Wreck of the CSS Louisiana

Of course, whenever I read about a ship sinking I begin to wonder if the shipwreck has been found and where.   As a matter of fact, while I was still in school, I had  underwater archeology as one of my possible careers.

The wreckage of the CSS Louisiana  is on the bottom of the Mississippi River.  In November 1981,  it was magnetically located by NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency).  This was founded in 1978 by  Dr. Clove Cussler.

The expedition of that date was out looking for the ram Manassas, CSS Louisiana, CSS Governor Moore and USS Varuna.

They found the remains of the Manassas  after two days.  Then, they found the Moore and Varuna up the river where they grounded a few hundred yards apart on the east bank.

The Louisiana  lies deep under the shoreline mud a hundred yards in front of the southeastern embankment of Fort St. Philip.  You can easily walk the area during periods of low water.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Ironclads CSS Louisiana and Mississippi-- Part 1

I have been writing about the Confederate iron foundry in New Orleans named Leeds & Co. in my Saw the Elephant:  The Civil War blog in connection with cannons they made for the Confederacy.  Leeds cannons are quite rare in the artillery world because of the fact that New Orleans fell to Farragut so early in the war.

Yesterday I found out that Leeds also was involved with the iron on two Confederate rams that were built in New Orleans as well as an early submarine named the Pioneer I.  The source did not say what the name of the ironclads were, however.

Today, I learned that they were the CSS Louisiana and CSS Mississippi, two of the largest ironclads built in the Confederacy.  I had thought that perhaps it was the CSS Manassas.

I am not sure if the Leeds Foundry was to have something to do with the iron on the casemates or other materials on the ships.

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From Wikipedia

CSS LOUISIANA

The CSS Louisiana was a casemate ironclad built for the Confederate Navy to defend the lower Mississippi River (New Orleans)  She took part in one major action during the war, the defense of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.  When those forts fell, she was destroyed by her crew to prevent capture.

--Old B-Runner

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

Farragut Runs Past Forts Jackson and St. Philip-- Part 2

APRIL 24TH, 1864:  The USS Varuna was rammed by two Confederate ships and sunk.  In the ensuing melee, the CSS Warrior, Stonewall Jackson, General Lovell, and Breckinridge, tender Phoenix, steamers Star and Belle Algerine and Louisiana gunboat General Quitman were destroyed.

The armored ram CSS Manassas was driven ashore by the USS Mississippi and sunk.  Steam tenders CSS Landis and W. Burton surrendered; Resolute and Governor Moore were destroyed to prevent capture.

"The destruction of the Navy at New Orleans," wrote Confederate Secretary of Navy Mallory, "was a sad, sad blow...."

When the Union Navy passed the forts and disposed of the Confederate forces afloat, the fate of New Orleans was decided.  Farragut had achieved a brilliant victory, one which gave true meaning to Farragut's own words:  "The great man in our country must not only plan but execute."

He Sure Did.  Now, On the Anniversary of This, the Confederate monuments in New Orleans Begin to Come Down.  A Double Sad Day in New Orleans History.  --Old B-R'er

March 26,1862-- Part 1: Watch Out for Low Water and Confederate Gunboats

MARCH 26TH, 1862:  Flag Officer Foote, off Island No. 10, dispatched a warning to Commander Alexander M. Pennock, his fleet captain at Cairo:  "You will inform the commanders of the gunboats Cairo, Tyler, and Lexington not to be caught up the river with too little water to return to Cairo.  They, of course, before leaving, will consult the generals with whom they are cooperating.

"As it is reported on the authority of different persons from New Orleans that the rebels have thirteen gunboats finished and ready to move up the Mississippi, besides the four or five below New Madrid, and the Manassas, or ram, at Memphis, the boats now up the rivers and at Columbus or Hickman, should be ready to protect Cairo or Columbus in case disaster overtakes us in our flotilla."

Worried About Those Confederates

155 Years Ago, October 12, 1861-- Part 2: Confederate Attack on Mississippi River

Acting Master Edward F. Devens of the USS Vincennes observed:  "From the appearance of the Richmond's side in the vicinity of the hole, I should say that the ram had claws or hooks attached to her... for the purpose of tearing out the plank from the ship's side..  It is the most destructive invention...  Manassas resembles in shape, a cigar cut lengthwise, and very low in the water.

"She must be covered with railroad iron as all shells which struck her glanced off, some directly at right angles.  You could hear the shot strike quite plainly.  They did not appear to trouble her much as she ran up the river at a very fast rate."

Go Manassas.  --Old B-R'er

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

George N. Hollins, Sr., CSN-- Part 4: The Battle of the Head of the Passes and "Pope's Run"

From the Civil War Naval Encyclopedia.

In July 1861, George Hollins commanded the New Orleans Naval Station.  In October of that year, he seized the Manassas, a privately owned merchant ship undergoing conversion into a privateer ironclad ram.  He then ordered it and the other ships of his squadron to attack the Union squadron.

These blockading ships were under the command of Captain John Pope and located downriver from New Orleans at the Head of Passes.  Hollins and his ships drove them away on October 12 in what became known as "Pope's Run."

--Old B-Runner

Naval happenings 150 Years Ago: April 24th, 1862-- A Really Bad day for the Confederacy

From the Civil War Naval Chronology.

Perhaps Confederate ground forces were doing well so far in the war, but not so in the naval department.  Other than a few raiders getting put and doing damage and the CSS Virginia's first day attacking the Union fleet in Hampton Roads, the rest is just plain bad.

And today was one of the worst of all.

APRIL 24TH

Flag Officer Farragut's fleet ran past Forts Jackson and St. Philip and engaged the Confederate ships.  At 2 AM, the USS Hartford signaled to get underway in three divisions through the gap in the obstructions that had been opened.  A hot fight between the forts and ships developed.

The Hartford got aground near Fort St. Philip and was set afire by a fire raft.  Farragut directed the extinguishing of the fires. 

The USS Varuna was rammed twice and sank.  Eight Confederate ships were destroyed and the pride of the fleet, the CSS Manassas, was driven ashore by the USS Mississippi and sunk.  Two more surrendered and two others were sunk to prevent capture.

Confederate Secretary of the Navy Mallory wrote, "The destruction of the Navy at New Orleans was a sad, sad blow..."

The fate of New Orleans was decided.


**  The CSS Nashville made a successful run into Wilmington with 60,000 stand of arms and 40 tons of powder.

Well, One Good Thing, But That Sure Doesn't Offset the Loss of New Orleans.  --Old B-R'er

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: April 16th to 19th , 1862

APRIL 16TH

After careful preparations and planning, Flag Officer Farragut moves his fleet upthe Mississippi River to take position below the the Confederate forts. High water had caused flooding at the forts, mounting some 100 guns. A chain obstruction supported by hulks spanned the river.

Besides the forts and obstructions, Confederate defenses consisted of the uncompleted ironclad Louisiana, the ram Manassas, several small, makeshift gunboats and fire rafts. Farragut, in his flagships, the USS Hartford, had 17 ships mounting 154 guns and 20 mortar boats.


APRIL 18TH

**  The Confederate Congress, growing tired of Union successes on the water authorized contracts for the purchase of not more than six ironclads to be paid for with cotton.

**  Union mortar boats under Commander David D. Porter, began a five-day bombardment of Fort Jackson from 3,000 yards away.  They concentrated their shells, weighing as much as 285 pounds, on Fort Jackson, which was the nearest of the two forts that they could get too under cover of woods on shore.  The garrison heroically stuck to their guns.


APRIL 19TH

Mortar schooner USS Maria J. Carlson, bombarding Fort Jackson, was sunk by Confederate fire.  Commander Bell observed that the Confederate guns were being worked "beautifully and with effect."

Old B-Runner