Friday, June 24, 2016

155 Years Ago: Confederates Building "Infernal Submarine Vessel" at New Orleans

JUNE 24TH, 1861:  USS Pawnee, Commander Rowan, and the USS Tomas Freeborn, Commander Ward, shelled Confederate batteries at Matthias Point, Virginia.

JUNE 25TH, 1861:  Secretary of Navy Welles received a report that "the rebels in New Orleans are constructing an infernal submarine vessel to destroy the USS Brooklyn, or any vessel blockading the mouth of the Mississippi ... a projectile with a sharp iron or steel pointed prow to perforate the bottom of the vessel and then to explode."

It was also reported that "a formidable  floating battery [is] being built at Mobile, to be mounted with large guns of immense size and range to drive away or capture the ships, by engaging them at long range."

JUNE 26TH, 1861:  The USS Minnesota, Flag Officer Stringham, captured bark Sally Magee off Hampton Roads.

--Old B-Runner

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