A.D. Vance, Blockade Runner

This is the ship that John J. Guthrie captained many times through the blockade at Wilmington, North Carolina.  Guthrie was put in charge of the slaver Nightingale which I wrote about much of this past March.

The A.D. Vance, often written Advance, was the former Clyde packet Lord Clyde, built at Caird and Co. Greenock.  She was owned  in large part by the State of North Carolina and named in honor of honor of a leading North Carolinian; some portion of her ownership rested in Power, Lord & Co. -- a Fayetteville newspaper reported it at two-thirds -- but  she was locally considered a public vessel.

The A.D. Vance was one of the most successful blockade runners and her loss, after  more than 20 voyages and 40-odd hair-breath escapes, was a blow keenly felt by the state.

Governor Zebulon  B. Vance attributed her capture, 10 September 1864, to use of low grade North Carolina bituminous coal and denounced Secretary  Mallory  for giving the stockpile of  smokeless anthracite to the Tallahassee so that none was left for the Advance to run out of Wilmington safely.

Writing 3 January 1865, Vance complained, "Why a State struggling for the common good, to clothe and provide for its troops  in the public service, should meet with no more favor favor than a blockade gambler passes my comprehension."

She was commanded by Captain Tom Crossan when taken by the USS Santiago de Cuba, becoming the USS Advance and eventually the Frolic.  Lt. John J. Guthrie, CSB, commander of the Chattahoochee at the time of her disaster, was her earlier captain.

--Old B-Runner

USS Nightingale-- Part 6: Purchase By U.S. Navy, Commissioned and Duty on the Gulf Coast

Being a slave ship, the Nightingale was condemned by the New York prize court and then promptly bought by the U.S. Navy, then in serious need of anything that would float and carry guns for the blockade of the South's coasts.

It was commissioned 18 August 1861 under command of Brevet Master  David B. Horne. 

The Nightingale now carried four 32-pounder cannons.

Fitted out as a collier and store ship, the Nightingale got underway south laden with coal the same day she was commissioned.  Stopped at Hampton Roads on the 21st and then left for Key West the following morning.  But for occasional trips north for coal and supplies, she served on the Gulf Coast through the first years of the Civil War.

--Old B-Runner

From Tea Clipper to Slaver to U.S. Navy Ship: The Tale of the Nightingale-- Part 1

I have been writing about this ship in my last four posts and in connection with Lt. John Julius Guthrie, USN, of North Carolina, who commanded the Nightingale's prize crew on its way back to the United States.  Guthrie later was a Confederate naval officer after the war started.

From Wikipedia.

The USS Nightingale (1851) was originally a   tea clipper before becoming a slave ship until captured by the USS Saratoga in Africa in 1861; the U.S. Navy then purchased her and it became a warship.

During the war, it served as a  supply ship and collier (carried coal) for Union blockading ships.  After the war she was sold and went on to a long career in Arctic exploration  before foundering in the North Atlantic in 1893.

Built by Samuel Hanscomb, Jr. of Eliot, Maine.  Cost $43,500, in 1851.

As tea clipper, her route was China to London to New York.  Carrying passengers, she went  from Boston and New York to Australia.

--Old B-Runner

The Egypt Coal Mine in North Carolina

In today's post in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog, I mentioned that before Sherman destroyed the Fayetteville Arsenal in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Harpers Ferry machinery to make weapons was removed and supposedly hidden in the mines of the Egypt Coal Mine, near Sanford, N.C..

According to a N.C. historical marker near its site:

The Egypt Coal Mine operated at intervals from 1855 to 1928.  It supplied coal for Confederate blockade runners.

Another source said the coal produced here was also called Deep River Coal and was taken by rail to Fayetteville and then put on barge plying the Cape Fear River to Wilmington and then used in Confederate ships and blockade runners.

--Old B-Runner

May 29, 1863: CSS Alabama Captures the Jabez Snow

MAY 29TH, 1863:  The CSS Alabama, Captain Semmes, captured and burned the Jabez Snow in the South Atlantic, bound from Cardiff to Montevideo, Uruguay, with cargo of coal.

That Is What A Commerce Raider Is Supposed To Do.  --Old B-Runner

March 20, 1863-- Part 2: Farragut to Help Grant and Porter

Porter replied to Farragut:  "I would not attempt to run the batteries at Vicksburg if I were you; it won't pay, and you can be of no service up here at this moment.

"Your services at Red River will be a godsend; it is worth to us the loss of the [USS] Mississippi at this moment and it is the severest blow that could be struck at the South.  They obtain all their supplies and ammunition in that way."

Grant floated a coal barge down the river to Farragut, who steamed above Warrenton to meet this vital cargo.

Porter was referring to the loss of the USS Mississippi on March 14, 1863, during operations against Port Hudson.

--Old B-R'er

March 20, 1863-- Part 1: Farragut to Assist Grant and Porter

MARCH 20TH, 1863:  From below Warrenton, Mississippi, Rear Admiral Farragut sent the following message to General Grant and a similar one to Rear Admiral Porter:  "Having learned that the enemy had the Red River trade open to Vicksburg and Port Hudson and that two of the gunboats of the upper fleet [Queen of the West and Indianola] had been captured, I determined to pass up and, if possible, recapture the boats and stop the Red River trade, and this I can do most effectively if I can obtain from rear Admiral Porter or yourself coal for my vessels....

"I shall be most happy to avail myself of the earliest moment to have a consultation with yourself and Rear Admiral Porter as to the assistance I can render you at this place; and, if none, then I will return to the mouth of the Red River and carry out my original designs.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Privateer Jefferson Davis Sails from Charleston, A Need for Coaling Stations

JUNE 28TH, 1861:  Confederate privateer Jefferson Davis, former slaver Echo, Captain Louis M. Coxetter, sailed from Charleston; later made numerous captures of Union ships along the coast, and caused much consternation.

**  Captain Du Pont, Chairman of the Blockade Strategy Board, wrote:  "The order we received ... set forth ... the selection of two ports, one in South Carolina, another in the confines of Georgia and Florida, for coal depots ... it seems impossible to supply the blockading fleet with coal without these depots."

--Old B-Runner

Supporting Sherman in North Carolina-- Part 2

"On our way up the river this morning we were overtaken by three canal boats loaded with troops (which had come from Norfolk, I believe), which followed us up and are now lying along the western shore, the troops having debarked on the side."

He concluded with a request for coal for his warships.  happily, two coal schooners from Philadelphia arrived at New Bern that same day and were soon enroute to him.

Coal was a problem all during the war.  Without bases for supply on the Confederate coast the Union Navy could not have carried out its ceaseless attacks and blockade.

--Old B-R'er

CSS Stonewall Sorties

JANUARY 24TH, 1865:  At mid-morning, the CSS Stonewall, Captain T.J. Page, put into Quiberon Bay to rendezvous with the blockade-runner  City of Richmond.  The two ships remained there until January 28th when the Stonewall, still short on coal but unable to obtain more, "considered it prudent to sail."

The City of Rchmond remained with the ironclad, but by the morning of the 30th had become separated by five miles in heavy weather.  Page signaled Commander davidson on the City of Richmond that he was short of coal and intended to put into Ferrol, Spain.  The City of Richmond continued on to Bermuda.

--Old B-R'er

The CSS Tallahassee Puts in Halifax-- Part 2: Getting More Coal

Nova Scotia's Lt. Gov. Richard G. MacDonnell, did, however, ask Admiral Sir James Hope to advise him on the amount of coal he considered sufficient to reach Wilmington, N.C.,   The next day, MacDonnell advised Wood, who had put into port with just 40 tons of coal, that he could depart with no more than 100 tons.

However, the Confederate cruiser, which put to sea on the night of the 19th, sailed with more than that quantity.

Wood later reported: "I am under many obligations to our agent, Mr. Wier, for transacting our business, and through his management about 120 tons of coal were put aboard, instead of half that quantity."

Sliding Right On Out of There.  --Old B-Runner

Update on Confederate "Coal" Torpedoes-- Part 1

FEBRUARY 9TH, 1864:

The USS Jacob Bell took on board six refugees off Blackstone Island, Virginia. One of them was Joseph Lenty, an Englishman, who had worked at Richmond for four years and had information about refiinement of Confederate torpedoes: '....they are now making a shell which looks exactly like a piece of coal, pieces of which were taken from a coal pile as patterns to imitate.

"I have made these shells myself. I believe these shells have power enough to burst any boiler. After they were thrown in a coal pile I could not tell the difference between them and coal myself."

I am wondering whether this Joseph Lenty was black or white?

--Old B-R'er

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: July 27th, 1863: The "End" of CSS Florida and Coal Problems

JULY 27TH

CSS Florida, Cmdr. Maffitt, sailed from Bermuda after being coaled and refitted.  Three weeks later, the ship entered Brest, France, for a six-month overhaul, essentially ending the career of one of the most successful commerce raiders (and little-known compared to the Alabama.  During this time, Maffitt is in poor health and asks to be relieved.

During the Florida;s career, it captured 37 prizes and its prizes/raiders Tacony and Clarence added another 20.

At Charleston, Beauregard requests that navy commander there, Captain Tucker, place his two ironclads by Cummings Point to strengthen defense, especially for Morris Island..  Tucker replies that he has an acute shortage of coal and needs to conserve.

In August, a new supply of coal arrives and the ironclads are able to help evacuate Fort Wahner.

Critical coal shortages hurt the Confederate naval effort.  And most of what they could get was"soft" bituninous coal which produced heavy smoke and was lessefficient than the "hard" anthracite.

Coal Me.  --Old B-Runner

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: November 25th to 30th, 1862-- It's a Coal Thing

NOVEMBER 25TH AND 26TH

The USS Kittaninny captured b-rs both days.  The Matilda was bound from Havana to Matamoras, Mexico.  The next day, the Diana was bound from Campche, Mex. to Matamoras.  Matamoras was right across the Rio Grande River from Brownsville, Texas, and a favorite b-r port.


NOVEMBER 27TH

Admiral Farragut is not happy that he has nothing to do at New Orleans: "I am still doing nothing, but waiting for the tide of events and doing all I can to hold what I have., & blockade Mobile.  So soon as the river rises, we shall have Porter down from above, who now commands the upper squadron, and then I shall probably go outside...We shall spoil unless we have a fight occasionally."  Farragut was not happy that he could not get troops to support an attack on Mobile.


NOVEMBER 29TH

In late November, Captain H.A. Adams, was ordered to special duty in Philadelphia as coordinator of coal supply.  All coal used in the US Navy at the time was anthracite and came from the eastern district of Pennsylvania, being forwarded to Philadelphia by rail or barge down the Schuylkill River.  Then it is loaded into coal schooners and sent to the various blockade stations.

Squadron commanders were having great difficulty keeping their ships supplied with coal and often had to borrow from the Army.  To give an idea of how much coal was needed, in mid-December, Du Pont notified the Navy Department that it took 950 tons of coal a week to keep his South Atlantic Blockading Squadron operating.

USS Mount Vernon captured b-r Levi Rowe off New Inlet, NC.


NOVEMBER 30TH

CSS Alabama captured and burned bark Peter Cook off the Leeward islands in the Caribbean.

Old B-Runner