CSS Mississippi-- Part 2: Enter Nelson and Asa Tift

The CSS Mississippi was the brainchild of Nelson Tift, a man raised in Florida as a child, but had moved to Georgia as a young man where he had become locally prominent.    (The town of Tifton in Tift County, Georgia, is named for him.  His nephew Henry Harding Taft named the city after his uncle, who is regarded as the founder of Albany, Georgia, the state's eighth largest city.)

At the beginning of the war, he realized that the Confederacy would have to build a navy, but faced major problems since there were few major shipyards and a lack of skilled shipwrights to build the ships.  To save time, he he  came up with the idea of constructing shops on the house-building.

His brother Asa  F. Tift agreed to work with him.  He had remained in Florida after Nelson moved to Georgia and had become a successful businessman in Key West and had come to know Stephen Mallory before he became a United States Senator and Confederate Secretary of the Navy.

Asa and Nelson showed his model to Mallory, who passed it on to a review board who declared it a feasible idea and Mallory authorized them to go to New Orleans and build the ironclad which would have18 guns and would be driven by three screw propellers.

--Old B-R'er

Arthur Sinclair, USN, CSN

In the last post I mentioned that the commander of the CSS Mississippi who had the ship destroyed to prevent its capture was Arthur Sinclair.  I have written quite a bit about him.

From the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command  "U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900."

ARTHUR SINCLAIR

Midshipman:  4 March 1823

Passed midshipman:  4 June 1831

Lieutenant:  3 March 1835

Commander:  14 September 1855

Dismissed:  18 April 1861  (Resigned)

--Old B-Runner

CSS Mississippi-- Part 1: Was Never Finished

From Wikipedia.

One of the sources I used for research on the Leeds Foundry in New Orleans, said that this foundry was going to be used for the two Confederate ironclads at New Orleans, the CSS Louisiana and the CSS Mississippi.  I was writing about the Leeds Foundry in my Saw the Elephant:  Civil War blog in connection with cannons they produced for the Confederate Army.

The CSS Mississippi was a projected Confederate ironclad.  Her design was unusual as  she was to be built according to house-building techniques.  Whether this would have worked or not was never proven  as she was not complete when New Orleans fell to Union ships under Flag Officer David G. Farragut on 25 April 1862.

Rather than let her fall into Union hands,  Captain Arthur Sinclair, CSN, ordered her to be hastily launched and burned.

Despite  the delays in construction that left her unfinished and untried,  her mere existence, together with that of the CSS Louisiana, raised hopes of the Confederate defenders of New Orleans.  For the Union, it caused  unfounded fears.

--Old B-Runner

Wreck of the CSS Louisiana

Of course, whenever I read about a ship sinking I begin to wonder if the shipwreck has been found and where.   As a matter of fact, while I was still in school, I had  underwater archeology as one of my possible careers.

The wreckage of the CSS Louisiana  is on the bottom of the Mississippi River.  In November 1981,  it was magnetically located by NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency).  This was founded in 1978 by  Dr. Clove Cussler.

The expedition of that date was out looking for the ram Manassas, CSS Louisiana, CSS Governor Moore and USS Varuna.

They found the remains of the Manassas  after two days.  Then, they found the Moore and Varuna up the river where they grounded a few hundred yards apart on the east bank.

The Louisiana  lies deep under the shoreline mud a hundred yards in front of the southeastern embankment of Fort St. Philip.  You can easily walk the area during periods of low water.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Louisiana-- Part 7: What the Problem Was

The Confederate Navy came under fire for the loss of New Orleans for its supposed "inaction" when Farragut was passing the two Confederate forts.  Commander John K. Mitchell, second in command to Commodore Whittle pointed out several of the Louisiana's shortcomings (other than the ones already pointed out) which could have impacted her usefulness.

1.   The arrangement of the paddlewheels  meant that the after wheel was always in the wash of the other,  with the result of loss of power.

2.  The wash also created an eddy at the rudders making it impossible to steer.

3.  The gunports were too small to allow either elevation or traverse.  Consequently, the Louisiana would have to fight at close range, and furthermore, her guns covered only 40 degrees azimuth.

4.  The gundeck was uninhabitable during the summer, particularly when the boilers were in use.

So There You have It.  --Old B-Runner

CSS Louisiana Part 6: After the Battle

Once the Federal fleet had passed out of range, the Louisiana had no further part in the action.  Her fate was now tied to the two Confederate forts, which were still in Confederate control.  Both forts were expecting an attack to come from the Union Army supporting the operation led by General Benjamin Butler.

However, on the night of April 28, 1862, the  enlisted men in Fort Jackson mutinied and forced the surrender of both forts. to Commander David D. Porter.

The naval officers on the CSS Louisiana were not consulted at any time during the negotiations between Gen. Duncan and Porter.  As such they considered themselves not bound t respect the truce or decision declared by the two sides.

While the discussions were ongoing, the crew decided not to let their ship fall into enemy hands.  The ship was set afire and the crew went ashore.  The flames soon parted the lines that held her to the bank and she drifted down the river.

When she was nearly across from Fort St. Philip, the fire reached the magazine and she blew up with enough force that a soldier at the fort was killed.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Louisiana-- Part 5: The Battle

Because she was the Louisiana was tied to the Mississippi River bank, she couldn't fire  her stern or port guns.  Her exact role in the ensuing firefight between the forts and fleet is not known.  Confederate General Duncan stated that she may have fired as few as twelve shots.

Testimony form the Union side says she exchanged shots with at least one of the attacking ships, the USS Brooklyn (misidentified as the USS Hartford in Confederate reports).  Three shots from the Louisiana went all the way through the Union ship.  The Brooklyn's return broadside bounced harmlessly off the Louisiana's iron sides.

Only three aboard the Louisiana were killed, all in exposed positions, including her commander Charles F McIntosh.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Louisiana-- Part 4: An Unprepared Ship Goes to War

Shortly after the Louisiana was launched, the Union fleet under Flag Officer (later Rear Admiral) David Farragut moved into the lower Mississippi River, threatening Forts Jackson and St. Philip.  The forts commanders urgently requested help from the Confederate fleet at New Orleans and, even though she was not yet finished, the Louisiana was commissioned

The Louisiana's engines had been installed, but the screw propellers hadn't and it was also found that the engines were too weak so the ship had to be towed down the river with workmen still aboard.   There, she was tied to  to the river bank a short distance above Fort St. Philip.

The ship's next problems came from the gun carriages being found to be either too high or too low and had to be modified.  Gun crews were unable to practice firing because of all the workmen tools on the deck, plus the crews were incomplete owing to the fast commissioning.  Soldiers had to be transferred from the forts.

After  nearly a week of bombardment from the Union mortar ships, Farragut determined it to be ineffective and  he moved his fleet past the forts on the night of April 24, 1862.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Louisiana-- Part 3: Problems While Under Construction

Construction on the ship was delayed by several things.  First was the lack of materials, particularly iron.  Always scarce in the Confederacy, its procurement was made even more difficult by the blockade and by army demands on the overstrained Confederate railway system.

The blockade also caused problems in transporting the needed white oak from Florida.

Labor troubles led to a strike that lasted for a week.  Even more labor shortages were caused by demands from the local militias which called workers away for drills and even parades.

Competition for skilled workmen with the builders of the CSS Mississippi, an ironclad being built on an adjacent shipyard by  Nelson and Asa Tift, also slowed construction. Finally an agreement was reached whereby the work on the Mississippi would not continue until the Louisiana was completed.

All these things led to the Louisiana  not being ready to be launched until February 6, 1862, nearly four months after the ship's keel was laid.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Louisiana-- Part 2: General Characteristics

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

LENGTH:   264 feet

BEAM:   62 feet

DRAFT:    12-13 feet

COMPLEMENT:    300

ARMAMENT:

Two 7-inche Brooke rifles

Four 8-inch Dahlgren smoothbores

Three 9-inch guns

Seven 32-pounders

This was one heavily armed warship.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Ironclads CSS Louisiana and Mississippi-- Part 1

I have been writing about the Confederate iron foundry in New Orleans named Leeds & Co. in my Saw the Elephant:  The Civil War blog in connection with cannons they made for the Confederacy.  Leeds cannons are quite rare in the artillery world because of the fact that New Orleans fell to Farragut so early in the war.

Yesterday I found out that Leeds also was involved with the iron on two Confederate rams that were built in New Orleans as well as an early submarine named the Pioneer I.  The source did not say what the name of the ironclads were, however.

Today, I learned that they were the CSS Louisiana and CSS Mississippi, two of the largest ironclads built in the Confederacy.  I had thought that perhaps it was the CSS Manassas.

I am not sure if the Leeds Foundry was to have something to do with the iron on the casemates or other materials on the ships.

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From Wikipedia

CSS LOUISIANA

The CSS Louisiana was a casemate ironclad built for the Confederate Navy to defend the lower Mississippi River (New Orleans)  She took part in one major action during the war, the defense of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.  When those forts fell, she was destroyed by her crew to prevent capture.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Clifton, Virginia

From Wikipedia.

Fort Clifton Archaeological  Site is a historical Civil War fort located at Fort Clifton Park in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

The park itself is the site of Confederate Fort Clifton on the Appomattox River, where five Union ships attacked on June 11, 1864.

The Confederate Battery, with cannon emplacements, remained in Confederate hands as the fort's cannons drove the Union ships away.

The park has earthworks that criss-cross the property.  Fort Clifton Park has hiking trails and Civil War campaign signs.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

--Old B-Runner

Engagement at Fort Clifton, Appomattox River, June 9, 1864

From Official Records Navy War of the Rebellion "North Atlantic Blockading Squadron."

Report of Acting  Volunteer Lieutenant  Amos P. Foster of the USS Commodore Perry on attack on Fort Clifton on June 9, 1864.

At the request of General Butler.

JUNE 9.

Opened fire at 8:30 am.  At 11:45 am had dismounted one gun and struck another, scattering pieces all over.  Expended  22 rounds IX shells and 144 100--pounder Parrott shells.

JUNE 10

Expended 3 100-pounder shells and 11 rounds on IX-inch shell.

JUNE 11

Fired an IX-gun at rebel battery but didn't get a reply.

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The report of Acting Master H.H. Savage of the USS General Putnam for ammunition expended Jun 9 to June 11.  He fired 77 Parrot shells June 9 and 3 on June 1.

--Old B-Runner

Private Grogan Goes to Fort Fisher

From same site as the April 12 post.

On December 10, 1864, he was aboard a transport heading for Fort Fisher, North Carolina.

"We were taken from our own boats and and put aboard of the Empire City to load 1600 colored men."  He reports that the transport wasn't very large and it had twelve horses aboard.

On Christmas Day1864, as he was watching the Union fleet, he wrote that he would "have to brag of our fleet for there never was, never a finer fleet.  Together it did us good to see our noble flag float over our noble ships with our brave men to protect them.  It was a noble sight for us."

He continued, "on board of our boat we had tobacco we had to smoke, we had to eat our pork raw, we could not cook our coffee.  But most times there was but one galley for 1700 men so that was too small a pot for so large a family."

He did not write any more about Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner

Exploding Parrot Rifles at Fort Fisher

I have been writing about Parrott rifles exploding in my Saw the Elephant:  Civil War blog.  The Parrott explosions were especially bad during the First Battle of Fort Fisher.  It was so bad that the commander of the USS Brooklyn elected to put his two 100-pounders on the side opposite where he was firing at the fort.

Go to My Blog List to the right, go down to Saw the Elephablognt: Civil War and click on it.

--Old B-R'er

USS Jouett (DD-396), Named After James Edward Jouett, Union Navy Officer

This was the destroyer that assisted the cruiser USS Omaha in sinking the German blockade runner SS Rio Grande during World War II.  

Like the Omaha, she had a Civil War connection as its name came from James Edward Jouett, a Union officer during the Civil War (and Mexican War).  He also commanded the USS Montgomery which I have written extensively about.

He was at the Battle of Mobile Bay where his ship, the Metacomet, was lashed to Admiral Farragut's Hartford and he was part of the quote everyone knows Farragut supposedly said, "Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!"

Actually the words were, "Damn the torpedoes.  Four bells, Captain Drayton, go ahead.  Jouett, full speed."

Afterwards, Jouett took his ship, the Metacomet and chased after two Confederate gunboats escorting the CSS Tennessee and riddled the CSS Gaines and captured the CSS Selma.

--Old B-Runner

Another Oops for Thomas O. Selfridge, This Time Postwar

As noted in the last post, I am writing about a German blockade runner during World War II that was sunk by the efforts of the light cruiser USS Omaha (CL-4) and the destroyer USS Jouett (DD-396) off Brazil in 1944.  That blockade runner's name was the SS Rio Grande.

So, I looked up some more information on those two U.S. warships.  Turns out, both had Civil War connections.

The USS Omaha was the second ship in the U.S. Navy by that name.  The first one was the screw sloop USS Omaha, commissioned in 1872.  It's first commander was a veteran of the Union Navy named John Carson Febiger.

Later on, her commander was Thomas O. Selfridge, whom I have written about before.  He was essentially a bad-luck commander.  While in command of the Omaha, in 1887, conducted target practice off the Japanese island of Ikeshima which resulted in the deaths of four Japanese and the wounding of seven others.

This created an international incident and Selfridge was acquitted at a court martial in 1888.

I Tell You, That Guy.  Wow!  --Old B-Runner

A German Blockade Runner's Cargo Arrives at the Wrong Destination Almost 80 Years Too Late in WW II

When I think of blockade runners, I think, of course, Civil War.  But Germany was blockaded during World War II and needed raw materials to help fight the war.

In January 1944, the German blockade runner SS Rio Grande was intercepted by two U.S. warships off Brazil and sunk.  Part of its cargo consisted of huge bales of rubber.  That cargo has now "escaped" as the ship deteriorates and floated to the surface and taken  currents to the Gulf of Mexico where they are being found on beaches in Texas.

I have been writing about this in my Not So Forgotten: World War II blog this month.

You can click on that blog in My Blog List to the right of this to read more about it.

So, Blockade Runners Weren't Just a Civil War Thing.--GreGen

Private Grogan Sees the Brewster Hit by Fort Clifton

From the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction  History Center "Thomas E. Grogan, Private, US Army, 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry, 3rd Regiment, Company E."

In March 1864, Thomas Grogan  re-enlisted for a second tour of duty, which eventually took him to Fort Clifton, Virginia.  Federal gunboats attacked the fort and during the engagement, Confederate artillery disabled the army gunboat Samuel L. Brewster with a shot to her boiler.

On May 9, 1864, Grogan wrote that the Brewster was hit "that made her boiler explode and scaled  several of her crew.  The poor fellows could do nothing but jump overboard where there was rebels sharp shooters to pick them down.  This was all in our view but could do nothing for them.  

"We fought them all day but could do nothing, for they had the best of us."

--Old B-Runner

The source says the 162nd New York, but, it was not with Butler in Virginia or at Fort Fisher.  It might have been the 169th New York which was in both places.

Giant Great White Shark Off Fort Fisher, Wild Stallion Danger on the Outer Banks

From the April 11, 2022, Raleigh(NC) News & Observer "Massive  great white shark was lurking off North Carolina coast, tracking data show" by Madeline List.

Within the last week, three large tagged great white sharks have pinged off the coast of North Carolina.  The two smaller ones are the 990 pound Ulysses at 12 feet long and Tancook at 715 pounds and 10 feet.

But the largest, Mahone, pinged directly off Fort Fisher, North Carolina, at 8:50 pm Saturday, April 9.  This bog boy is the largest ever tagged, weighing in at 1,701 pounds and 13 feet, 7 inches long.

So, if you're planning on diving on one of the blockade runner wrecks, keep an eye out.

Danger, Danger.  --Old B-ScaredofSharks

*********************************

And, I just came across a warning to folks out on the state's Outer Banks islands to be aware of wild stallions battling over top horse dominance with mares.  You could get caught in the middle and that would not be a good place to be.

So, there is danger in the water and danger on the land in North Carolina right now.

Fort Clifton and Army Gunboat Brewster-- Part 2: A 32-Pound Solid Shot

The fort's garrison, commanded by  Captain S. Taylor Martin,  of the Virginia Artillery, receive special commendation from Major General  George E. Pickett, the commander of the Petersburg  defenses.

Fort Clifton was evacuated on April 2, 1865, one week before Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

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The Perry Adams Antiques offered a  Confederate 32 lb. solid shot excavated at Fort Clifton, Va., on the Appomattox River north of Petersburg for $175.

According to the site,  this was excavated by a long-time  relic hunter near Fort Clifton, now a city park in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

The fort was designed by the famed  Confederate engineer Captain Charles H. Dimmock and completed in early 1864.  Its purpose was to stop Union incursions along the Appomattox River.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Clifton and Army Gunboat Brewster-- Part 1: The Brewster Scuttled

I have been writing about Acting Ensign Arnold Harris a lot of late.  Here is some more information as this was the ship Brewster that Gen. Benjamin Butler wanted to use to sneak into the Cape Fear River by Wilmington, North Carolina, and do damage back in January 1864.  Later that year, the Brewster carried orders to the USS Commodore Perry to open fire on this Fort Clifton.

From HMdb Fort Clifton

FORT CLIFTON

From the marker:

"A short distance east on the Appomattox River stands Confederate Fort Clifton, an important fortification that guarded Petersburg against Union naval attack  during the Civil War.  

On 9 May 1864, Federal  gunboats commanded by Maj. Gen. Charles K. Graham attacked the fort.

During the engagement, Fort Clifton's artillery disabled the Army gunboat Samuel L. Brewster, which its crew then scuttled.

--Old B-Runner

Will the Real Arnold Harris Stand Up-- Part 2: Quite the Mystery Guy

I sure would like to fill in a lot of blanks about Arnold Harris' life.  I have not been able to find out anything else beyond what I wrote yesterday and today.  So, hopefully, someone will have other sources of information.  What I have found so far is definitely interesting.

Here is the rest of the information.

In a report dated June 23, 1864, he was in command of the Army gunboat Chamberlain and delivered a message to Acting Volunteer Lt. Amos P. Foster of the USS Commodore Perry with a message from  Benjamin Butler ordering Foster to open fire in Fort Clifton on the Appomattox River near Petersburg.  The next day, June 17, he came aboard again and ordered a renewed bombardment of the fort.  The ship's second shot from its 100-pounder Parrot gun caused it to blow up, killing and wounding many.

On January 13, 1865, he was detached from special duty with the Army and ordered to report to Admiral Porter.  (Porter would have been off Fort Fisher which he bombarded that day.)

February 9, 1865, Major General E.O.C. Ord requested Arnold Harris remain with the Army transports   under Gen.  Charles K. Graham because Harris was "of great use here -- familiar with the waters, and is now operating in conjunction with the Navy."

I sure would like to piece together Arnold Harris' story.

Give a Hand. Please.  --Old B-Wondering

Will the Real Arnold Harris, USN, Please Stand Up?-- Part 1

This month and last, I have been writing about this man, Arnold Harris, is this blog.  He sounds like he had an interesting life, but I am unable to find out any information other than what I have written which isn't a lot.

Here is what I have:

I first found his name on January 7, 1864, when Gen. Benjamin Butler had a plan to send the Army steamer Brewster, under the command of Arnold Harris, into Wilmington harbor disguised as a blockade runner.  This plan was abandoned when it was determined that Wilmington's defenses were too strong to attempt it.

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He was appointed acting ensign 24 March 1863 and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron where he must have been on extended duty, operating  as the commander of the Army transport Brewster.  He resigned 21 February 1865.  (Wilmington fell the following day.)

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On November 16, 1863, Gideon Welles wrote Read Admiral S. P. Lee, commander of the North Atlantic Blocking Squadron regarding special duty for Mr. Harris, saying that Harris "has been abroad and has been in Wilmington lately and is willing to go again."

Welles suggested that Harris could maybe go to New York, then to Nassau and Wilmington.

Sounds considerably like an undercover kind of a thing.

--Old B-Runner

Acting Ensign Arnold Harris, USN: Through the Ranks

From the Naval History and Heritage Command:  Navy Officers 1798-1900.

ARNOLD HARRIS

Acting Ensign   24 March 1863

Resigned  21 February 1865

--Old B-Runner

Acting Ensign Arnold Harris-- Part 4: Some Espionage Maybe?

From Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.

Order of the Secretary of the Navy Welles to Rear Admiral Lee regarding special duty for  Acting Ensign Harris, USN.  Written November 6, 1863.

SIR:  Ensign Arnold Harris, jr.,  has been ordered to report to you.  He has been abroad and has been in Wilmington lately and is willing to go again, and it is possible that he can be made useful by allowing him to go to New York, thence to Nassau and Wilmington.

You are authorized to allow him to proceed on any duty you shall approve.

Very respectively,

Gideon Welles, Secretary of Navy

To Acting Rear Admiral S.P.  Lee, U.S. Navy, Comdg. North Atlantic Blockading  Squadron, Hampton Roads.

Definitely Something Sneaky.  --Old B-Runner

Acting Ensign Arnold Harris-- Part 3

From Headquarters Army of the James Feb. 9, 1865

To

Honorable   Gideon Welles:

Cannot  Ensign Arnold Harris remain on duty with the army gunboats under General Charles K. Graham?  Ensign Harris is of great use here-- familiar with the waters, and is now operating  in conjunction with the  navy.

E. O. C. Ord

Major General

--Old B-Runner

An Explosion of a 100-Pounder Parrott Rifle on the USS Commodore Perry on June 17, 1864.

The USS Commodore Perry was ordered to attack Fort Clifton on the Appomattox River near Petersburg, Virgina, by Gen. Benjamin Butler.  This order was delivered to Lt. Foster by Arnold Harris.

Report of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster of the USS Commodore Perry.

He was ordered by General Butler to open fire on Confederate Fort Clifton on June 17, 1864

"The first shot fired entered the battery; at the second shot the 100-pound Parrott burst. killing John Wilson (seaman) instantly and wounding Joseph Webb, Alfred N. Brown, Salvador Emmanuel, Franklin W.   Morgan, (seaman,) and Gilbert Young, (ordinary seaman.) 

"John Wilson was buried in the hospital burying ground at Point of Rocks.  Four of the wounded men were transferred to the United States steamer Osceola, and two (2) were retained on board this vessel.  One of those transferred to the Osceola (Joseph Webb) has since died.  The two men remaining on this vessel are improving rapidly."

There were quite a few Parrot 100-pounder rifled cannons that blew up during the bombardment of Fort Fisher.

--Old B-Runner