The Interesting Career of the CSS/USS Atlanta

I was writing about this ship last month.

It started its career as a blockade runner named the Fingal and made one run through the blockade at Savannah, Georgia, in November 1861.  It then found that it couldn't run out of the port.

At that time, it was converted into an ironclad and named the CSS Atlanta, mounting four cannons, a torpedo spar and a ram.  The new ironclad had just one battle with Union ships which turned out badly and the ship's capture.

It was then taken into the Union Navy and served the rest of the war in that capacity.

After the war, it was sold to Haiti, but lost at sea on her way there.  Imagine a former Confederate ironclad fighting for a black nation.

So, it was a blockade runner, Confederate ironclad, Union ironclad and Haitian warship.

Like I Said, An Interesting Story.  --Old B-R'er

USS Atlanta-- Part 3: Sold to Haiti After the War

On 4 May 1869, the Atlanta was sold to Sam Ward for $25,000 and after that delivered to representatives of Haiti on 8 December  by Sydney Oaksmith, a lawyer who had received an advance of $50,000 on her purchase price of $260,000.  (A pretty good profit.)

The ship was briefly seized by U.S. Customs Service, possibly for violations of neutrality laws as she had recently loaded  four large guns and a number of recruits for the force of Sylvain Salnave, President of Haiti, who was embroiled in a civil war at the time.

The Atlanta was released and sailed for Haiti three days later.  She broke down  in Delaware Bay and had to put in at Chester, Pennsylvania, for repairs.

The ship was renamed either the Triumph or Triumfo, and departed on 18 December 1869 and vanished en route, apparently sinking with the loss of all hands, either off Cape Hatteras or the Delaware Capes.

It would be interesting if this ship is found someday.  And, imagine, a former Confederate ship fighting for Haiti.  That would have been interesting.

--Old B-Runner

USS De Soto-- Part 12: Operations in the West Indies

The De Soto was recommissioned 12 August 1865 in Baltimore and Captain Walker was back in command again.  It joined the newly organized North Atlantic Squadron which covered the sea south to the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico.

Next, the De Soto was involved in a rebellion in Haiti, protecting American interests and trying to make peace between the Haitians and British Navy.

Back to the U.S. and 10 April 1866, command was given to Captain Charles Stewart Boggs (1811-1888) who served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War.   Under his command the ship operated in the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico.

--Old B-Runner

A Rebel Slaver and Privateer Captured at Hayti

From the July 11, 2011, Long Recall Blog.

This was taken from the Northern Press.

"An attempt at slave-dealing was lately made on the very coast of Hayti (Haiti), by a vessel of New Orleans, the William, Captain Le Pelletier, but owing to the energetic interference of the French vice consul, the vessel, which had dared to shelter herself under the French flag, was seized , and her captain arrested.

Among the papers found on board was a certificate of Mr. Lewis, the United States consul at Port-au-Prince, stating that the vessel had left that place, and not Havana as was pretended, and also a document which proved that she had been previously captured, with four hundred and fifty-four negroes on board, by an American cruiser.

After the imprisonment of the captain, the William was closely searched, and there was found on board a number of six-barrelled revolvers and double-barrelled rifles with sabre bayonets."

Old B-Runner