Thomas C. Dunn's Naval Sword and Musket

Thomas C. Dunn commanded the USS Montgomery at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.  (He commanded the USS Emma at the First Battle of Fort Fisher.)

******************************

The Marine Room of the Peabody Museum of Salem (Massachusetts) has the naval sword and musket of a Captain, 1863. Thomas C. Dunn.

******************************

From "Gustavus  Vasa Fox of the Union Navy:  A Biography" by Ari  Hoogenbloom.

Sixteen years after Fort Sumter was fired upon, Fox visited South Carolina and determined they had completely changed their secessionist ways in a questionable vote for governor.

He went to Columbia where he called on Thomas C. Dunn, a Republican member of the board and a former  U.S. naval officer, who had distinguished himself  on blockade duty and at Fort Fisher.  

Dunn agreed when Fox urged him and his colleagues to act as  impartial judges in open sessions.

********************************

A reply to a man (Joseph Watson) seeking a letter of recommendation, a Thomas C. Dunn , "late Comd'g officer  U.S. Steamer Montgomery" said he'd be happy to give one.  The letter was from Salem, Massachusetts.

********************************

So, Thomas C. Dunn was connected to Salem, Massachusetts.

--Old B-Runner

Lincoln's Trip-- Part 15: Return to Washington, D.C.

Gustavus Fox wrote:  "Our return back [to Washington] was smooth and pleasant and the President himself delighted."

It appears the Baltimore's return passage wasn't as speedy as the trip down.  City Point accounts have Lincoln departing late in the afternoon and Washington observers have him returning mid-to-late afternoon the next day, making the travel time roughly 22-24 hours.

Perhaps navigating on the Potomac after dark wasn't as safe as on the more open Chesapeake Bay on the way down, forcing the Baltimore to anchor for a couple hours near the river's mouth until it was light enough to proceed.

--Old B-Runner

To City Point and Bermuda Hundred-- Part 9: The Crow's Nest and Greeting

After a quick greeting with some of the Malvern's officers, the president "accompanied by Ass't Secretary Fox and A.R. Admiral Lee landed at Lookout Tree Landing."  The landing was just below where a Union lookout tower nicknamed "The Crow's Nest" would later be built.  Once up the slope, the group took horses and rode across Gen. Butler's lines. 

There is a picture of the Crow's Nest in the distance behind the monitor USS Mahopac in the James River.  The Mahopac would later take part in the attacks on Fort Fisher. (See picture to the right of this.)

The troops the party encountered were almost entirely from Butlers X Corps.  And, unlike the day before, Lincoln's visit was anticipated.  The soldiers turned out to see their commander in chief.

One Connecticut soldier, likely from the 6th or 7th Connecticut (who later took part in the Second Battle of Fort Fisher) wrote: "We were apprised that our worthy President, Abraham Lincoln, was near us and all that were not engaged on duty were ordered to appear near the regimental quarters and render a proper salute."

All That Fort Fisher Connection.  Yes!!  --Old B-Runner

Lincoln's 1864 Trip to City Point-- Part 8: Visiting the USS Onondaga and Within Range of a Rebel Battery

It is probable that there was a delay at this point while the Deep Bottom pontoon bridge was opened to permit river traffic.  

Once aboard the president's vessel, the USS Baltimore, Admiral Lee came on board and was greeted by Lincoln and Butler.  Then, the Baltimore, followed by the Agawam, steamed upriver toward Trent's Reach.  Fox noted that the men on ships they passed cheered the president.

Just before reaching the Malvern, the Baltimore drew up alongside one of the more technologically-advance monitors in the Union fleet, the double-turreted, iron-hulled USS Onondaga.

Lincoln made a brief visit to this ship (as he was always interested in anything dealing with new and improved technology).  The ship's deck officer recorded  that the president "visited" the vessel.

Then it was back to the USS Baltimore and on to the Malvern where they arrived about 10:30 am.  This put the Lincoln party well within range of a powerful Rebel battery not two miles distant.  Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox wondered why "they did not open fire."

Probably Didn't Know the President Was Aboard.  --Old B-Runner

Lincoln's Trip to City Point-- Part 3: Not So Secret and Welles Not Happy

Lincoln's trip to visit Grant was to be as secretive as possible.  It was probably June 18 or 19 when Lincoln decided to go.  He called on his go-to man or nautical matters, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus V. Fox to make the arrangements.

Fox secured the USS Baltimore, a capture Confederate sidewheel steamer that had been pressed into Navy service for carrying everything from supplies to personnel.  Lincoln already was familiar with this ship, having been ferried to Hampton Roads in 1862, not long after the battle between the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor.

Lincoln asked Fox to accompany him and the President also brought along his son Tad.

Great pains were taken to keep this secret, but the editor of Washington, D.C.'s Daily National Republican found out about it, but kept quite  as per Lincoln's request.

When Fox's boss, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, found out about it, h was not happy, believing Fox had "favored and encouraged the President in this step....  It has been my policy to discourage the President in these excursions."

--Old B-Runner

March 22, 1865: Lincoln Going to City Point for Military Conference

MARCH 22ND, 1865: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox directed Commodore Montgomery, Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, to have the USS Bat ready to convoy the steamer River Queen at noon the next day:  "The President will be in the River Queen, bound to City Point."

Lincoln was headed for a conference with his top commanders.

--Old B-Runner

March 2, 1865: The USS Bat to the Carry the President to Meet With Grant

MARCH 2ND, 1865:  Because of difficulties in communications, small, fast warships (often captured blockade runners) were in great demand for courier service.  This date, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox wrote President Lincoln from Norfolk:  "General Grant would like to see you and I shall be in Washington to-morrow morning with this vessel, the Bat,  in which you can leave in the afternoon.

"She is a regular armed man-of-war, and the fastest vessel on the river.  I think it would be best for you to use her."

The Bat was a long, low sidewheeler which Commander Bulloch, CSN, had built in England to run the blockade.  She fell victim in October 1864 to the concentrated blockade off Wilmington, N.C. as she made her first run with supplies for the Confederate Government.

Bought by the Navy from the Boston Prize Court for $150,000, she was commissioned in mid-December 1864 and was in great demand because of her high speed.

--Old B-Runner

July 10, 1863: Fox Congratulates Farragut for Vicksburg and Port Hudson

JULY 10TH, 1863:  Assistant secretary Fox wrote Rear Admiral Farragut, congratulating him upon "the final opening of the Mississippi" through the Union victories at Vicksburg and Port Hudson.

"You smashed in the door [at New Orleans] in an unsurpassed movement and the success above became a certainty....  Your last move past Port Hudson has hastened the downfall of the Rebs."

--Old B-Runner

December 15, 1862: Fox Proposes An Attack on Wilmington

DECEMBER 15, 1862:  Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox wrote Rear Admiral S.P. Lee, proposing an assault on Wilmington, N.C..

"Though the popular clamor centers upon Charleston I consider Wilmington a more important point in a military and political point of view and I do not conceal from myself that it is more difficult of access on account of the shallowness of the bars, and more easily defended inside by obstructions, yet it must be attacked and we have more force than we shall possess again since the Iron Clads must go South so soon as four are ready."

Nonetheless, Wilmington, guarded by the guns of Fort Fisher, remained a bastion of Confederate strength and one of the few havens for blockade runners until nearly the end of the war.

And Fort Fisher was nowhere near as powerful back at this date as it later became.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Marines to Scout Maryland Countryside for Confederate Depots

AUGUST 19-21, 1861:  Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox ordered 200 Marines to report to Commander Dahlgren at the Washington Navy Yard for duty on ships of the Potomac Flotilla for the purpose of scouting the Maryland countryside, especially around Port Tobacco, for locations suspected of being Confederate depots for provisions and arms to be used for invading Maryland.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Work Continues on the "Stone Fleet"

AUGUST 17TH, 1861:  Lt. Reigart B. Lowry wrote Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox regarding the progress for sinking a stone fleet to block the inlets to the North Carolina sounds:  "We have nineteen schooners properly loaded with stone, and all our preparations are complete to divide them into two divisions and place them in tow of this steamer [Adelaide] and of the Governor Peabody.

"I think all arrangements are complete, as far as being prepared to 'sink and obstruct' .../ the obstructing party could place their vessels in position, secure them as we propose, by binding chains, spars on end in teh sand to settle by action of the tide, anchors down, and finally sink them in such a way as to block the channel so effectually that there could be no navigation through them for several months to come, at least till by the aid of our new gunboats the outside blockade could be effectual."

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Gustavus V. Fox Appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy

AUGUST 1ST, 1861:  President Lincoln appointed Gustavus V. Fox Assistant Secretary of the Navy.  Fox, the energetic ex-naval officer who had led the unsuccessful Fort Sumter expedition in April, became Secretary Welles' right hand man in the Department.

His large acquaintance among naval officers and forthright "unofficial" style made him a useful troubleshooter.  By the informal correspondence which he elicited from the chief naval commanders, the Navy Department was able to keep in intimate touch with problems in several squadrons.

--Old B-Runner

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

155 Years Ago: Fox Appointed Chief Clerk of Navy

MAY 8TH, 1861:  Secretary of the Navy Welles informed Gustavus Fox:  "You are appointed Chief Clerk of the Navy Department, and I shall be glad to have you enter upon the duties as soon as you conveniently can."

MAY 9TH, 1861:  The USS Constitution and USS Baltic arrive at Newport, Rhode Island, with officers and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy.  The Naval Academy remained there for the duration of the war.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Union Ships Arrive Off Charleston, Fort Pickens Reinforced

APRIL 12TH, 1861:  U.S. steamship Baltic, under Gustavus Fox, USS Pawnee, Commander Rowan and Harriet Lane, Captain Faunce, USRM, arrived off Charleston to reinforce Fort Sumter.  But, as Fox observed, "war had commenced" and he was unable to carry out his mission.

**  Under secret orders from Secretary of Navy Welles carried by Lieutenant Worden, Fort Pickens was reinforced by landing troops from a squadron composed of USS Sabine, Brooklyn, St. Louis and Wyandotte.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Sailing for Sumter's Relief

APRIL 8TH, 1861:  Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane, Captain John Faunce, USRM, departed New York for relief of Fort Sumter.

APRIL 9TH, 1861:  Gustavus V. Fox sailed from New York in chartered steamer Baltic for the relief of Fort Sumter.

--Old B-Runner

Gustavus V. Fox Ordered to Take Command of Fort Sumter Relief Expedition

Orders from Simon Cameron, War Department, to Gustavus V. Fox, April 4, 1861.

It had been decided to "succor Fort Sumter" and he was selected to do it.  He was to take the transports from New York and guide them with their troops and supplies "to the entrance of Charleston Harbor, and endeavor, in the first instance, to deliver the subsistence."

If the Confederate oppose the move, he was to contact the senior naval officer who "will be instructed by the Secretary of the Navy to use his entire force to open a passage..."

The Die Is cast at Fort Sumter.  --Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Lincoln Gives Approval to Fox's Plan to Relieve Fort Sumter

APRIL 4TH, 1861:  President Lincoln gives his final approval to Gustavus Fox's plan to relieve Fort Sumter by sea.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Fox Recommends Relieving Fort Sumter By Sea

MARCH 21ST, 1861:  Gustavus V. Fox, ex-naval officer now a civilian, reconnoitered Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, as directed by President Lincoln, to determine the best means of relieving the fort.  Based on his observations, Fox recommended relieving Fort Sumter by sea.

"I propose to put the troops on board of a large, comfortable sea steamer and hire two powerful light draft New York tug boats, having the necessary stores on board.  These to be conveyed by the USS Pawnee...and the revenue cutter Harriet Lane...

"Arriving off the bar, I propose to examine by day the naval preparations and obstructions.  If their vesels determine to oppose our entrance, and a feint of flag of truce would ascertain this, the armed ships must approach the bar and destroy them or drive them on shore.

"Major Anderson would do the same upon any vessel within the range of his guns and would also prevent any naval succor being sent down from the city."

Things Getting very tense at Fort Sumter.  The War began Just 22 Days Later.  --Old B-Runner