USS New York (LPD-21)-- Part 5

The commissioning ceremony for the USS New York took place on November 7, 2009, in New YorkCity.    Speakers included Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Governor  David Paterson, Mayor Michael Blomberg, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead and Commandant of the Marine Corps General James T. Conway.

Approximately one in seven plank owners are from New York  state, a larger number than usual.  A plank owner is a member of a ship's company when it is commissioned.

The commissioning took place at the Intrepid Museum, Pier 88 South, Pier 86 North, NYC, NY.

Raphael Semmes Statue in Mobile-- Part 1: Dedicated in June 1900

From June 17, 2020, AL.com  "Mobile mayor, Confederate descendants battle over monument's fate" by John Sharp.

Electra Semmes Colston unveiled the statue of her late father during a 5 p.m. ceremony 120 years ago this June 27 and then the Excelsior band launched into the song "Dixie" and an artillery squad stationed at the foot of Government Street began firing an admiral's salute.

Moments later, then-Mayor J.C. Bush stepped onto the platform and accepted the statue of Confederate Navy Admiral Raphael Semmes on behalf of the city.

This was on the front page of the Mobile Daily Register

That acceptance of the statue has played out in recent days as ownership of that statue has come into question.

--Old B-Runner

Ralph Chandler, USN: Commanded USS Maumee At Fort Fisher

I found out that he commanded the USS Maumee at Fort Fisher.

From Find-A-Grave

Ralph Chandler

Born 3 August 1829 in Batavia, New York
Died 11 February 1889 in Hong Kong

Buried Hong Kong Cemetery.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.  Served in the Mexican War and Civil War and was at Fort Fisher commanding the USS Maumee.

Died in 1889 while in command of the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Fleet.

--Old B-Runner

Civil War Navy Trivia-- Part 2: Admirals and Another Blockade rRunner

3.  Name the Union admiral who got quite rick from his cut of prize money from his blockading squadron.  He made $109,689.  Quite a sum back then.

4.  Union Secretary of the Navy originally wanted who to command the attack on Fort Fisher?  After this admiral turned job down, Welles gave the assignment to David Dixon Porter.

5.  Originally named the Giraffe , it was bought by the Confederacy for $160,000 gold.  It was reputed to be the fastest vessel afloat at the time.  The sum spent paid off handsomely as the ship ran the blockade 21 times before its capture, bringing out at least 7,000 bales of cotton worth more than $2 million.

What was her name?

Answers below.

A NautiList.  --Old B-Runner


3.  Admiral Samuel P. Lee

4.  Admiral David G. Farragut

5.  Blockade Runner Robert E. Lee

Fort Fisher Closed Because of Flooding

I just read that Fort Fisher State Historic Site in North Carolina was closed on Monday because of all the rain and flooding.

--Old B-R'er

What is a Flag Officer?

I have been mentioning the term Flag Officer a lot in my Naval Happenings entries and my brother wanted to know exactly what a Flag Officer was.  I knew he was of high rank (like an admiral since they commanded a group of ships), but to tell you the truth, didn't really know for a fact.

So, did a little research and found out that a flag officer is a senior commissioned officer in the US Navy before the Civil War.  The Confederacy also used the rank.  The term rechnically means that the officer is so important, they can fly their own flag from the ship they command (I imagine one showing his rank).

Today, the term is no longer used, but would apply to an admiral.  Before the Civil War, a captain with a lot of seniority would be called a Flag Officer.  They would command their own ship and a squadron as well.

In 1862, Congress authorized the use of the title admiral for Flag Officers.  An admiral commanded a group of ships, but would have a Flag Captain command the ship he was on.

I Sometimes Call Them Flah Oggicers When I Hit the Wrong Keys.  --Old B-Runner