Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Private Grogan Sees the Brewster Hit by Fort Clifton

From the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction  History Center "Thomas E. Grogan, Private, US Army, 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry, 3rd Regiment, Company E."

In March 1864, Thomas Grogan  re-enlisted for a second tour of duty, which eventually took him to Fort Clifton, Virginia.  Federal gunboats attacked the fort and during the engagement, Confederate artillery disabled the army gunboat Samuel L. Brewster with a shot to her boiler.

On May 9, 1864, Grogan wrote that the Brewster was hit "that made her boiler explode and scaled  several of her crew.  The poor fellows could do nothing but jump overboard where there was rebels sharp shooters to pick them down.  This was all in our view but could do nothing for them.  

"We fought them all day but could do nothing, for they had the best of us."

--Old B-Runner

The source says the 162nd New York, but, it was not with Butler in Virginia or at Fort Fisher.  It might have been the 169th New York which was in both places.


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