USS Nightingale-- Part 7: Service in the East Coast Blockading Squadron and Pensacola

The Nightingale was with the  USS Preble, USS Richmond, USS Vincennes and USS Water Witch in the Mississippi River near the Head of Passes when the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Manassas, accompanied by the Confederate steamers CSS Ivy and CSS James L. Day attacked on 12 October.

During the action, she was run aground, but the Southern ships did not press their advantage.  The Nightingale was refloated a few days later and sailed to New York with prisoners  o war and booty.

The Nightingale returned to the Gulf in the same year with a cargo of coal and supplies for the Union blockaders.

During most of 1862, she served the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, operating out of Key West. Early in 1863, she became an ordnance ship at Pensacola, Florida,  and continued this duty until returning to Boston, Massachusetts, on 9 June 1864

The Nightingale was decommissioned on 20 June 1864 at Boston Navy Yard and sold at public auction to D.E. Mayo on 11 February 1865.

Her Warship Days Were At An End.  --Old B-Runner

Confederate Naval Officers: Joseph Fry

From the Naval War Records:  Confederate Naval Officers.

Born in Florida.  Appointed from Florida.

Resigned as lieutenant U.S. Navy, February 1, 1861.

First Lieutenant   March 26, 1861

First lieutenant October 23, 1862, to rank from October 2, 1862.

First lieutenant Provisional Navy, June 2, 1864 to rank from January 6, 1864

Served on CSS Ivy 1862, CSS Maurepas, Mississippi River, 1862.  Wounded

Special Service 1863-64

Surrendered May 4, 1865, Mobile, Alabama; paroled May 10, 1865.

Killed November 7, 1873, at Santiago, Cuba.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, October 12, 1861-- Part 1: Confederates Attack At Head iof Passes, Mississippi River

OCTOBER 12TH, 1861:  Confederate metal-sheathed ram Manassas, Commodore Hollins, CSN, in company with the armed steamer Ivy and James L. Day, attacked the USS Richmond, Vincennes, Water Witch, Nightingale and Preble near the Head of Passes on the Mississippi River.

In this offensive and spirited action by the small Confederate force, the Manassas rammed the Richmond and forced her and the Vincennes aground under heavy fire before withdrawing.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, October 9, 1861: Css Ivy Engages Union Fleet at Head of Passes on Mississippi River

OCTOBER 9TH, 1861:  Confederate steamer Ivy, Lt. Joseph Fry, attacked U.S. blockading vessels at Head of Passes, Mississippi River; no damage caused but long range of the Ivy's guns alarmed Union naval officers.

--Old B'R'er

Tracking Down Charles Morfit, CSN, and His Letter-- Part 1

From www.jlkstamps.com.

I wrote about this man last week in this blog. This person sure did a lot of research on a person not well-known when it comes to the Civil War Navy. It also gives a good account of problems facing the Confederate Postal Service.

They were preparing a close look at the movements of both the letter and Mr. Morfit.

In early Feb. 1862, a letter was posted at Macon, Georgia, for Charles M. Morfit, CS Navy, CSS Steamer Ivy, at New Orleans, Louisiana. However, when the letter arrived, Morfit was no longer there as the Ivy had been sent upriver and the letter was forwarded to Columbus, Kentucky.

However, Fort Donelson fell on February 16th and Columbus was evacuated Feb. 20th so the letter was sent downstream to the Confederate stronghold at New Madrid, Missouri.

Forget Where's Waldo. Where's Charles? --Old B-Runner