Charles Carroll Simms, CSN-- Part 2: Mobile Bay

After the destruction of the CSS Virginia, he was on the CSS Nansemond on the James River and later on the CSS Selma at Mobile Bay in the last year of the war.  He then commanded the ironclads CSS Baltic and CSS Nashville.

He surrendered to Union forces in early May 1865 and was soon afterwards paroled.

Simms died in 1884 and is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C..  Assistant Navy Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War Gustavus Vasa Fox is also buried there.

Charles Simm's father, John Douglas Simms, was chief clerk of the U.S. Navy and Acting Secretary of the Navy in 1841.  His grandfather, Col. Charles Simms was an officer in the American Revolution and Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia.

--Old B-R'er

Semmes Assumes Command of Confederate James River Squadron--

FEBRUARY 18TH, 1865:  Rear Admiral Semmes assumed command of the Confederate James River squadron.  "My fleet," he wrote, "consisted of three iron-clads and five wooden gunboats."

The ironclads, each mounting four guns, were the CSS Virginia No. 2, Richmond and Fredericksburg.  The wooden ships included the CSS Hampton, Nansemond, Roanoke, Beaufort and Torpedo; all mounted two guns except the torpedo which had just one.

Semmes also noted: "The fleet was assisted, in the defence of the river, by several shore batteries, in command of naval officers...."

I wonder what had happened to the CSS Patrick Henry?

--Old B-Runner

CSS Nansemond: Some More Information-- Part 2

From Wikipedia:  The Nansemond River, for whom the ship is named, is a 19.8 mile long tributary of the James River in Tidewater Virginia.  There is also a county and town by the same name.

OFFICERS ON THE CSS NANSEMOND as of October 1, 1864:  From ORN.

Charles W. Hays, Lt., commanding
E.L. Dick, Asst. Engineer
A.V. Rowe
James Turner, pilot
C.B. Bohannon, Acting Master's Mate
W.B. Littlepage

--Old B-R'er

CSS Nansemond: Some More Information-- Part 1

Frpm history.navy.mil site.

The CSS Nansemond was a 166-ton, twin-screw gunboat built at Norfolk, Virginia.  It was commissioned shortly before Norfolk fell to the Union forces and was taken up the James River where it spent the rest of its career defending Richmond.  It mounted two cannons, one fore and one aft.

In June-October, 1864, it took part in engagements at Trent's Reach, Dutch Gap and Fort Harrison.

It was burned 3 April 1865, to prevent capture and block the James River.

A LEGO model of it has been built and there is a scale model at Hampton Roads Naval Museum.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Nansemond

From wrecksite.com site

Saturday, I wrote about a ship named the CSS Nansemond taking part in the somewhat attack on Union ships in the James River.  I had never heard of a CSS Nansemond, but was aware of a USS Nansemond.  Had this one been captured by the Confederates?  Well, I had to do some more research.

The CSS Nansemond was a Maury-class 166 ton, wooden gunboat built by the Confederacy mounting two 8-inch pivot guns.

It was a part of the Confederate James River Fleet, consisting of the CSS Beaufort, Hampton, Roanoke, Shrapnel, Torpedo and ironclads Richmond, Fredericksburg and Virginia II which were deliberately sunk in the James River near Drewry's Bluff or Chaffin's Bluff to prevent capture and block the river.

Most were set on fire and blew up when the fire reached the magazines.

The Beaufort was later raised and pressed into Union service as the USS Beaufort.  The Torpedo was raised in 1865.

Then, There Was the Question of the Nansemond's Flag Which Led to a Medal of Honor.    --Old B-R'er