Some More on the CSS Chattahoochee-- Part 3: In Fairly Good Shape

The wreck was relocated  using a proton precession magnetometer and wreck structure exposed on the bottom  surface was mapped.  A test excavation was carried out near the south end of the wreckage to facilitate assessing the nature and scope of the archaeological record and generate  data concerning the remaining wreck structure.

(Now, that was some last sentence.  Took me forever to type.)

Data recovered during the investigation contributed to a better understanding of the wreck and its scientific and educational value.

On the basis of this reconnaissance,  it is apparent that the remains of the CSS Chattahoochee contain a variety of artifacts associated with the use of the ship.  In addition, the remaining wreck structure survives in good condition below the turn of the bilge and could be raised, conserved, and displayed in conjunction with the stern of the warship presently on exhibit at the Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on the CSS Chattahoochee-- Part 2: Half Recovered

From 1990 report "CSS Chattahoochee:  An Investigation  of the Remains of a Confederate Gunboat" by Gordon P. Watts and Wes Hall.

In the Spring of 1865, the Confederate gunboat CSS Chattahoochee  was scuttled and burned in the Chattahoochee River, just south of Columbus, Georgia.  During the Civil War Centennial the vessel's remains were relocated and the stern of the warship salvaged and preserved at the James W. Woodruff, Jr., Confederate Naval Museum  in Columbus.

In 1984, East Carolina University and the Naval Museum cosponsored an investigation designed to relocate the Chattahoochee, determine the amount of surviving hull structure, and assess the potential for additional research, recovery and exhibition.

--Old B-R'er

Some More on the CSS Chattahooche

From the June 6, 2023, Georgia Public Radio "Are sunken ships from the Civil War still lying in the Chattahoochee?  What a historian says"  by Kelby Hutchinson.

During the Battle of Columbus (Georgia) on April 16, 1865 (Lee had surrendered in Virginia on April 9), two Confederate warships were destroyed.  One was the ironclad CSS Jackson (also called the CSS Muscogee).  The other was the CSS Chattahoochee.

Part of the CSS Chattahoochee still remains at the bottom of its namesake river.  The bow end is still somewhere down below.  The National Civil War Naval Museum is in possession of the stern portion.  The ship was set on fire by its own crew to prevent it falling into enemy hands.

In 1984, East Carolina University and the Confederate Naval Museum (as the National Civil War Naval Museum was then known as) set out to locate the remains of the Chattahoochee, determine its condition and figure out its potential for research, recovery and exhibition.

That report in next post.

The CSS Chattahoochee, Certainly a Hard-Luck Ship.  --Old B-R'er

Confederate Navy Yard Saffold, Georgia-- Part 2

The 130-foot long CSS Chattahoochee was intended to be both a river boat and an ocean-going one.  It was Confederate hopes to sail it down the river and reopen the port of Apalachicola, Florida,  on the Gulf of Mexico.

However, the Chattahoochee turned out to be an unlucky ship.  One mishap after another befell her.

By far the worst took place on May 27, 1863, when her boilers exploded through crew error and inexperience.  Several were killed and others badly scalded.  This knocked the ship out of the rest of the war.

One of the guns on the ship was a IX-inch Dahlgren pivot gun.  The gun was lost and never recovered, even after the ship's hull was recovered near Fort Benning in 1963.

The Chattahoochee's hull is a part of a part of the Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus.  A replica was made of the IX-inch Dahlgren and has been loaned to the Early County Museum for display.

--Old B-R'er

The Confederate Navy Yard: Saffold, Georgia

From the January 2, 2024, Early County (Georgia) News  "The History of the Confederate Naval Yard" by Leah Taylor.

Confederate naval officers and John H. Warner selected this site because of its remote location and abundance of timber around it.  Another reason was that the landowner, David S. Johnson, was an avid Confederate.  He was chosen to run the shipyard.  This proved to be a poor choice because despite all the timber and a large work force of slaves, he had no experience with shipbuilding at all.

The deadline for building his warship, 120 days, came and went with no ship.  He gave in and began placing ads in local papers for experienced shipbuilders.  Eventually the ship was built and delivered ten months late, December 8, 1862.

That ship was the CSS Chattahoochee, taking its name from the river on which it was built.

--Old B-Runner

Others Buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia-- Part 3

Continuing with Road Tripping Through History.

Other Medals of Honor:

2 from Indian Wars

1 from Spanish-American War

2 from the Boxer Rebellion

4 from Civil War (soldiers)

1 from Korea (1871)

2 from peacetime events (1872) and (1903)

Also, three Civil War Union generals and several Union officers.

--Old B-R'er

Some More Naval Medal of Honor Recipients Buried in Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia-- Part 2

There sure are a lot of Navy Medal of Honor recipients buried at this cemetery.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the Philadelphia Navy Yard being there.

John Lafferty, USS Wyalusing, versus CSS Albemarle.  Also received a second medal of Honor in Peru.

Nicholas Lear, USS New Ironsides, Fort Fisher

Thomas G. Lyons, USS Pensacola, Battle of New Orleans

James Martin II, USMC, USS Richmond, Battle of Mobile Bay

Matthew McClelland, USS Richmond, Battle of Port Hudson

John Smith, USS Richmond, Battle of Mobile Bay

William Thompson, USS Mohican, Battle of Port Royal

Alexander Truett, USS Richmond, Battle of Mobile Bay

John Williams, USS Pawnee, Mathias Point, Va.

William Williams, USS Lehigh, Charleston, S.C.

Sure a lot of Navy, Marine Medals of Honor buried in this cemetery.

--Ol B-R'er

Remembering 'Civil War Times' and 'America's Civil War'

I must admit that both magazines, which I just found out ceased publication in February, had started giving a lot more attention to the naval aspect of the war, which is my favorite aspect.  Too often before they overlooked the Navy.  

However, this is very true of Civil War people in general.  It is all the land warfare with water parts taking a distinct hind part.

I sure hope someone buys these two magazines or the other seven history ones which were offered by the same company.

Sad to See You Go.  --Old B-Runner

Road Tripping Through History: Henry Schutes Was Buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia-- Part 1

I was wondering if there were any other persons of interest buried at this cemetery along with Henry Schutes.  According to Find a Grave, there are some 200,000 people buried in the cemetery, but it has fallen upon hard times.

There are quite a few Medal of Honor recipients buried there.

I will list the other Navy recipients:

Charles Baker, USS Metacomet, Battle of Mobile Bay.

James Healey, USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama.

Robert Jordan, USS Mount Washington, Nansemond River, Va.

--B-Runner

How Many Medals of Honor Did Henry Schutes Receive?

I have been doing more research on this question.  I even looked up lists of double Medal of Honor winners and Henry Schutes was not on the list (although there are 19 who have received double Medals of Honor).

I am of the belief that he bravely fought at the Battle of New Orleans but it was his actions on board the USS Wissahickon against Fort McAllister which caused him to get the Medal of Honor.

--Old B-Runner

Was It One or Two Medals of Honor for Henry Schutes?

The more I read about him, the more I'm not sure if he received one or two Medals of Honor.  I am sure he got one for the action against Fort McAllister in 1863.  But not sure about New Orleans.

--Old B-R'er

Navy Medal of Honor Recipient Henry Schutes-- Part 4: Not One, But Two Medals of Honor

Henry Schutes received Medals of Honor for both actions.  This was a new honor created in1861.  t the time of the actions, Schutes was 58, making him the oldest Medal of Honor winner.

It is not clear when he left the Navy, but according to the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, a register of employees at the USNA showed him employed there as a civilian watchman in 1865.  At some point in the mid-1870s, he moved to Philadelphia to the Naval Asylum, which was a home and hospital for retired seamen.

He broke a leg in 1889, but "refused to keep his splint in place and grew increasingly belligerent about eating."  He died on September 10, 1889 and was buried at Mount Moriah.

The cemetery attributes his death to "general failure of willpower."

--Old B-R'er

Navy Medal of Honor Recipient Henry Schutes-- Part 3: For Action at Fort McAllister

Nearly a year later, on February27, 1863, Henry Schutes again found himself in the midst of a battle, this time on the Big Ogeechee River just south of Savannah, Georgia.  The USS Wissahickon was in this action as well.  This attack ended in the destruction of the blockade runner Rattlesnake which was under protection of the guns of Fort McAllister.

A shot from the fort penetrated the Wissahickon's hull below the waterline and entered the ship's powder magazine where the ammunition and gunpowder were kept.  Shutes' Medal of Honor citation said that his prompt action saved the ship.

An 1890 Philadelphia Inquirer article said that Schutes had shut himself inside the magazine to drown it in water to keep the dangerous items from exploding, even though this might mean he would die.

--Old B-Runner

Navy Medal of Honor Recipient Henry Schutes-- Part 2: Battle of New Orleans

While performing his duties aboard the USS Wissahickon during the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip in April 1862, some Union ships managed to break through a barrier in the Mississippi River on April 23.  The Wissahickon was one of them.  Fire rafts were sent down to destroy them.

Schutes received his Medal of Honor here.  His citation reads: "his seamanlike qualities as gunner's mate were outstanding," and that he performed his duties with skill and courage.

The ships made it past the Confederate defenses and New Orleans surrendered.

But this wasn't Schutes' only Medal of Honor.  He received a second one nearly a year later.

--Old B-R'er

Another Union Navy Medal of Honor: Captain of the Forecastle Henry Schutes-- Part 1

From the Feb. 12, 2024 Aerotech News by Katie Lang.

Not much is known of Henry Schutes before his enlistment in the U.S. Navy other than he was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1804.

According to the Mount Moriah Cemetery, where he's buried,  he was an experienced sailor before the war began.  The earliest enlistment papers found for him was from 1858 which said he had 22 years of prior mariner experience.  That meant that Schutes joined the Navy  around age 54.

He initially served as a gunner's mate on the USS Don before transferring to the USS Wissahickon.  By April 1862, he had become the captain of the forecastle of that ship.  That was the forward upper deck where sailors slept.

That rank was similar to a current day petty officer.

--Old B-Runner

Marines at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher-- Part 3: Six Received Medals of Honor

The book said that another 180 Marines aided the Army in their attack on the land face of the fort.

A number of Marines distinguished themselves during the attack.  Six received a Medal of Honor in the action.

Orderly Sergeant Isaac N. Fry and Sgt. Richard Binder received the honor for the manner in which they commanded their ship's guns.  Corporal Andrew J. Tomlin, of the USS Wabash, shouldered a wounded comrade and carried him to safety during the land attack.

Corporal John Rannahan and Pfcs John Shivers from the USS Minnesota, advanced further than any other Marines with their detachment.  LtCdr. James H. Parker, commanding the shore party from that ship remarked:  "Thompson got nearer the fort than any one from our ship by a few yards.  They [all] deserve promotion and medals."

The Marine battalion sustained 15 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and one officer and 45 men wounded during the action.

--Old B-Runner

Marines at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher-- Part 2: Digging Entrenchments with 'Our Noses and Toes'

Marine Corporal Henry B. Hallowell from the USS Juanita was part of the Naval Brigade and wrote:  "The guns from the fort poured grape and canister into us, cutting us to pieces.  A few managed to crawl to the base of the fort, others tried to retreat, but this was made impossible by a barrage being thrown over our heads from the fort to prevent retreating.

"We were in a pretty fix, with the fort raking our ranks from the front and shells exploding at our rear.  History states that we entrenched ourselves.  The only entrenching we did was hug the ground and dig with our noses and toes."

After prolonged exposure to withering musketry and cannon fire, the sailors carrying only "cutlasses, well sharpened, and ... revolvers" (as per Ad. Porter's orders) broke and ran, carrying the Marines with them.

--Old B-R'er

Marines at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher

From American Civil War Marines 1861-1865 by Ron Field.

This was the engagement where Sgt. Richard Binder received his Medal of Honor although he remained on the USS Ticonderoga and was not in the Naval Column.

The Naval Brigade, which attacked Fort Fisher along the beach while Army regiments  moved along the river side in their simultaneous attack of the fort.  It was under command of  Cmdr. Kidder R. Breese and consisted of 1600 sailors and 400 Marines.

Deployed as sharpshooters during the advance of the Naval Brigade, the Marines, under Captain Lucian L. Dawson, the senior officer of the squadron, were caught up in a generally disorganized assault in which the Army attack was delayed.  Hopelessly pinned down at the base of the defenses of the fort, a few Marines managed to to pass through a breech blown in the 9-foot palisades but were forced to fall back with heavy casualties.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on the New Fort Fisher Visitors Center

From February 21, 2024, BNN Breaking  "Reviving history:  Fort Fisher's new visitor center aims to redefine historical exploration in Kure Beach" by Sakchi Khandelwal.

It's been a journey of persistence and vision, starting in 2009, to bring the new visitor center to Fort Fisher from conception to construction.  Now, with the project underway and scheduled to be completed by Labor Day things are moving along swiftly.

Jim Steele, the Fort Fisher Historic Site Manager, says:  "The new center is not just a building; it's a gateway for visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of our history."

The budget for the whole undertaking is $25 million.  Throughout the whole process, feedback from the public has been a cornerstone of it.

--Old B-R'er

The New Fort Fisher Visitors Center Progressing

From February 21, 2024, WWAY News, Wilmington, N.C. "Fort Fisher Visitor Center Undergoing Finishing Touches" by Emily Andrews.

I've been watching this with more than a little interest as this old Confederate fort is my absolute favorite Civil War place.  Because of it I ended up being a teacher so I could work with history.

The so-far 18-month project began in October 2022 and has a price tag of $25 million.

Right now, plans are for having a ribbon-cutting ceremony this coming Labor Day.

--Old B-Runner