The Fall of New Orleans' Fort Jackson-- Part 2

As early as 1742, the French first built a battery there.  Later, under Spanish rule, Fort Bourbon was built there on the site of what would become Fort Jackson.  About the same time, they also built Fort San Felipe --  a predecessor to Fort Jackson's sister fort, Fort St. Phillip -- on the east bank.

With the need for even stronger defense made by the War of 182 the construction of Fort Jackson came to be at an eventual cost of $554,500.

Its foundation would be made of three layers of cypress logs, atop which would be laid  cypress planks.  From there would rise a star-shaped fort, made of bricks, protected by an outer wall and an inner moat and lined with dozens of guns.

There was such confidence  in the combined strengths of  forts Jackson and St. Phillip, which also received a modernization at the time, almost no other defense were constructed further upriver between the forts and New Orleans.

This would prove a very big mistake.

--Old B-Runner

N.H. Elks Honor Navy Medal of Honor Recipients: Mark Ham

MARK HAM  (1820-1869)

Union Navy Civil War

Interred at Harmony Grove Cemetery (South Cemetery)

Ham served on the USS Kearsarge when she sank the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France, on June 19, 1864.

Performing his duties  intelligently and faithfully, Ham distinguished himself in the face of bitter enemy fire and was highly recommended by his divisional officer.

--Old B-Runner

Not Likely the CSS Georgia-- Part 3: Back to the American Revolution?

If tied to the HMS Rose, these discoveries  would be quite historical.  The Rose was built in England in 1757 and prowled American colony waters  in the 1770s in an effort to put a stop to widespread smuggling in Rhode Island.  The ship also operated in the Hudson River by New York City in the early days of the American Revolution.  

By 1779, with Savannah still under British control, British forces scuttled the Rose in the Savannah River  to keep the French fleet from sailing up it to aid American forces attempting to capture the city.

For now, the recovered objects are being kept in large vats  of water to replicate the conditions they were in for all those years.  Experts and further exploration in the area s where the objects were found will hopefully clarify the objects.  Meanwhile, dredging operations around where the objects were found has been suspended.

Of course, in an area like the Savannah River and the city which has been in use for over 250 years, there is no telling what else might turn up.

--Old B-Runner

Southport/Smithville, North Carolina: The History-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

The area where Southport is located, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina was  explored as early as the 1500s by Spanish explorers.  During the 18th century, British settlements along the Carolina coast lacked  fortifications to protect against pirates and privateers and there were numerous Spanish incursions as well.

In response to these attacks, Royal Governor Gabriel Johnston, in 1744, appointed a committee to best select the site for a fort to protect the Cape Fear River region.  It was determined that the site would be near the mouth of the river where the fort was eventually constructed.

During that same year, France declared war on Britain, later known as King George's War, increasing the need for a fort.  At the same time, Spanish privateer raids increased on the American colonies. As a result, the North Carolina General Assembly authorized the construction of "Johnston's Fort" in April 1745, which would become known as Fort Johnston, the name it carried into the Civil War.

The governor of South Carolina agreed to lend ten small cannons to the fort and the legislature in , in the spring of 1748, appropriated 2,000 pounds for construction costs, and the fort finally became a reality.

The town of Smithville, later Southport, developed around the fort.

It was Smithville during the Civil War.

--Old B-Runner

Future USS Delaware (SSN-791) Accepted By U.S. Navy

From the Oct. 29, 2019, Maritime Executive "Future USS Delaware delivered to the U.S. Navy."

It is the Navy's 18th Virginia-Class nuclear submarine.  Construction on it began in 2013 and it is scheduled for commissioning April 4, 2020.  This is the last of what is called the Block II Virginia-Class submarines.  It is the last of this group.  There will be a Block III group next.

Virginia Class submarines are built to operate in deep waters doing anti-submarine, anti-surface, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, irregular warfare and  mine warfare missions.

It is the seventh ship to bear the name of "The First State."  The first one served in the American revolution, the second one in the Quasi War with France.  The third was burned to prevent her falling into the hands of Confederates and the fourth one served blockade duties during the Civil War.

Little is known about the fifth Delaware, other than it was a screw steamer which had another name before being changed to Delaware on May 15, 1869.  The sixth Delaware was a battleship commissioned April 4, 1910, that served in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

During World War I, she provided convoy protection and participated in Allied naval exercises before being decommissioned in 1923.

Welcome Aboard USS Delaware.  --Old B-Runner

Union Commander of USS Kearsarge Born in Wilmington, North Carolina

While going through my RoadDog's RoadLog  Blog the other day, I found an entry on John Ancrum Winslow, a famous Civil War naval officer dated October 26, 2007.  Back in 2007 it was my early days of blogging and I only had four blogs at the end of the year.  I wouldn't have placed this there now.

But, it was interesting.  The Waymarkers find and write about history markers, and there is a History On a Stick in Wilmington, N.C., referring to him being born there in 1811.  As the commander of the USS Kearsarge, his ship battled the famed commerce raider CSS Alabama off the coast of France in 1864 and was victorious, sinking the other ship, commanded by Raphael Semmes.

Of interest, Semmes and Winslow had shared a cabin during the Mexican War.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Alabama vs. USS Kearsarge, June 19, 1864-- Part 4

Had that shell from the Alabama that lodged in the Kearsarge's sternpost exploded it would gave been very bad for the Union ship.  Confederate John M. McKenzie, who was just 16 years old at the time of the battle, observed:  "If it had exploded the Kearsarge  would have gone to the bottom instead of the Alabama.  But our ammunition was old and had lost its strength."

Southern casualties were heavy as both sides fought valiantly.

"After the lapse of about one hour and ten minutes,"  Semmes reported, "our ship was ascertained to be in a sinking condition, the enemy's shells having exploded in our side, and between decks, opening large apertures through which the water rushed with great rapidity.

"For some few minutes I had hopes of being able to reach the French coast, for which purpose I gave the ship all steam, and set such of the fore and aft sails as were available.  The ship filled so rapidly, however, that before we had made much progress, the fires were extinguished in the furnaces, and we were evidently at the point of sinking.

"I now hauled down my colors to prevent the further destruction of life, and dispatched a boat to inform the enemy of our condition."

--Old B-Runner

June 11, 1864: CSS Alabama Arrives at Cherbourg-- Part 2

The Confederate Commissioner in France, John Slidell, assured Semmes that he anticipated no difficulty in obtaining French permission for the Alabama to use the docking facilities.

William L. Drayton, U.S. Minister to France, immediately protested the use of a French port by a vessel with  a character "so obnoxious and so notorious."

Intelligence of the material condition and strength of the Alabama was relayed by the American Vice-Consul at Cherbourg to Captain Winslow of the USS Kearsarge at Flushing.

The CSS Alabama was in bad shape after all that cruising and badly in need of a major overhaul.

--Old B-Runner

February 12, 1864: Confederate Need for Cartridge Bag Cloth Hampered By Increasingly Effective Blockade

These Dates in History are always from the Civil War Naval Chronology.

FEBRUARY 12, 1864:  Commander John M. Brooke, CSN, in charge of the Confederate Navy's Office of Ordnance and Hydrography wrote Flag Officer Barron  in France for "material for cartridge bags, which is now much needed."

Brooke asked Barron to purchase some 22,000 yards of material and ship it to Nassau.  From there blockade runners would attempt to run it through the blockade, in 1000 yard lots to avoid losing it all in the event of capture.

It was becoming increasingly difficult for the South to procure basic war materials, a problem which was compounded by the lack of good railroads for internal transportation and control of most Southern rivers by the Union Navy.

--Old B-R'er

January 31, 1862: Effectiveness of Union Blockade Depends Upon Whom You Ask-- Part 2.

The two questions posed to various European maritime powers:  Was the sinking of the Stone Fleet in Charleston Harbor an outrage and is the blockade effective?

FRANCE:    "Pronounces the destruction of the harbor ... 'vindictive vandalism' .. the blockade to be  'ineffective and illegal'

"PRUSSIA winds up by declaring the sinking of the stone fleet to be a crime and an outrage against civilization....

"SARDINIA agrees with France, but ... in even stronger terms ...

"AUSTRIA declares 'the blockade altogether illegal' ....

"SPAIN declares blockade ... 'altogether ineffective' ...."

On the other hand, Secretary of the Navy Welles strongly maintained that the effectiveness of the blockade did "destroy any pretext on the part of the foreign governments to aid the Confederacy."

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, October 12, 1861:Mason and Slidell Run the Blockade

OCTOBER 12TH, 1861:  The Confederate ship Theodora ran the blockade at Charleston with Mason and Slidell, Commissioners to England and France respectively, on board.

**  Confederate privateer Sallie captured American brig Granada in the Atlantic Ocean

**  USS Dale, Commander Edward M. Yard, captured schooner Specie east of Jacksonville, bound for Havana with a large cargo of rice.

**  Warning was given that Confederates had lined the James River with powerful submarine batteries (mines).

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Davis Appoints Slidell and Mason As Commissioners to Europe

AUGUST 24TH, 1861:  President Jefferson Davis appointed James M. Mason as Special Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and John Slidell, Special Commissioner to France.

And, we all know what happened on their way to Europe.

--Old B-Runner

Maury's Family Urge Against It As Well

The members of Matthew Fontaine Maury's family again urged him to abandon his plan of Mexican colonization and go to Russia, accepting the invitation of the Grand Duke Constantine, or go to France where Napoleon III had invited him to live.

Many nations sought the great mind of Maury, leading naval scientist of his time.  Before the Civil War he was the most honored and possibly most noted living American among other nations of the world.

--Old B-R'er

A Really Short History of the Dominican Republic-- Part 1

Back on Monday, August 3, I mentioned that the USS Mercedita was sent to the Dominican Republic to protect American lives and property during some turmoil taking place there.  This was a sure sign that the Civil War was over and the U.S. Navy was back to its pre-war mission.

From Wikipedia.

The Dominican Republic was a former Spanish colony from 1492 (Christopher Columbus) to 1795.  the french encroached on it from 1795 to 1809 and it became independent from 1844 to 1861 when it became a Spanish colony again. from 1861-1865.  This would go against the Monroe Doctrine, but the United States was very much involved in other things at the time.

A revolution took place and the Spanish withdrew.

This was the reason the USS Mercedita was sent to its waters.

--Old B-Runner

England and France Declare the Confederacy No Longer a Belligerent, Blockade Soon to Be Lifted

JUNE 22ND, 1865:  Secretary Welles announced to naval forces that France and Great Britain had "withdrawn from the insurgents the character of belligerents."  Meaning they no longer recognized the Confederacy.

He also announced that the blockade of the coast of the United States would soon be lifted and the belligerent right of search abrogated.

--It's Official.  No More CSA.  --Old B-R'er

CSS Stonewall to Take On the USS Niagara?

FEBRUARY 12TH, 1865:  Captain T.J. Page, CSS Stonewall, wrote Commander Bulloch from Ferrol, France, of the arrival of the USS Niagara, Commodore T.T. Craven, at Corunna, the preceding day.  "I wish with all my heart we were ready to go out," Page said.

"We must encounter her, and I would only wish that she may not be accompanied by two or more others.

He, however, wasn't too worried about a possible engagement with the Niagara which was a screw-driven frigate mounting twelve 11-inch Dahlgren guns.

Later, he wrote about his ship, saying "the Stonewall is a very formidable vessel, about 175 feet long, brig-rigged, completely clothed in iron plates of 5 inches in thickness.  Under her topgallant forecastle is her casemated Armstrong  300-pounder rifled gun.

"In a turret abaft her mainmast are two 120-pounder rifled guns, and she has two smaller guns mounted in broadside.  If as fast as reputed to be, in smooth water she ought to be more than a match for three ships such as the Niagara.

The Niagara Should Also Be "Behooved."  --Old B-R'er

Flag Officer Barron, CSN, Ordered to Return to Confederacy

FEBRUARY 8TH, 1865:  Flag Officer Barron received orders from Secretary Mallory to return to the Confederacy.  These orders symbolized the abandonment of long-cherished hopes of obtaining ironclad ships from Europe with which to break the ever-tightening blockade.

Originally selected to be the flag officer in command of turreted ironclads "294" and "295", Barron had arrived in England during October 1863.  The Laird rams, however, had been seized by the British government on 9 October 1863 and Barron thereafter served the Confederacy in Paris.

On 15 February, a week after receiving Mallory's dispatch, Barron replied to the secretary in words that gave clear evidence of the degree to which the shores of the South were sealed by Union squadrons" "I am endeavoring to get ready to leave in the Southampton steamer on March 2, which will take me to Cuba, and from that point I shall see how the land lies and make such arrangements as will most probably insure my earliest arrival in the Confederacy, where I feel every man is needed who can pull a pound.

"The closing of the port of Wilmington does, I fear, render the route through Texas the only one of security, but I shall not determine positively until after my arrival in Havana."

Barron, however, did not return to the South, for on 28 February, he resigned as senior Confederate naval officer on the continent.

--Old B-Runner

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

Blockade Runner City of Richmond Arrives in France for Rendezvous With CSS Stonewall

JANUARY 20TH, 1865:  The blockade runner City of Richmond, Commander Davidson, anchored in Quiberon Bay, France, to wait the arrival of the CSS Stonewall.  Davidson permitted no communication with the shore in order to preclude the possibility of others learning that the ironclad would rendezvous with him and effect a transfer of men and supplies.

Flag Officer Barron described the Stonewall as "a vessel more formidable than any we have yet afloat."

The same day, Flag officer Barron reported to Secretary Mallory that he had ordered Commanders James H. North and G.T. Sinclair and Lt.Cmdr. C.M. Morris, Confederate agents abroad to return to the Confederacy "...there being in my judgement no prospect for any duty for them."

--Old B-R'er

The French and English Agree on Prizes

JANUARY 12TH, 1865:  James M. Mason, Confederate Commissioner in England,reported to Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin, that France had proposed to Great Britain that each power permit Confederate prizes, having cargo in whole or part claimed by British of French citizens, to be taken for adjudication into ports of either nation.

--Old B-Runner