Blockade-Runner Montana

From Vimeo "Montana/Nola-1863-- Civil War Blockade-Runner-- Bermuda Shipwreck" by Dr. Philippe Max Rouja.

A video accompanies this site.  The Montana was an elusive ship carrying many identities.  It made trips between England, Bermuda and North Carolina.

From Wikipedia.

The Montana was wrecked off the north coast of Bermuda on 30 December 1863.  It was 750 tons and the wreck is located in 25 feet of water.  It originally used the Nola name and was also called the Paramount and Gloria.  These names were used to confuse the Union ships watching for it.

When it ran aground, Captain Pittman was in command.  All the cargo and crew were saved.

Evidently, it ran into the shoals ion its maiden voyage as a blockade-runner.

It is a favorite dive site in Bermuda.

--Old B-Runner

What Matthew F. Maury Had to Say-- Part 1

Maury's reply to his family was characteristic of the stout integrity and dedication of so many naval officers on both sides during the Civil War.  He did not want to be a court drone, but to earn a living--and help make a better world.

"I have come here to provide a home for such of the conquered people as like to emigrate," he wrote.  "Suppose they do not thank me--well, there is still useful and honourable occupation for me here.  There are many things here with which I may identify myself and do good, such as organizing the census, a land survey for the Empire, a system of internal improvements; and though last, not least, the introduction of chinchona cultivation."

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Archives and Treasury Taken to Abbeville, S.C.

APRIL 24-29TH, 1865:  While in Augusta, Georgia,  with the Confederate archives and treasury, Lt. W.H. Parker learned the federal Government had rejected the convention of surrender drawn up between Generals Sherman and Johnston.  Parker withdrew his valuable cargo from the bank vaults, reformed his naval escort (consisting of Naval Academy midshipmen and sailors from the the Charlotte Navy Yard) and on the 24th set out for Abbeville, South Carolina.

He had previously concluded this to be most likely where the Davis party would pass en route to crossing the Savannah River.  Near Washington, Georgia, Parker met Mrs. Jefferson Davis, her daughter and Burton Harrison, the President's private secretary, proceeding independently to Florida with a small escort.

Gaining no information on the President's whereabouts, Parker continued to Abbeville, while Mrs. Davis' party resumed its journey southward.  On the 29th, Parker arrived in Abbeville, where he stored his cargo in guarded rail cars and ordered a full head of steam be kept in the locomotives in case of emergency.

Parker's calculations as to the probably movements of President Davis's entourage proved correct; the chief executive entered Abbeville three days after Parker's arrival,

--Old B-R'er

Infantry Marine Service?

I had come across the name of DeWitt C. Hotchkiss of the 112th New York Infantry who had served aboard the USS Monitor as a member of the Infantry Marine Service.  I had never heard of this group, the Infantry Marine Service.

He received a Medal of Honor at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, Jan. 15, 1865.

I inquired of the Yahoo! Civil War Navy and Marine Forum.

Steve Hesson called it a "confused collection of data.  The Monitor carried no "Infantry" or "Marines."  It sank in 1863 and was not at Fort Fisher.

Mason Howse said there was a Mississippi Marine Brigade Infantry from 1863 to 1865.  Both the Union and Confederate River defense coordinated with the Army.  The Marine Infantry was probably like a provost duty with different regiments assigned at different times.  It also could be a coalition of Marines and Infantry set up to storm fortified positions.

Chuck Viet said there was definitely confusion with a core of truth.  Hotchkiss probably served aboard a monitor, as the entire class was called and not THE Monitor.  He also believes there were a small number of infantry regiments designated as Marine.

Good and Confusing?  --Old B-Runner