November 27, 1864: Explosion and Fire Destroys General Butler's Headquarters Steamer Greyhound-- Part 1

NOVEMBER 27TH, 1864:  An explosion and fire destroyed General Butler's headquarters steamer Greyhound, on the James River, Virginia, and narrowly missed killing Butler, Major General Schenck and Rear Admiral Porter who were on board for a conference on the the upcoming Fort Fisher expedition.

Because of the nature of the explosion, it is likely that one of the deadly Confederate coal torpedoes was responsible and had been planted in the Greyhound's boiler.

"The furnace door blew open," recalled Butler, "and scattered coals throughout the room."

The so-called "coal torpedo" was a finely turned piece of cast iron containing ten pounds of powder and made  to closely resemble a lump of coal, and was capable of being used with devastating effect.

--Old B-Runer