Back to Cape Romain, SC: The Lighthouses

Continued from October 5.  From the Lighthouse Friends site.

The USS George Mangham was ordered to patrol off this point between Charleston and Georgetown, South Carolina.

There are two lighthouses standing guard at Capr Romain.

Funds for the first Cape Romain Lighthouse were made available through a $10,000  appropriationm passed on March 3, 1823.  The first site selected didn't pan out and another was picked.  However, work did not begin until 1826 and with the cost of $17,000 more.

It was constructed on Raccoon Key (also known as Lighthouse Island)  and is a traditional brick conical tower with a height of 65 feet.  It was finished in 1827 and its main function was to warn mariners of some treacherous shoals nine miles southeast of the lighthouse.

However, a weak signal made the light a failure, so a new one was constructed and put into service in 1858.  This one stood  150 feet tall with a first order Frensl lens

Three years after the new tower opened, Fort Sumter was fired upon just a few miles south.  Confederate forces extinguished the light and even destroyed the lens and lantern room to prevent Union forces from using it.

Following the war, it we reequipped and put back into service.

--Old B-Runner

Cape Romain, South Carolina

The USS George Mangham was ordered to patril off Cape Romain.

Cape Romain, South Carolina, is located about half way between Charleston and Georgetown.  It is now part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, extending 22 miles along the state's coast.  The headquarters  and visitor center is located about 30 minutes by car from Charleston on US-17.

It is the site of two surviving lighthouses, the oldest one was the one John Collins was ordered to inspect.  Bulls Island is a part of it.

As they say, it hosts a plethora of wildlife.

Plethora?  --Old B-Runner

Some More on John Collins: Blockading Cape Romain, S.C.

From Official Records Navy (ORN).

On August 1, 1862, the mortar ships were at Hampton Roads and John Collins was listed as in command of the USS George Mangham.  So, evidently, he was back.

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On April 2, 1864, the USS George Mangham, now part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, was ordered to proceed to Cape Romain, S.C., and blockade the main channel which ran by the lighthouse.

In addition, the ship was to anchor as near to the lighthouse as possible and to reconnoiter the island if the opportunity offered.

The commander of the Mangham at the time was none other than John Collins Jr.

--Old B-Runner

John Collins, Acting Master, USN-- Part 3: Enter John M. Richard(son)

I came across an article in the 2014  Quarterly Bulletin of the Boulder Genealogical Society about the naval service of John Marshall Richard(son), who also served on the USS George Mangham for part of the war.

He was appointed Acting Master's Mate and ordered to David D. Porter's mortar flotolla for the attacks on Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

On December 31, 1861, he was ordered to join the crew of the USS George Mangham.

This was while the ship was under the command of John Collins, Jr., but, on April 8, 1862, Lt. Commander Walter W. Queen of the schooner USS T. A. Ward and told that he was relieved of command of the Mangham and was to turn over all papers relating therefor to the executive officer of the ship, John M. Richards.

In the last post I said it was my belief that Collins had remained in command of the USS George Mangham for the whole war.

Shows what I know and don't.

--Olf Clueless

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

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 George Mangham: A Mortar Boat

The last two posts mentioned a Union ship I'd never heard of before, so you know what that means.  Wikipedia, here I come.

From Wikipedia.

USS GEORGE MANGHAM

The George Mangham was a wooden schooner built in 1854 and acquired by the Union Navy at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21 September 1861 and commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 11 January 1862.  Acting Master  John Collins, Jr., was commander.  It was a mortar boat.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

110 feet length

28  foot beamSpeed:  10 knots

Armament:  

One 13-inch mortar

two 32-pounder guns

Continued September 10.

--Old B-Runner

Maybe This Is the Blockade Runner Dan?-- Part 2

In the afternoon of January 7, 1864,  both the Aries and Montgomery left for their blockade stations and the rebel steamer was boarded by the Mangham's  executive officer, who reported that some of the ship's cargo was still aboard.

Collins did not deem it advisable to stay around any longer as night was approaching and did not make any effort to get any of the cargo.  The Union ship then set sail to get farther outside and just after they sailed a short distance, the rebel steamer  exploded with a great crash.  He believed that the fires set by  Union forces the day before had reached her powder.

During the day, groups of rebel cavalry were seen at various points along the beach but no resistance made by them.

So, Was This the Blockade Runner Dan?  --Old B-Runner

Maybe This Is the Blockade Runner Dan?-- Part 1

Again, finding out about this blockade runner is not easy.  However, I came across this entry in the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and the parameters seem to fit the hapless steamer Dan.

Page 224

Report of Acting Master John Collins, Jr., U.S. Navy, commanding  U.S.  schooner  George Mangham, regarding  the destruction of a blockade runner at Lockwood's Folly Inlet, January 7, 1864.

On the afternoon of the 7th, a sail was spotted and the George Mangham got underway and discovered it was a blockade runner being closely pursued by the  U.S. steamers Aries and Montgomery and that it had run ashore.  The U.S. ships sent  boats  in after her.  These boats lost a number of men, including one boat from the Montgomery.

The next moring, the George Mangham was requested to cover a second landing at the blockade runner with the purpose of bringing her off the beach.  The Mangham anchored close in and shelled the beach and rebel steamer at intervals during the morning.

--Old B-Runner