155 Years Ago, December 26, 1861: Action At Savannah

DECEMBER 26TH, 1861:  Confederate fleet, including the CSS Savannah, Commodore Tattnall, Resolute, Sampson, Ida and Barton, attacked Union blockading ships at the mouth of the Savannah River.  Before returning to his anchorage under the guns of Fort Pulaski, Tattnall forced the blockaders to move seaward temporarily.

**  USS Rhode Island, Lt. Trenchard, captured Confederate schooner Venus southeast of Sabine Pass, off the Louisiana coast.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Gunboats On the Move on the Savannah River

DECEMBER 10-12TH, 1864:  The CSS Macon, CSS Sampson and CSS Resolute, under Flag Officer Hunter took Union shore batteries under fire at Tweedside on the Savannah River.  Hunter attempted to run his gunboats downriver to join in the defense of Savannah, but was unable to pass the strong Federal batteries.

The Resolute was disable din this exchange of of fire December 12th, and was abandoned and captured.  Recognizing that he could not get his remaining two vessels to Savannah, and having to destroy the railroad bridge over the Savannah River that he had been defending, Hunter took advantage of the unusually high water to move upstream to Augusta.

Also this date: The USS O.H. Lee captured the British schooner Sort off Anclote Keys, Florida, with cargo of cotton.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago Today: November 9, 1863-- The Confederate Navy at Savannah

NOVEMBER 9TH:

Intelligence on Confederate ships in Georgia reached Union Army and Navy commanders. The CSS SAVANNAH, Cmdr. Robert F. Pinckney, had two 7-inch and two 6-inch Brooke rifled guns and a torpedo mounted on her bow as armament and two other torpedoes in her hold. Her sides were plated with 4 inches of rolled iron and her speed in smooth water was about seven knots.

The CSS ISONDIGA was a wooden steamer reported to have old boilers and "unreliable" machinery.

The frames of two other rams were on the stocks at Savannah, but no iron could be obtained to complete them.

The CSS RESOLUTE was thought to be awaiting to run the blockade and had been converted to a tender. All cotton in Savannah being transferred to Wilmington to run the blockade.

The CSS GEORGIA was a floating battery commanded by Lt. Washington Gwathmey, CSN, was anchored near Fort Jackson and reported to be a failure.

Such intelligence enabled the Union to constantly update the blockade. Obviously, with perhaps the exception of the CSS Savannah, there was no threat at Savannah and the fact that cotton was being moved to Wilmington meant that the port had successfully been closed.

--Old B-R'er