James Crosby Long, CSN-- Part 3

From Tennessee History Quarterly "Tennessee's Confederate Marines:  Memphis Detachment" by David M. Sullivan.

James Long was at the famed Battle of Hampton Roads for both days, including of course, the historic battle between the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor.  Not only was he there, but he was also on the Virginia.

Inside the Virginia's iron walls were 14 Tennesseans, including Acting Midshipmen Robert Chester Foute and James Crosby Long.  Also, there were 12 enlisted men of the Confederate States Marine Corps.  The Marines had been recruited from rivermen, dock workers and roustabouts who had been recruited in Memphis in the summer of 1861.

The book says that Long became an officer on the CSS Virginia on March 1, 1862, right before the battle.  Foute arrived just two weeks earlier on February 12, 1862.

Old B-Runner

James Crosby Long, CSN-- Part 2: Service

Served on:

C.S.R.S.  (Confederate States Receiving Ship) United States 11861

CSS Curlew 1861-62

CSS Virginia; participated in the Battle of Hampton Roads, Va., March 8-9, 1862

Drewry's Bluff, Va. 1862

CSS Steamers Richmond and Patrick Henry, James River Squadron 1862-63

CSS Savannah, Savannah Squadron, 1863-64

CSS Albemarle, 1864

Blockade Runner Owl, 1865

Old B-R'er

James Crosby Long, CSN-- Part 1

A few posts ago, I also mentioned this person as being involved in the attack on the mailboat Fawn.

From Register of Confederate Navy Officers.

The source I was using listed his name a s James H. Long, but it was actually James C. Long.

Born and appointed from Tennessee.

Resigned as acting midshipman from U.S. Navy, May 15, 1861.  Acting Midshipman July 3, 1861.  Passed Midshipman January 8, 1864.  Master in line for promotion, Provisional Navy, June 2, 1864.

--Old B-R'er

The Attack on the Mailboat Fawn-- Part 1: Grab the Money and Run

From "The Blue and Gray:  The Patriotic American Magazine Vol. 2: by Frank P. O'Brien.

He reported that during his scouting trips around Chowan Sound and Elizabeth City, he found that there were two mailboats making regular semi-weekly trips between Roanoke Island and Norfolk and that on a certain day the U.S. paymaster would go to Roanoke Island from Norfolk on the mailboat Fawn.

"I returned to Plymouth and reported the information, which was perfectly reliable,  to Captain James [John] Maffitt, of 'Florida' fame, who was soon after the engagement of May 5 (when the CSS Albemarle attacked the Union fleet off Plymouth, N.C.), had relieved  Captain Cooke of the command of the 'Albemarle."

"Captain Maffitt organized a  a crew to carry out my idea of capturing the boat.  Master's Mate James H. Long was placed in command, but on the eve of leaving he was  ordered not to go, as he had but recently recovered from a severe spell of sickness.  

"Mr. Shelley, sailing-master, took his place."

So, evidently an aim was to get the paymaster funds.

--Old B-Runner