So, Who Was This Caleb Cushing the Revenue Cutter Was Named After?-- Part 1

I'd heard of the revenue cutter before, but not the man it was named after.  He also played a role in the Civil War as it turns out.

From Wikipedia.

CALEB CUSHING  (January 17, 1800 to January 2, 1879)

Was an American Democratic politician and diplomat who served in Congress from Massachusetts and was attorney general under President Franklin Pierce.  He was an eager proponent of American territorial and commercial expansion, especially regarding the acquisition of Texas, Oregon and Cuba.

He believed that enlarging the American sphere of influence would would fulfill  "the great destiny reserved for this exemplar American Republic."

He also secured a treaty with China in 1844, which opened  five ports to American trade..  After the Civil War, he secured a treaty with Colombia to give the United States a right-of-way  for a transoceanic across the isthmus of Panama. 

In addition, he also helped obtain a favorable  settlement of the Alabama Claims, and as the ambassador to Spain in the 1870s, helped defuse  the troublesome Virginius Affair.

An Important Man in U.S. History Even If I Didn't Know About Him.  --Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Watching Out for Privateers

MAY 15TH, 1861:  Secretary of Navy Weklles appointed Lt. Thomas M. Brasher to command the USS Bainbridge and ordered him to proceed to Aspinwall, New Granada (Panama), to protect California steamers against "vessels sailing under pretended letters of marque issued by the insurrectionary States."

California steamers transported large amounts of gold from Aspinwall to New York.  Confederate ships were constantly on the alert for these vessels as the blockade tightened and the need for specie became increasingly desperate.

--Old B-R'er

Confederate Attempt to Seize the SS Salvador Thwarted

NOVEMBER 11TH, 1864:  Commander Henry K. Davenport, USS Lancaster, captured Confederates on board steamer Salvador, bound from Panama to California, after learning that they planned to seize the ship and turn her into a commerce raider.  The Salvador's captain had warned naval authorities at Panama Bay that the attempt was to be made, and Davenport and his men arranged to search the baggage of the passengers after the vessel passed the territorial limits of Panama (actually a part of Colombia at the time).  This was done to avoid international law problems.

The search revealed guns and ammunition, along with a commission from Confederate Secretary Mallory for the capture; the Confederates were promptly taken into custody.

This daring party, led by Acting master Thomas E. Hogg, CSN, was one of many attempting to seize Union steamers and convert them into commerce raiders, especially with the view toward capturing the gold shipments from California.  Union ships usually convoyed the California ships to avoid capture.

It Costs Money to Fight a War.  --Old B-Runner

The USS Bainbridge: The War in Real Time-- Part 2

The Bainbidge was a brig-rigged sailing ship launched in 1842 at the Boston Navy Yard.  It was 100-feet long, had a 25-foot beam, weighed 259 tons, had a crew of 100 and carried twelve 32-pdr. carronades.

Before the Civil War, it served in the Home, African and Brazil squadrons and had been decommissioned before returning to service in May 1861 and sent to the Gulf of Mexico where it captured three blockade-runners.  On August 3, 1862, it joined the East Gulf Blockading Squadron.

In September 1862, it was ordered to Aspinwall, Panama.  From November 22-24, it was hit by a really strong storm that caused all the spars, sails, gun carriages, howitzers, shot, powder, provisions and water to be jettisoned.

After that, the Golden Rule, sunk by the Alabama, was sent with replacements and didn't arrive, of course.  Evidently another ship was sent and this one got through.  After extensive repairs, the Bainbridge sailed to New York in May 1863 (after having been out of the business for quite a few additional months as Semmes had predicted,.

While proceeding to its new station with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, she capsized off Cape Hatteras August 21, 1863, with the loss of all but one of her crew.

The Story of a Ship.  --Old B-R'er