The Privateer Judah- Part 2: A Risky Plan Devised and Led By Lt. J.H. Russell

Aboard the USS Colorado was a man named  Ernest White, a specialist in ship construction and employed as a spy by the Federal government.  He devised a scheme by which the Colorado's longboats, under the cover of night, would slip past Confederate guards and destroy or severely damage the Judah where she was berthed.

After some delay, White's plan was approved and put into action. and in the early hours of September 14, 1861, a force of nearly 100 men made up of a mix of the Colorado's crew and shipboard Marines under the command of Lt. John Henry Russell cast off in four longboats.

Keeping in midwater and away from the shoreline, the force rowed quietly across the bay toward Pensacola Harbor.

The Confederate forces at Pensacola were commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg and numbered several thousand.  They were new troops and poorly trained manning a line of about four miles stretching from Fort McRee in the west eastward toward Fort Barrancas and the navy yard.

In addition, guards manned three  lookout points on the west side of the bay.

--Old B-Runner

Cannonballs Found Along Coast in Alabama-- Part 1

From the CBS 42 News: Alabama News:  "194 Civil War-era  cannonballs discovered, destroyed at Gulf Islands National Seashore" by Aspen Popowski.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS) closed on September 29 after cannonballs were found on Perdido Key.  Parts of Perdido Key also were closed and marked with signs.

"The park continues to monitor the area for newly discovered munitions and will secure the site(s) should any be found in the future," said Darrell Echols, GUIS Superintendent.  "Our goal is to ensure that the area is safe for visitors and staff, and that cultural resources are protected."

More than 190 cannonballs were detonated in September with aid from federal agencies.

"These are Civil War-era cannonballs, and what's unclear is whether they are Union or Confederate, whether they were  associated with Fort McRee or another type of facility," Echolls said.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, November 22, 1861: Engagement at Pensacola

NOVEMBER 22ND, 1861:  Two days of combined gunfire commenced from the USS Niagara, Flag Officer McKean, USS Richmond, Captain Francis B. Ellison, and Fort Pickens against Confederate defenses at Fort McRee, the Pensacola Navy Yard and the town of Warrington, terminating the following day with damage to the Confederate positions and the USS Richmond.

**  The U.S. Marine Corps is authorized to enlist an additional 500 privates and proportionate number of non-commissioned officers.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: USS Brooklyn Arrives at Pensacola, Standoff Continues

FEBRUARY 9, 1861:  The USS Brooklyn, Captain Walker, arrived off Pensacola.  Troops were not landed at Fort Pickens in compliance with the order of 29 January, based on an interim agreement with Florida officials in which the status quo would be maintained (i.e., Forts Barrancas and McRee and Navy Yard remained in Confederate hands, while the Union held Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island).

The Brooklyn, Sabine, Macedonian and St. Louis remained off the harbor, but reinforcements were not put ashore at Fort Pickens until 12 April.

Attempting to Diffuse the Situation.  --Old B-Runner

Fort McRee, Florida

While doing a blog entry on Perdido Key on my Roadlog blog, I came across this Civil War fort, which guarded the western entrance to Pensacola Bay, across from Fort Pickens.  It was a masonry fort built before the war and took part in the shelling of the Union-held Fort Pickens.

I was under the idea that it was no longer there, but it must be as the source I was using mentioned McRee's ruins, although accessible only by boat and with no facilities. 

I'll be doing some more research on it.

Still There After All These Years.  --Old B-Runner