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

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

Some More on Blockade Runner Dan

I was able to find a little more on the steamer Dan.  

It was run aground near Waccamaw Neck, near Charleston, South Carolina, not near Wilmington as it seemed according to my first source.  This threw off my search.

The Dan must have been trying to run into Wilmington, but couldn't.  Waccamaw Neck isn't too far from Wilmington and is part of the Myrtle Beach S.C., Grand Strand.  The town of Pawley's Island is on it.

In 2004, a large Parrott shell was found at a construction site at Murrell's Inlet.  Its origin is not known, but thought to have been fired at a Confederate fort  at Murrell's Inlet.  Also, on June 1, 1863, there was a skirmish between the Confederate blockade runner Rose and two Union warships.  The Rose ran aground, but the Confederates managed to drive off the Union ships.

Also, another skirmish took place on January 7, 1864, at Debordieu Beach when the Confederate blockade runner Dan ran aground and was set on fire to prevent capture.  Today, the beach is a private resort area.

--Old B-Runner

Blockade Runner Dan

Kind of interesting that I was just writing about a blockade runner named Don and now we have one named Dan.  Brothers?

From American Civil War High Command  North Carolina.

January 7, 1864, Thursday.

NORTH CAROLINA

The steamer Dan failed to run the blockade into Wilmington and was beached to avoid capture.

The crew was captured other than three men who drowned.

I am unable to find out any more about this ship.

--Old B-Runner