Sunday, April 19, 2015

Watching for the CSS Stonewall

APRIL 27TH, 1865:  Commodore William Radford, commanding the James River Flotilla, stationed the USS Tristram Shandy at Cape Henry to watch for the CSS Stonewall.  The next day, Secretary Welles warned Radford that the Stonewall had sailed from Teneriffe, Canary Islands in 1 April and had steamed rapidly to the south.  "...Every precaution should be taken to guard against surprise and to prevent her inflicting serious injury should she make her appearance anywhere within the limits of your command...."

Welles sent the same directives to  Commander F.A. Parker of the Potomac Flotilla.

--Old B-R'er

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