character during the war.  I put the meeting in my Civil War Navy blog because of his command at the First Battle of Fort Fisher.  But, he also held commands at New Orleans and Newport News.

Everyone is welcome.  Come on by.

The "Beast."  --Old B-Runner

Southport/Smithville, North Carolina: The History-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

The area where Southport is located, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina was  explored as early as the 1500s by Spanish explorers.  During the 18th century, British settlements along the Carolina coast lacked  fortifications to protect against pirates and privateers and there were numerous Spanish incursions as well.

In response to these attacks, Royal Governor Gabriel Johnston, in 1744, appointed a committee to best select the site for a fort to protect the Cape Fear River region.  It was determined that the site would be near the mouth of the river where the fort was eventually constructed.

During that same year, France declared war on Britain, later known as King George's War, increasing the need for a fort.  At the same time, Spanish privateer raids increased on the American colonies. As a result, the North Carolina General Assembly authorized the construction of "Johnston's Fort" in April 1745, which would become known as Fort Johnston, the name it carried into the Civil War.

The governor of South Carolina agreed to lend ten small cannons to the fort and the legislature in , in the spring of 1748, appropriated 2,000 pounds for construction costs, and the fort finally became a reality.

The town of Smithville, later Southport, developed around the fort.

It was Smithville during the Civil War.

--Old B-Runner

When Smithville, N.C., Became Southport, N.C.-- Part 2: Snapshots and Postcards of Smithville/Southport

Photographs accompany the article.

**  One shows the Stuart House.  It was a boarding house and many blockade runner captains and pilots would stay there during the war.

**  Another one shows a large sign with the words:  "Welcome to Southport, a deep Water Natural  Harbor" from when the city was trying to become a major North Carolina seaport.  Wilmington, up the Cape Fear River, became that seaport.  Blockade runners would drop down to Smithville (now Southport) after taking on cargo in Wilmington, and wait to see which of the two exits was the best one for their voyage (least blockaded).

**  Another one showed Capt. John Harper's  steamer Wilmington which was the most popular way to get from Wilmington to Southport from 1896 to the 1910s.  Thus was also the ship you took to go to Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher.

**  A hospital which once stood at Fort Johnston.

**  Pirate Steed Bonnet, the "Gentleman's Pirate" who was captured near Southport.

**  The barracks that once stood at Fort Johnston.

**  Fort Johnston marker:  "Gov. Gabriel Johnston ordered  construction of the fort, 1745.  Burned by defiant colonists, 1775.  Rebuilt later..  Only the officers quarters remain."  Today it is the Southport welcome center and museum.

**  United States Quarantine Station  at Southport.  Too bad we didn't have more of these back in January and February this year.

--Old B-Runner

When Smithville N.C. Became Southport N.C.-- Part 1

From the July 30m 2020, Jacksonville (N.C.) Daily News  "Cape Fear Unearthed:  How Smithville became Southport" by Hunter Ingram.

The latest episode of a podcast "Cape Fear Unearthed."

During the Civil War, the town of Southport was called Smithville, the name it had had since the 1700s.  It was originally  designated as Fort Johnston in the 1740s and was supposed to protect the growing and thriving  ports of Brunswick Town and Wilmington.

But, it never became a major fort and the town of Smithville grew up around the ruins of the fort after the American revolution and a favorite escape the heat spot for Wilmington residents.  Over time and through at least three major wars, Smithville flourished, even after becoming Southport in 1887.

That is why it is the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry instead of the Smithville-Fort Fisher Ferry.

--Old B-Runner

Well, the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry Reopened Last Friday, But, This Little Old Hurricane Came By and...

From the August 5, 2010, WECT News (Wilmington, N.C.) "Southport ferry expects to resume services sometime Wednesday after Hurrican Isaias."

After being closed for several months, for repairs, the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry across the Cape Fear River finally reopened last Friday, but closed again for Hurricane Isaias.

The city of Southport sustained some damage as the Category 1 hurricane came ashore nearby, but power has been restored at the ferry terminal again, but has not been operating today because of ramp problems.

Service is expected to begin at sometime on Wednesday.

--Old B-Runner

Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry Route Resumed Service Friday, July 31

From the July 29, 2020, North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The popular Southport-Fort Fisher  ferry route will resume at 1 p.m. July 31 after completion of $3 million  project to replace the aging  cable-counterweight ramp system at both ends of the route.

Every day there will be 14 daily trips from Southport to Fort Fisher.

Face covers and social distancing is expected during the crossings.

The ferry crosses the Cape Fear River where every blockade runner that ran into and out of Wilmington during the Civil War went by the route the ship takes.  A beautiful crossing.  Plus it saves a real lot of time going between the east and west sides of the Cape Fear River.  Otherwise you have to go into Wilmington, NC to find a bridge to cross the river.

--Old B-Runner

Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry to Open By Week's End

From WWAY Cape Fear ABC News.

Scheduled to reopen after being shut down for seven months.  It shut down in January so $3 million work could be done on aging boat ramp system.  Work halted in March due to coronavirus.  This long term shutdown hurt Southport business.

Believe me, getting from Pleasure Island, the area that includes Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher to Southport involves a several hour drive up to Wilmington (and all its traffic and photo-enforced cameras) and then back down the west side of the Cape Fear River to get to Southport.  This would be at least two or two-and-a-half hours instead of the 30 minutes to cross on the ferry.

WWAY says they will let the public know just as soon as the opening date is known.

Go, Ferry, Go.  Driving Through Wilmington Is a Nightmare.  --Old B-Runner