March 11, 1865: Naval Hookup With Sherrnan at Fayetteville

MARCH 11TH, 1865:  Lieutenant Commander George W. Young, senior officer present off Wilmington, led a naval force consisting of the USS Eolus and boat crews from the USS Maratanza, Lenapee and Nyack up the Cape Fear River to Fayetteville, where they rendezvoused with General Sherman's army.

The naval movement had been undertaken at the request of Major General Terry, who,Young reported, had said on the morning of the 11th "that he was about starting an expedition up the North West Branch [of the Cape Fear River] for the purpose of clearing the way to to Fayetteville, and wished to have one of the gunboats, as a support, to follow."

The expedition was halted for the night at Devil's Bend because of "the circuitous nature of the river", but resumed the next morning and arrived at Fayetteville on the evening of the 12th.

In addition to opening communications between Sherman and the Union forces on the coast, the naval units arrived in time to protect the general's flank while he crossed the river.

--Old B-Runner

March 3, 1865: Clearing the Cape Fear of Torpedoes-- Part 2

This date Lieutenant Commander Ralph Chandler, USS Lenapee, reported to Lieutenant Commander George W. Young, Senior Naval Officer at Wilmington:  "In obedience to your order of the 1st instant, I got underway with this vessel on the 2nd instant and proceeded up the North West Branch  to a a point where the Cape Fear River forms a junction with the Black River.

"The bends of the river I found too short to attempt to get the vessel higher without carrying away the wheelhouses and otherwise damaging the ship.  I remained  there until 1 o'clock p.m. to-day.

"During the night some negroes came down, and, on questioning them, they informed me that they had been told that General Sherman's forces were at a town called Robeson, 20 miles from Fayetteville."

--Old B-R'er

U.S. Navy Ships Rendezvous With Sherman at Fayetteville, N.C.

MARCH 11-12TH, 1865:  Lt.Cmdr. George W. Young, senior officer present off Wilmington, led a naval force consisting of  the USS Eolus and boat crews from the USS Maratanza, Lenapee and Nyack up the Cape Fear River to Fayetteville where they rendezvoused with General Sherman's army.

The expedition had been undertaken at the request of Major General Terry, who, Young reported,  had said on the morning of the 11th 'that he was about an expedition up the North West Branch [of the Cape Fear River]  for the purpose of clearing the way to Fayetteville, and wished to have one of the gunboats, as a support, to follow."

The expedition was halted for the night at devil's Bend because of "the circuitous nature of the river", but resumed the next morning and arrived at Fayetteville on the evening of the 12th.

In addition to opening communication between Union forces on the coast, the naval units arrived in time to protect the general's flank while he crossed the river.

Another Objective Accomplished.  --Old B-R'er

Union Navy Still Active in the Cape Fear River

MARCH 3RD, 1865:  General Sherman's large army, marching parallel to the coast from Columbia in order to keep sea support near at hand, steadily approached Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The Navy continued to clear the Cape Fear River of torpedoes and obstructions so as to provide Sherman with a base at Wilmington for sea supply comparable to what he had at Savannah.  As the river was cleared light draft gunboats bumped up the river to be ready to open communication.

This date, Lt.Cmdr. Ralph Chandler, USS Lenapee, reported to Lt. Cmdr. George W. Young, Senior Naval Officer at Wilmington: "In obedience to your order of the 1st instant, I got underway with this vessel on the 2nd instant and proceeded up the North West Branch to a point where the Cape Fear River forms a junction with the Black River.

"The bends of the river I found too short to attempt to get the vessel higher without carrying away the wheelhouse and otherwise damaging the ship.  I remained there until 1 o'clock p.m. to-day.

:During the night some negroes came down, and, on questioning them, they informed me that they had been told that General Sherman's forces were at a town called Robeson, 20 miles from Fayetteville."

--Old B-Runner