John Collins, Acting Master, USN-- Part 2

From "The Capture of New Orleans" by Chester G. Hearn.

On April 18, the USS George Mangham, under Acting Master John Collins, Jr., received a shot in her port bow that passed through the galley and lodged in the mortar bed.  But, the ship continued to operate its mortar.

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From the ORN: South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  Operation at Bull's Bay February 19, 1865.

The George Mangham took part at at one point the field artillery of the landed forces was under command of John Collins.

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From the U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900.

JOHN COLLINS

Acting Master  21 December 1861.  Honorably discharged 19 September 1865.  Evidently he commanded the George Mangham for the duration of the war.

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Evidently, John Collins commanded the USS George Mangham his whole Civil War naval career.

--Old B-Runner

John Collins, Jr., Acting Master, USN

John Collins commanded the USS George Mangham when it was commissioned.  

From the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers for 1863.

I found a list of USN officers and for the Mangham, it had him in command and Acting Master's Mates Erick Gabrielson and James McDonald.

From the Official Records Navy, John Collins reported to Rear Admiral Dahlgren on December 30, 1863, that at 4 am that morning, they had picked up a boat with 13 contrabands on it at Murrill's Inlet (his spelling), S.C..  They gave important information  about the local area and saltworks.

They also said that there was a schooner in the inlet loaded with turpentine waiting to run out.  And, there are four companes of soldiers, principally cavalry, engaged  in protecting the saltworks and patrolling the beach.

--Old B-Runner

There Is a Book "Defending South Carolina's Coast' by Rick Simmons

I came across a book written about the Fort Randall, Fort Ward area by Rick Simmons titled "Defending  South Carolina's Coast:  The Civil War from Georgetown to Little River."  It is an Arcadia book and Simmons, an area native, relates the often overlooked stories of the Upper South Carolina Coast during the war.  (Obviously a whole lot has been written about the Charleston area.)

As a base of operations for  more than three thousand  troops early in the war and the site of more than a dozen forts, almost every inch of  the coast was effected by  and hotly contested during the Civil War.

From the skirmishes at Fort Randall in Little River to repeated Union naval bombardments of Murrells Inlet to the unrealized  potential of the massive  fortifications at Battery White and the sinking of the USS Harvest Moon in Winyah Bay, the region's colorful Civil War history is unfolded here at last.

This book would also contain information about John Collins,the USS George Mangham and USS Fernanandina which I have been writing about a lot lately.

I Just Might Have to Get Me a Copy.  --Old B-Runner

USS George Mangham-- Part 4: Looking for Raiders, Potomas Flotilla and SABS

The George Mangham was then assigned to the Potomac Flotilla 22 December; and until  10 July 1863, she suppressed blockade runners, capturing four prizes in the  lower Potomac River.  She was then taken to the Washington Navy Yard and fitted out for cruising in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Authorities in Washington, D.C., were  greatly concerned about attacks of Confederate raiders and the George Mangham was assigned to protect American merchant ships and fishing craft.  Leaving Washington  5 August, she cruised off the Magdalen Islands and Prince Edward Island; without detecting any Confederate ships.

She departed  Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, 5 November for New York Navy Yard.  After repairs, she  sailed 5 December to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron for blockade duty off  Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina.

While engaged in this work, on 7 January 1864, she moved close to shore and destroyed the beached blockade runner Dare which had been driven ashore by larger Union blockaders.

She then sailed to Charleston, S.C.,  and continued blockade service  of the South Carolina coast in the area of  Cape Romain, St. Helena Sound, and Bull's Bay for the remainder of the year.

Returning to  Port Royal, South Carolina,  5 January 1865, the Mangham was assigned temporarily to Key West, Florida, in March.

She returned to New York Navy Yard  9 August; decommissioned  9 September; and was sold at public office to D. T. Trendy 27 September 1865.

--Old B-Runner

USS George Mangham-- Part 3: At Vicksburg and Back East

The USS George Mangham departed from the Mississippi River on 27 April 1862 and spent the next month cruising off Pensacola, Florida.  Commander David Porter again assembled his mortar fleet at Pensacola and sailed 3 June to support the Union movement up the Mississippi River, arriving off Vicksburg, Mississippi,  20 June.

She assisted in the passage of the batteries there.  Supported strongly by the mortar bombardment, Farragut  steamed past the formidable  Confederate works  28 June to join with Commodore Chales H. Davis further up the river.

The Mangham then returned downriver, engaging Confederate artillery on the riverbanks from time to time.  After passing Grand Gulf, Mississippi, she arrived at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 12 July.

From there, she proceeded to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she moored 30 July.  Remaining at Hampton Roads until 29 August, the George Mangham first proceeded to to Baltimore, Maryland, then served as a guard ship on the Potomac River at Piney Point, Maryland.

--Old B-Runner

USS George Mangham-- Part 2: Battle of New Orleans

The USS George Mangham was with the Mortar Fleet's Second Division anchored in the east bank of the Mississippi River.  As the swift current slackened on 24 April, 1862,  Farragut's fleet steamed boldly through a break in the obstructions and engaged and passed Forts Jackson and St. Philip.  They then engaged and captured the Confederate squadron resisting their advance up the river.

Meanwhile, the mortar boats continued their bombardment of the forts.  The Mangham received a shot through her hull in the engagement.

Having passed the forts, there was no defense against Farragut for the Confederates.  He went upriver to New Orleans and easily captured it 25 April.

This opened the way for the Union fleet to sweep northward up the river.  The Mangham and the mortar boats stayed below the forts, which surrendered  28 August.

Old B-Runner

The Chicago Tribune's Non-Coverage of 9/11

I was unable to make any posts yesterday. so will be doing my annual 9/11 Commemoration today.  I do this on seven of my eight blogs.

I went through all the news in yesterday's Chicago Tribune and was really surprised that they didn't have anything about 9/11.

I was really surprised and disappointed.

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Well, actually I misspoke.  There was an article about a man who was at the Pentagon when the plane crashed there in one of the sections, but not in the three main news ones.

USS George Mangham: Took Part in the Attacks on Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip Guarding New Orleans

On August 5 I started to write about this ship which was involved in the destruction of the blockade runner Dan.  I figured I should finish up on it a month later.

From Wikipedia.

The USS George Mangham was commissioned  at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 11 January 1862, Acting Master John Collins, Jr. in command.  It departed two days later, headed for the Mortar Flotilla of Commander David Dixon Porter as part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

She arrived in Key West 13 February and from there sailed with the rest of the ships  to the mouth of the Mississippi River to prepare for the assault on Forts Jackson and St. Philip which guarded the approach to New Orleans.

The Mangham crossed the  bar into the river on 18 March.

After Farragut's meticulous preparations were complete, the Mortar Flotilla, including the Mangham began the bombardment of Fort Jackson 18 April.  The fort came under a sustained fierce cannonade for five days.

Better Late Than Never.  --Old B-Runner

USS Fernandina-- Part 2: Action with NABS and SABS

Upon commissioning, the ship was orederd to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Hampton Roads, Virginia, which she did on 2 December 1861 and then south to Wilmington, North Carolina,  to blockade that port.

On 13 December 1861, she  scattered an encampment of Confederates at Little River Inlet, South Carolina.  Twelve days later, she captured the prize William N. Northrup, running the blockade with a cargo of  drugs and coffee.

Next, the Fernandina discovered the  schooner Kate out of Nassau, Bahama, aground on 2 April 1862.  After taking her papers, the Kate was burned as they were under fire of Confederates ashore

The Fernandina was transferred  to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron on 11 June and joined it off Charleston, South Carolina,   Aside from the summer of 1863, when she sailed north for repairs, she was  at St. Simons, Georgia and at St. Catherine's, Georgia, and in the Ossabow Sound.

She captured the sloop Annie Thompson 16 January 1864 after it had run aground.

Detached from the squadron 3 April 1865 and sent north, she was decommissioned  at Philadelphia 29 April 1865 and sold 2 June 1865.

--Old B-Runner

USS Fernandina-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I wrote about the USS Fernandina and its encounter with Confederates onshore at Little River Inlet in South Carolina.

The USS Fernandina was a sailing bark obtained by the Union Navy during the war purchased 29 July 1861 in New York City as the Florida and renamed Fernandina with Acting Volunteer Lieutenant G. W. Browne in command.

It was commissioned 16 November 1861.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Displacement:  297 tons

Length: 115 feet

Beam:  29 feet

Draught:  10 feet

Complement:  86

Armament:  six 32-pounder cannons

--Old B-Runner

 

Fort Randall at Little River Neck-- Part 3: Naval Action There

The fort was named after Thomas Randall on whose property it was built.

On December 14, 1861, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George W. Browne, commanding the bark USS Fernandina reported off Wilmington that on the previous night (13th) off Little River Inlet, that he had spotted a lot of fires on the beach.  Forty of them were concentrated in one area and the others spread 1 to 2 miles apart farther along the coast.

Closing on the shore, he saw groups of men which caused him to believe this to be a Confederate encampment.  He burned a prepartory signal but received no reply and opened fire on the beach with his starboard battery.

At this time he was just 700 yards off the beach in four fathoms of water.  After firing three rounds from the starboard, he tacked and turned around and fired one round of shot and one of shell from the port battery.

By this time, the fires had been mostly extinguished, so he left the area.  He now believed that the fires were signals for some vessel running the blockade.

Much confusion existed among Union forces as to whether Little River was in North or South Carolina.  The North Carolina border is just a short way from the mouth of the Little River Inlet.  Browne reported the site as being in North Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Randall at Little River Neck-- Part 2: Built by Thomas Daggett

When the war broke out, Thomas Daggett joined Confederate forces and was put in charge of the coastal defenses from Winyah Bay to Little River Inlet.

Like Battery White, which was located on Belle Isle on Winyah Bay just outside Georgetown, Fort Randall was an earthen work.  Records indicate  that the battery consisted of an approximately 10 foot broad and five foot deep ditch with a parapet and a blockhouse pierced so that defenders could fire without being exposed top enemy fire.

The fort was armed with two 6-pounder cannons.  He also inquired as to getting two 12-pounder cannons which were in the mill yard at Laurel Hill Plantation.

In addition to the blockhouse, he also built a magazine to store  ammunition and arms.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Randall at Little River Neck-- Part 1

From Coastal Carolina "Fort Randall, Little River Neck, Horry County, South Carolina" by Ben  Burroughs.

The fort is located on the eastern end of Little River Neck on property currently known as Tilgham Point and it is the remains of a  Confederate battery/fort built to protet the Little River Inlet from Union forces during the war.  The Union's North Atlantic Blockading Squadron was very active in this area.

Fort Randall was built for a dual purpose of protecting the village of Little River and the surrounding countryside and to provide safe haven for blockade runners.  As the Union blockade of the major two ports in the area, Wilmington and Charleston, tightened, blockade runners ran into this place.

Fort Randall was in existence by March 1861 when Captain Thomas West  Daggett, commanding the Waccamaw Light Artillery, tried to lodge his men in Fort Randall and Fort Ward.

Captain Daggett was a native of  Massachusetts who was an engineer who had moved to South Carolina  where he used his skills to build and operate rice mills on the Waccamaw Neck.

--Old B-Runner

Thomas Randall Plantation-- Part 2

Again, Fort Randall was built on his land at Little River Inlet, S.C. and the fort was named after him.

**  Number of acres:  In 1937, it consisted of  about 3,000.

**  Primary crops:  cotton,   Indian corn, cattle, swine

**  Number of slaves:

1850:  78

1860:  85

--Old B-Runner

Fort Randall, S.C.

From North American Forts:  South Carolina.

FORT RANDALL  (1861-1865)

Near Little River.

A CSA four-gun earthwork battery and blockhouse at Tilghman's Point on Little River Neck.  Union forces briefly captured the battery in January 1863.  No remains of the battery and only a slight mound and depression marks the site of the blockhouse, located on private property.

--Old B-Runner