The Last Christmas at Fort Fisher (1864)-- Part 2

All drills, inspections aqnd even guard mountings were suspended during the cold and icy weather, especially when the wind blew from the direction of the ocean.  A man hardly dared poke his nose out of the bunkers or tents, except to go for wood and water and to draw his rations.

Every style of camp architecture was to be found within the fort, including hut, hovel, shack and shed plus the underground bunkers inside the high earthworks around the fort itself.

Some of the men tried to bring some of the hilarity and cheerfulness into camp, and then again, some did not.  There were mixed emotions all morning with thoughts of family and home and the downfall of the war effort throughout the South.

--Old B-Runner

The Last Christmas at Fort Fisher (1864)--Part 1: Cheerless

From the December 2022 Federal Point Historic Preservation Society Newsletter.

From a 1973 Wilmington-Starc News article by Bill Reaves.

It was certainly a cheerless Christmas Eve, 133 years ago (now 158 years ago in 2022) inside the high earthen walls of Fort Fisher.  The weather was frightful and the Confederacy was on its knees.

Each Confederate soldier attempted to get some kind of dinner in honor of the holiday, and some were fortunate enough to receive some meager food boxes from Wilmington and surrounding areas.

Some were very unfortunate indeed whose homes were great distances away and they had nothing whatever delectable which would impart some memory of Christmas in the past.

Great genius was necessary to create a holiday dinner out of a pound of fat pork, six crackers and a quart of dried apples.  It was not impossible to see a bit of culinary art burst forth with apple dumplings, with which some sorghum molasses were not to be despised.

--Old B-Runner

So Glad to Be Back

You may have noticed that this blog, along with five other of my blogs, was not posted this past week.  The reason why was that I couldn't get to them.

The last post here was January 18 and I was unable to get back to it until today.

I did manage to accomplish a fair number of things around the house that needed to be done (plus took down the outside Christmas decorations in between ice chopping on the driveway) during the forced layoff as it were.  

I spend way too much time researching and two-fingered typing these posts.  One blog is enough for most people, but, unfortunately, not for me as I have EIGHT of them.

But, I sure do enjoy the researching.

Oh well, glad to be back.  Even with 4-8 inches of snow on the way.

Back To Shoveling That Driveway.  --Old B-Shoveler

The Battle of Legareville-- Part 1: Supposed to Be a Surprise Attack

From Wikipedia.

This was the battle where Robert Blake received his Medal of Honor along with three other of his shipmates.  I'd never heard of it before, so you-know-what I had to do.

It was fought on December 25, 1863, when Confederate forces tried to surprise Union forces near Legareville, South Carolina, on Johns Island on the Stono River.  The attack failed and Union forces remained and the USS Marblehead was not destroyed, captured or driven away.

According to Confederate forces, they had erected five artillery positions to surprise the Federals.  The artillery batteries were under the command of Lt. Col. Delaware B. Kemper.  There were also several companies of Confederate infantry  in the area.

A small force of some 200 Union soldiers from the division of Brigadier General George Henry Gordon were in the vicinity of Legareville and had the support of one Union vessel, the USS Marblehead.

--Old B-Runner

USS Marblehead-- Part 4: Actions on the Stono River and Four Medals of Honor.

Back on the Stono River with the USS Pawnee by November, the Marblehead provided cover as U.S. Army troops sank piles as obstructions in the river above Legareville, South Carolina, on November 24.  

The next month, on Christmas Day, Confederate batteries, in an attempt to chase the Marblehead and Pawnee away, opened fire.  The Marblehead suffered some twenty hits but was able to capture two of the enemy's eight-inch  seacoast howitzers

Four of her sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for action in the last action on the Stono River.  They were contraband Robert  Blake, Boatswain's Mate William Farley, Quartermaster  James Miller and Landsman Charles Moore.

On June 2, 1964, the Marblehead became a practice ship for midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy located in Newport, Rhode Island.  After just a month, she resumed her blockading duties for five months before returning to the Academy as a practice ship.

After this, she  went to the Washington Navy Yard where the Marblehead was decommissioned  19 September  1866.  Recommissioned  the following month, she was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron where she operated in the Caribbean for the next two years.

On 18 August 1868, the Marblehead went to New York Navy Yard, was decommissioned  4 September and sold  30 September.

--Old B-Runner

First Battle of Fort Fisher Ended Christmas Day 1864

Continued from today's entry in my Saw the Elephant blog.  Go to the My Blogs section by scrolling down to the right of this.

The next day, 23rd, and on Christmas Eve, 24th, the Union fleet, largest ever assembled by the U.S. until WW II, pounded the fort mercilessly, expending some 10,000 shells each day.  

On Christmas Day, the fleet moved a lot of its fire to the area north of the fort to prepare the way for the landing of Army troops.  They did come ashore only to determine that the fort was still, despite that three day bombardment, too strong to be taken.

Most of the troops reboarded their transports and left.  Several hundred were left on shore, but later gotten off safely.

The fleet returned in January and this time the joint Army-Navy assault succeeded, closing the Confederacy's last link with the outside world.  Lee surrendered less than three months later.

--Old B-Runner

It's a Christmas Open House at the Fort: Fort Fisher

From the Friends of Fort Fisher.

This Saturday, December 7 (don't forget Pearl Harbor day.) at the fort.


10 a.m. to 3p.m.

9 a.m.--  Visitors Center opens.
10 a.m.--  Make and take an ornament--  kids craft

10 a.m.--  Music and story telling with John Golden.
11:30 a.m.--  Cannon firing

12 noon--  Music by Masonboro Quintet
1 p.m.--  Cannon firing

1:30 p.m.--  Fort Fisher Assistant Site Manager John Mosely will present the history of Santa Claus.
2:30--  Cannon firing

All Day--  Discounts and specials in the gift shop.  EVERYTHING'S on SALE!!!

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.--  Refreshments courtesy of the Fort Fisher United Daughters of the Confederacy.

As usual, too far away for me to attend.

--Old B-Runner

Down She Goes, the Sinking of the USS Monitor-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

The crew celebrated Christmas  in fine style while berthed in Hampton Roads.  That day, though, the Monitor received orders to make ready for sea and the crew under strict orders not to discuss the voyage with anyone.  But bad weather delayed departure until 29 December.

The Monitor was well-designed for river combat but her low freeboard and heavy turret made her highly unseaworthy on the high seas and rough weather.  And that is just what she sailed into.  Under the command of John P. Bankhead,  the Monitor put to sea under tow of the USS Rhode Island on 29 December 1862.

A heavy storm developed off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

The Monitor's situation continued to worsen.  Bankhead  wrote messages on a chalkboard to alert the Rhode Island of conditions aboard his ship.

--Old B-Runner

A USS Monitor Christmas-- Part 5: Sank A Week Later

Thus ended the only Christmas the USS Monitor would ever have.  Few aboard would have expected the ship would sink less that a week later, on December 31, 1862.  Sixteen of its crew, including Jacob Nicklis who had been so proud of his delicious meal on Christmas, went down with her.

Today, you can view artifacts from the USS Monitor at the Mariners' Museum at Newport News.  Starting in November the museum lowered its admission to $1, even better.

The Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe gives visitors the chance to experience the historical fort.

And, for those wishing to experience the festive holiday enjoyed by the Monitor's sailors, you can find Monitor inspired libations at the Ironclad Distillery in Newport News and Oozlefinch Craft Brewery in Hampton.

--Old B-R'er

A USS Monitor Christmas-- Part 4: "Black Eyes, Bloody Noses, & Battered Faces"

However, despite the good Christmas eating, the sound of war resonated across Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Not far from the Monitor, the air was filled with smoke from the reports of cannons from American, British and French ships.  No, they weren't engaged in fighting each other, this was because of salutes to each other and target practice.

Some of the Monitor's crew were fortunate to have leave to go ashore where they encountered men from the British vessels.  At first they enjoyed each others' company, but eventually that came to a close. "The parties got too much whiskey [and] a fight would have to decide who was the best man of the two," wrote Paymaster Keeler.  "There seemed to be a sort of general mass, black eyes, bloody noses, & battered faces  seeming to predominate."

Union soldiers quickly came and took the "drunken fighting sailors" to cells at Fort Monroe.

A Drunken Brawl.  --Old B-Runner

A USS Monitor Christmas, 1862-- Part 3: An Officer Feast

Officers, with their better pay, could afford meals more along the gourmet level.  Paymaster Keeler proudly wrote his wife, Anna giving "a brief synopsis" of their feast.  "Soups, Fish, Oysters of course 'in every style.'  Turkey & other poultry & meats enough to start a Chatham Street eating house.  For dessert, oranges, Pineapples,  Apples, Figs, Raisins -- five  different kinds of nuts -- Peaches, Strawberries, Raspberries, Plums, Cherries, Quinces &c &c  in cans-- Mince & apple pies & cakes without end."

The officers washed down their feast with cider as well as blackberry and currant wines.

Feasting, But Meanwhile....  --Old B-R'er

A USS Monitor Christmas, 1862-- Part 2: Some Liked Dinner, Some Didn't

Despite the rush to ready the Monitor for sea, the crew observed Christmas as best they could.  Jacob Nicklis and his 13 messmates pooled their money-- "a dollar apiece" -- and had quite a dinner of "chicken stew & then stuffed Turkey mashed potatoes, & soft bread" as well as "plum pudding & some nice fruit cake, with apples for dessert."  He assured his father that the dinner "was a good one I can assure you."

However, not everyone was so impressed.  Fireman George Geer wrote his wife, Martha:  "we hade everything to make a splendid Dinner in your hands but our Saylor cook made very bad work cooking to suit me but those poor devils that never had as good before thought  every thing splendid."

But, the officers, with more money, feasted even better.

And, Some Liked Their Fruit Cake.  --Old B-Runner

A USS Monitor Christmas 1862-- Part 1: "All Is Hurry On Board"

From the December 22, 2018, Daily Press (Virginia)  "Jonathan White OpEd:  A U.S.S. Monitor Christmas."

Christmas Eve 1862, Captain John Pine Bankhead, commander of the USS Monitor, received orders to proceed  from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Beaufort, North Carolina.

They  were:  "Avail yourself of the first favorable weather for making the passage."  But, the weather didn't cooperate and departure was not done at the time.

The officers and crew of the Monitor spent Christmas Day in Hampton Roads aboard ship.  Some had received packages of "good things" from home and Captain Bankhead lamented that he had "neither Mother, wife or sister to send me such things."

Aboard the Monitor, paymaster William F. Keeler penned a short note to his wife, Anna:  "A merry Christmas  to you all there this morning.  I wish I was where I could tell you so instead of having to write it.  I shall think of you often today.  All is hurry on board preparing for sea."

The Last Christmas of the Monitor.  --Old B-Runner

Four Major Military Events That Took Place on Christmas Day: Fort Fisher

From the DoDLive by Katie Lange.

These events took place on Christmas Day:

1775--  Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River and attack on the British at Trenton.  A big victory.

1864--  The First Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.  A Confederate victory, Union loss.

1896--  "Stars and Stripes Forever" written by John Philip Sousa.

1972--  Operation Linebacker II begins against North Vietnam.

--Old B-Runner

The First Battle of Fort Fisher-- Part 3:Christmas Eve Day

From the Civil War Naval Chronology.

DECEMBER 24-25TH, 1864

Naval forces under the command of Rear Admiral Porter and Army units under Major General Butler launched an unsuccessful attack against Fort Fisher.

Transports carrying Butler's troops had retired to Beaufort from their station off Fort Fisher in order to avoid the anticipated results of the explosion of the powder boat Louisiana, and fleet units had assembled in a rendezvous area 12 miles from the fort.

At daylight on 24 December, the huge fleet got underway, formed in line of battle before the formidable Confederate works, and commenced a furious bombardment.  The staunch Southern defenders under the command of Col. William Lamb, were driven from their guns and into the bombproofs of the fort, but managed to occasionally return fire from a few of the guns.

Transports carrying Butler's troops did not arrive from Beaufort until evening; too late for an assault that day  As such, Porter withdrew his ships, intending to return and again bombard the next day.  Most of his casualties this first day came from the bursting of five 100-pounder Parrott guns on board five different ships.

By taking shelter the defenders, too, suffered few casualties despite the tremendous bombardment.  At times, as many as a 100 shells a minute were being fired at the big sand fort.

--Duck and Cover.  --Old B-Runner