November 20, 1863-- Part 1: Farragut Needs More Ships for Gulf Blockade

NOVEMBER 20TH, 1862:  Rear Admiral Farragut, eager to return to sea duty in the Gulf, informed Secretary Welles from New York that the USS Hartford and USS Brooklyn "will not be ready for sea in less than three weeks, from the best information I can obtain.

"I particularly regret it, because I see that General Banks is in the field and my services may be required."

The Admiral noted that he had received a letter from Commodore Bell. commanding  in his absence, which indicated that there was not enough ships to serve on the Texas coast and maintain the blockade elsewhere as well.

--Old B-Runner

October 16, 1863: USS Tennessee and the Blockade Runners

OCTOBER 16, 1863:  Commodore H.H. Bell reported that the USS Tennessee, Acting Lieutenant Wiggin, had seized blockade running British schooner Friendship off Rio Brazos, Texas, with a cargo of munitions from Havana, and caused the schooner Jane to be destroyed by her own crew to prevent her capture.

--Old B-Runner

September 25, 1863: An Epidemic Breaks Out in New Orleans

SEPTEMBER 26TH, 1863:  Epidemic sickness was one of the persistent hazards of extended blockade duty in warm climates.

This date, to illustrate, Commodore H.H. Bell reported to Secretary Welles from New Orleans:  "I regret to inform the Department that a pernicious fever has appeared on board the United States steamers repairing at this port from which some deaths have ensued.

"Some of the cases have been well-defined yellow fever, and others are recognized here by the names of pernicious and congestive fever."

A Dangerous Duty.  --Old B-R'er

March 28, 1862: Reconnaissance of New Orleans Defenses

MARCH 28TH, 1862:  Commander Henry H. Bell reported a reconnaissance in the USS Kennebec of the Mississippi River and Forts Jackson and St. Philip.  He noted that the "two guns from St. Philip reached as far downriver as any from Jackson" and called attention to the obstruction, "consisting of a raft of logs and eight hulks moored abreast" across the river below St. Philip.

Scouting missions of this nature enabled Flag Officer Farragut to make careful and precise plans which ultimately led to successful passage of the forts and capture of New Orleans.

--Old B-Runner

Bell Appointed to Command East India Squadron-- Part 2

Secretary Welles directed the new squadron commander "to guard with jealous care the honor and interests of your flag and country, defend the citizens of the United States, and protect and facilitate the commerce thereof within the limits of your command."

This squadron was the forerunner of today's Seventh Fleet, which alertly guards the long troubled shoreline of Asia from Siberia to Singapore.

--Old B-R'er

Commodore Bell Appointed to Command U.S. East India Squadron-- Part 1

JULY 31ST, 1865:  Commodore Henry H. bell was appointed by secretary Welles to command the East India Squadron, consisting of Admiral Farragut's former flagship USS Hartford as well as the USS Wachusett, Wyoming, and storeship Relief.

The command extended from the Strait of Sunda to the shores of Japan.

The Wachusett and Wyoming were already in the Pacific at the time having been ordered there by Secretary Welles to search for the Shenandoah.

Thus the East India Squadron was reactivated after being discontinued after the outbreak of the Civil War.

The Squadron had been initially established in 1835 when Commodore Edmond P. Kennedy commanded the sloop USS Peacock and the schooner Boxer on a cruise to Far Eastern waters.

--Old B-Runner

Fears At Mobile, Farragut Returns to Command

JANUARY 13, 1864:

Captain Thomas A Jenkins, senior officer at Mobile Blockade, wrote Cmdr. Henry H. Bell, temporary comander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron: "I must be permitted to say that, in my judgement, our present weakness at this point, and the incalculable benefits to accrue in the event of success, are a most tempting invitation for the enemy to attack us and endeavor to raise the blockade by capturing or destroying our vessels and to open the way to other successes."

**  Rear Admiral Farragut had arrived at Key West, Florida on the 12th of January and was on his way to take command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago-- December 2, 1863: Confederate Operations at Mobile Bay

DECEMBER 2ND:

Rear Admiral Porter reports that his gunboats have achieved great success operating along the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. His ships had covered Sherman's corps' crossing of the river that led to the great success at Chattanooga.

The Mississippi Squadron continues to patrol the rivers and restricting Confederate movements who continue to attempt to build batteries along the banks.

**  Commodore H.H. Bell, acting commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron reports on Confederate naval activity in Mobile Bay. The CSS Gaines and Morgan mounted ten guns, the CSS Selma four as did the nearly completed ironclad CSS Nashville. All were sidewheelers.

Ironclad rams CSS Baltic, Huntsville and Tennessee all mounted four guns. The Tennessee was Admiral Buchanan's flagship and was "strong and fast." The CSS Gunnison was fitted as a torpedo boat with 150 pounds of powder and another screw steamer was reported as fitting out, though a fire had destroyed its upper works.

Busy Confeds. --Old B-R'er