June 1-4, 1865: Attacking Apalachicola

JUNE 1-4TH, 1865:  Lieutenant Commander Nathaniel Green, in the USS Itasca,  commanded the naval units in the combined Army-Navy movement to occupy Apalachicola, Florida.

Brigadier general Alexander Asboth, commanding the expedition, commended Green highly for his "nautical skill and efficiency, as well as his friendly willingness to aid" which the general reported, "materially contributed to the successful" execution of the mission.

--Old B-Runner

April 24, 1862: Farragut Runs Past Forts Jackson and St. Philip-- Part 1

APRIL 24TH, 1862:  Flag Officer Farragut's fleet ran past Forts Jackson and St. Philip and engaged the defending Confederate flotilla.  At 2:00 a.m., the USS Hartford had shown Farragut's signal for the fleet to get underway in three divisions to steam through the breach in the obstructions which had been opened earlier by the USS Pinola and Itasca.

A withering fire from the forts was answered by roaring broadsides from the forts.  The Hartford grounded in the swift current by Fort St. Philip, was set afire by a Confederate firecraft.  Farragut's leadership and the disciplined training of the crew saved the flagship.

A Sad Day for the Confederacy.  April Was Not a Nice Month.  --Old B-Runner

April 20, 1862: Union Ships Breach Fort Jackson Obstructions

APRIL 20TH, 1862:  The USS Itasca, Lt. Caldwell, and USS Pinola, Lt. Crosby, under the direction of Commander Bell, breached the obstructions below Forts Jackson and St. Philip under heavy fire, opening the way for Flag Officer Farragut's fleet.

Brigadier General Johnson K. Duncan, CSA, commanding the forts, complained that the River Defense Fleet had sent no fire rafts down "to light up the river or distract the attention of the enemy at night" and had stationed no ship below top warn of the approach of the Itasca and Pinola.

This lack of coordination proved most costly to the Confederacy.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, January 19, 1862: Blockade Runner Captured Off Florida

JANUARY 19, 1862:  The USS Itasca, Lt. Charles H.B. Caldwell, captured schooner Lizzie Weston off Florida en route to Jamaica with cargo of cotton.

--Old B-Runner

Apalachicola Occupied

JUNE 1-4TH, 1865:  Lt.Cmdr. Nathaniel Green of the USS Itasca commanded the naval units in a combined Army-Navy movement to occupy Apalachicola, Florida.  Brigadier General Alexander Asboth, commanding the expedition, commended Green highly for his "nautical skill and efficiency, as well as his friendly willingness to aid" which, the general reported, "materially contributed to the successful" execution of the mission."

Another Port Done Gone.  --Old B-R'er

More Blockade-Runners Captured

DECEMBER 8TH, 1864:  The USS J.P. Jackson and USS Stockdale capture the blockade-running schooner Medora in Mississippi Sound with cargo of cotton.

The USS Cherokee captured blockade-running British steamer Emma Henry off the coast of North Carolina with cargo of cotton.

The USS Itasca chased blockade-running sloop Mary Ann ashore at Pass Cavallo, Texas.  After removing its cargo of cotton, it was destroyed.

--Old B-Runner

More Blockade Runners Seized

DECEMBER 6TH, 1864:  USS Chocura, Lt.-Cmdr. Meade, seized blockade-running British schooner Lady Hurley off Velasco, Texas, with cargo including bar iron, steel, salt and medicines.  The Lady Hurley, according to Meade, was the consort of the Carrie Mair, captured by the USS Itasca a few days earlier.  She was the third prize taken by Meade in as few days as the Union blockade got tighter on the Texas coast.  Lots of crew prize money.

The USS Princess Royal captured blockade-running schooner Alabama after driving her aground near San Luis Pass, Texas.  Her crew abandoned ship and a boarding party worked her free and took the prize to Galveston.  Her cargo included iron bars, rope, flour and soda.

USS Sunflower seized blockade-running sloop Pickwick off St. George's Sound, Florida.

Capturing Blockade-Runners

NOVEMBER 24TH, 1864:  USS Chocura, Lt. Cmdr. Meade, sighted schooner Louisa and chased her ashore on the bar off San Bernard River, Texas.  A heavy gale totally destroyed the schooner before it could be boarded.

NOVEMBER 27TH, 1864:  USS Princess Royal seized blockade-running British schooner Flash in the Gulf of Mexico off Brazos Santiago with cargo of cotton.  Later that day, the Princess Royal also captured blockade-running schooner Neptune.

Lots of prize money for the Princess Royal, but Commander Woolsey reported: "The vessel was empty, having just a cargo of salt, said salt having, according to the master's statement, 'dissolved in her hold'."

The USS Metacomet, Lt.Cmdr. James Jouett, captured blockade-running steamer Susanna in the Gulf of Mexico off Campeche Banks.  Half her cargo of cotton was thrown overboard in the chase.  Rear Admiral Farragut had regarded the Susanna as "their fastest steamer."

NOVEMBER 30TH, 1864:  USS Itasca seized blockade-running British schooner Carrie Mair off Pass Cavallo, Texas.

--Old B-Runner