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 Baltimore-- Part 3: Multi Service During the War

The Baltimore was seized by the Union Army on the Potomac River on April 21, 1861, and turned over to the Navy department where it was commissioned the same month with Lieutenant J.H. Russell in command.

During the Civil War, the Baltimore was used as an ordnance vessel between the Washington Navy Yard and  nearby ammunition depots.  She was also used to ferry Army troops across the Potomac River.

On 19 May 1861, she ran aground at the mouth of the Potomac and was attacked by a Confederate Navy ram.  Nine people were killed.  She was refloated with the assistance of the USS  Mount Vernon (was at both Battles of Fort Fisher).

After that, the Baltimore saw some service with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as a dispatch and supply vessel.

On May 9, 1862, she transported President Abraham Lincoln and Secretaries  Edwin M. Stanton and Salmon P. Chase, from Fort Monroe to Norfolk, Virginia, to get a close up view of the  destroyed Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.

The Baltimore was turned over to Norfolk Navy Yard on May 22, 1865, and sold on June  24, 1865, at Washington, D.C.

--Old B-Runner

USS Baltimore-- Part 2: Built in Philadelphia and Captured By U.S. Army on Potomac River in 1861

From Wikipedia.

Sidewheel steamer.

Launched 1848.  Acquired by capture  April 21, 1861.  Commissioned April 186.1 Decommissioned May 22, 1865.  Sold June 24, 1865.

500 tons 200 feet long, 26.8 foot beam

Armament  one 32-pounder smoothbore gun.

The Baltimore was built in 1848 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and captured on the Potomac River between Aquia Creek and Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Army on April 21, 1861.

--Old B-Runner

Lincoln's Trip-- Part 15: Return to Washington, D.C.

Gustavus Fox wrote:  "Our return back [to Washington] was smooth and pleasant and the President himself delighted."

It appears the Baltimore's return passage wasn't as speedy as the trip down.  City Point accounts have Lincoln departing late in the afternoon and Washington observers have him returning mid-to-late afternoon the next day, making the travel time roughly 22-24 hours.

Perhaps navigating on the Potomac after dark wasn't as safe as on the more open Chesapeake Bay on the way down, forcing the Baltimore to anchor for a couple hours near the river's mouth until it was light enough to proceed.

--Old B-Runner

April 22, 1865: Still Looking for J.W. Booth

These entries are taken from the Civil War Naval Chronology.

APRIL 22ND, 1865:  Secretary Welles warned the Potomac Flotilla that "[John Wilkes] Booth was near Bryantown last Saturday [April 15], where Dr. Mudd set his ankle, which was broken by the fall from his horse.  The utmost vigilance is necessary in the Potomac and Patuxet to prevent his escape.  All boats should be searched...."

The condition of alert remained in effect until word of the assassin's death on 26 April was received.

--Old B-R'er

Aaron Anderson-- Part 4: The Potomac Flotilla

The Union's Potomac Flotilla began as a thrown-together collection of small steamers assigned to hold the Potomac River and protect Washington, D.C..  Some were former side wheel ferry boats like the one Anderson was assigned to, the USS Wayandank.

Eventually the Potomac Flotilla grew to twenty vessels operating out of Washington Navy Yard.  Its goal was to harass and drive off Confederate troops along and near the Potomac River, conduct raids (such as the one Anderson was on) prevent smuggling and to disrupt Confederate operations.  A particular emphasis was on the area known as the Northern Neck.

--Old B-Runner

February 24, 1862: Instructions to Buchanan-- Part 2

"It is one also that may be rendered destructive at night against the enemy at anchor.  Even without guns the ship would, it is believed, be formidable as a ram.  Could you pass Old Point and make a dashing cruise in the Potomac as far as Washington, its effect upon the public mind would be important to our cause.

"The condition of our country, and the painful reverses we have just suffered, demand our utmost exertions; and convinced as I am that the opportunity and the means of striking a decisive blow for our navy are now, for the first time, presented, I congratulate you upon it, and know that your judgement and gallantry will meet all just expectations.

"Action, prompt and successful just now, would be of serious importance to our cause."

Strike Now While the Iron Is Hot.  --Old B-R'er

There Was a Fort Foote Though

Even though Brigadier general John A. McClernand "named" Ford Henry as Fort Foote, which never happened, there eventually was a real Fort Foote named after him.  This one was built in 1863 to guard Washington, D.C..

It was built on Rozier's Bluff, overlooking the Potomac River and had the biggest guns in all of the capital's defenses.

After the war it was used as a prison and testing site for gunnery.

Some of its earthworks remain, as do two of the cannons.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, January 12, 1862: USS Pensacola Runs the Potomac River Confederate Blockade

JANUARY 12TH, 1862:  The USS Pensacola, Captain Henry W. Morris, successfully ran down the Potomac past Confederate batteries at Cockpit and Shipping Points.  The Pensacola reached Hampton Roads on 13 January, demonstrating that the restriction of travel on the river, imposed by the Confederate batteries, was being steadily lessened.

The Confederates Blockading Washington, D.C..  --Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, January 1, 1862: Action on the Potomac River

JANUARY 1, 1862:  The USS Yankee, Lt. Eastman, and USS Anacostia, Lt. Oscar C. Badger, exchanged fire with Confederate batteries at Cockpit Point, Potomac River; the Yankee was damaged slightly.

Attacks by ships of the Potomac Flotilla were instrumental in forcing the withdrawal of strong Confederate emplacements along the river.  Batteries at Cockpit and Shipping Point were abandoned by 9 March 1862.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, October 22, 1861: Potomac River Commanded By Confederate Batteries Below Alexandria

OCTOBER 22ND, 1861:  Captain T.T. Craven, commanding the Potomac Flotilla, reported the Potomac River was commanded by Confederate batteries at all important points below Alexandria.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, October 11, 1861: Action on the Potomac River

OCTOBER 11TH, 1861:  Lt. Abram Harrell of the USS Union, with three boat crews, cut out and burned a Confederate schooner in Dumfries Creek on the Potomac River.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, September 21, 1861: Another Capture on the Potomac River

SEPTEMBER 21, 1861:  Boat under Midshipman Edward A. Walker from USS Seminole, Commander Gillis, captured sloop Maryland on the Potomac River.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, September 18-19, 1861: More Confederate Ships Captured

SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1861:  The USS Rescue, Master Edward L. Haines, captured Confederate schooner Harford with cargo of wheat and tobacco on the Potomac River.

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1861:  The USS Gemsbock, Acting Master Cavendy, captured blockade running schooner Harmony en route Nova Scotia to Ocracoke, N.C..

--Old B-Runer

USS Jacob Bell-- Part 1: One of the Oldest Gunboats Acquired By the Union Navy

On August 23, 1861, the USS Jacob Bell is mentioned in one source as engaging a Confederate battery at Potomac Creek on the Potomac River.

From Wikipedia.

USS Jacob Bell (1842).  Sidewheel steamer, 141 feet long, 21 foot beam, 8 foot hold, one 32-pdr, one 8-inch Dahlgren smoothbore.  Built 1842 by  Brown & Bell of New York City.  Purchased by the Navy 22 August 1861 and commissioned the same day under Lr. Edward P. McCrea.

this was definitely a rush job.  Being built in 1842, the ship was also one of the oldest purchased by the Navy.

It was immediately sent to the Potomac River where it joined the steamship USS Ice Boat in shelling the Confedeertae Battery at the mouth of Potomac Creek the next day.

I have to wonder about a ship named the Ice Boat being in the Union Navy, so will have to find out more information about it.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Engagement at Potomac Creek, Virginia

AUGUST 23, 1861:  The USS Release and USS Yankee engaged Confederate batteries at the mouth of Potomac Creek, Virginia.

Potomac Creek is a 16.7 mile long tidal tributary of the Potomac River and empties into it at Marlboro Point.

The U.S. Dept. of the Interior mentions that on August 22, 1861, the USS Jacob Bell and Release (ice boat) engaged batteries at Marlboro Point and Potomac Creek, Virginia, in its National Register of Historic Places.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Two Floating Torpedoes Found in Potomac River

JULY 7, 1861:  Two floating torpedoes (mines) in the Potomac River were picked up by the USS Resolute, Acting Master W. Budd-- the earliest-known use of torpedoes by the Confederates.  During the course of the war a variety of ingenious torpedoes destroyed or damaged 40 Union ships, forecasting the war growth to come in this aspect of underwater warfare.

--Old B-R'er

CSS George Page

From Wikipedia.

I had never heard of the CSS George Page before so had to do some more research.  Good old Wikipedia.

The George Page was a 410-ton sidewheel steamer built as a transport vessel in Washington, D.C. in 1953.  It was attached to the Quartermaster's Department of the U.S. Army until captured by Confederates at Aquia Creek, Virginia in May 1861.  It then became a ship in the Virginia State Navy.

Later acquired by the Confederate States Navy and commanded by Lt. Charles Carroll Simms, the ship was fitted out for river defense.  It was later renamed the City of Richmond and at some point the upper works may have been removed. (The 292 Group says this new name was considered, but not given because the ship had previously been in the U.S. government employ.)

The CSS George Page operated in the Potomac River around Quantico Creek.  On July 7, 1861, it was damaged by cannon fire from the USS Pocahontas.  It was destroyed by its crew upon the abandonment of the Evansport batteries on March 9, 1862.

It mounted two guns.

Simms was assigned to the CSS Rappahannock after the destruction of his ship and went on to serve in various positions throughout the war.

--Old B-R'er

The Piratical Capture of the St. Nicholas-- Part 1: Disguised as a Woman

From the July 2, 1861, New York Times.

This past Tuesday, June 28, I wrote about the seizure of the Union steamer St. Nicholas.  Here is what the New York Times had to say about it back then.

PIRATICAL CAPTURE OF THE STEAMER ST. NICHOLAS

"The seizure of the steamer St. Nicholas, from this post as mentioned in our Washington dispatches, proves to have been a bold piratical expedition.

"When the steamer left here on Friday evening, she had on board about 50 secession passengers, most of whom were disguised as mechanics, going to Points on the Maryland shore of the Potomac.

"Among the number was Capt. HOLLINS, late of the United States ship Susquehannah, who was disguised, some accounts say, as a woman, and retired to a state room immediately on going on board the steamer.

I Like How They Considered It a Piratical Act.    --Old B-R'er

James Harmon Ward, USN-- Part 2: Commanded the Potomac Flotilla During the Civil War

James Ward commanded the USS Cumberland during the Mexican War (later sunk by the CSS Virginia in 1862), the USS Vixen 1848-1850 and later the USS Jamestown.  He wrote "The Manual of Naval Tactics" in 1860 while at the New York Navy Yard.

With the coming of the Civil War, he proposed a "Flying Squadron" to use against the Confederates on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River and he was placed in command of it.  The USS Thomas Freeborn was his flagship and the rest of the fleet consisted of the USS Freelance, the USS Alliance and three Coastal Survey ships.  (I found no mention of a Freelance or Alliance listed for U.S. Navy ships during the war.)

Ward's fleet later became known as the Potomac Flotilla.  On June 1, they silenced Confederate batteries at Aquia Creek, Virginia.  On June 27th, at what became known as the Battle of Mathias Point, Ward sent landing parties ashore but they were driven back.  While engaging the foe to cover his retreating sailors, Ward was struck by a bullet in the abdomen and mortally wounded and died within an hour.  He was the first U.S. naval officer killed during the war.

Ward was the great grandfather of actor Andy Devine.

The destroyer USS Ward (DD-139) was named for him.    This ship fired the first American shot in the War of 1812 when it engaged a Japanese mini-sub before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Fort Ward, a part of the Washington, D.C. defense during the Civil War was also named after him.

--Old B-Runner