USS Montgomery-- Part 3: Service in the Gulf of Mexico

From June to November,, the Montgomery blockaded Apalachicola,Florida,  and captured the ship Finland on 29 August when found to be lacking proper papers.  In November, she began blockading the Atlantic coast from Maryland to the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.

THIS PART IS A BIT CONFUSING.  On the 8th, she had a running fight with the Tallahassee.  After temporary duty off Ship Island 2 December, she was attacked off Horn Island Pass two later by the Florida and Pamlico but was not damaged.  (The Tallahassee did not become a Confederate ship until 1864.  If the Florida mentioned here is the CSS Florida cruiser, this ship was not off the Alabama coast until August 1862.)

Joining the East Gulf Blockading Squadron 20 January 1862, the Montgomery reported to Ship Island  three days later. She took schooner Isabel off Atchafalaya Bay 1 February, then carried dispatches to Tampa, Florida, before joining the West Gulf Blockading Squadron to hunt for the schooner  Columbia off San Luis Pass, Texas, 5 April.

They found the schooner abandoned and burned her, then captured a large sloop.  Cruising the Mexican and Texas coasts, she helped free American citizens held in Mexico the latter part of April and took the British schooner Will o' the Wisp off the Rio Grande on 3 June.  (There was a later another Will-o-the-Wisp sidewheel steamer sunk off Galveston in 1865.  I'm not sure if they were one and the same.)

--Old B-Runner

February 20, 1862: Oprartions Against New Orleans About to Commence

FEBRUARY 20TH, 1862:   Flag Officer Farragut arrived at Ship Island to begin what Secretary of the Navy Welles termed "the most important operation of the war" -- the assault on New Orleans. In his instruction of February 10 to the Flag officer, Welles observed:  "If successful, you open the way to the sea for the great West, never again to be closed.

"The rebellion will be riven in the center, and the flag to which you have been so faithful will recover its supremacy in every State."

For some weeks prior to Farragut's arrival, Union forces had been gathering at the Ship Island staging area.  As early as 30 December, General Bragg, CSA, had written from Mobile:  "The enemy's vessels, some twenty, are below, landing supplies and large bodies of troops on Ship island."

With an inadequate naval force, however, the Confederates were unable to contest the steady build-up of Northern strength.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, November 28, 1861: Two Runners Seized

NOVEMBER 28TH, 1861:  The USS New London, Lieutenant A. Read, captured Confederate blockade runner Lewis,  with cargo of sugar and molasses, and schooner A.J. View, with cargo of turpentine and tar, off Ship Island, Mississippi.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, September 17, 1861: Confederates Evacuate Ship Island, Mississippi

SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1861:  Confederates evacuate Ship Island, Mississippi; landing party from the USS Massachusetts took possession.  Ship Island eventually became the staging area for General Butler's troops in the amphibious operations below New Orleans.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Confederates Seize Lighthouse Tender and Ship Island

JANUARY 18TH, 1861--  Confederates seize  U.S. lighthouse tender Alert at Mobile.

JANUARY 20TH, 1861--  The fort on Ship island, Mississippi, seized by Confederates;  Ship Island was a key base for operations in the Gulf of mexico and at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

--Old B-Runner

Some Confusion With Today's Ship Island Incident

In the earlier post, I wrote about the Union steamer Mist being captured by Confederate guerrillas at Ship Island, Mississippi. I know their is a bearier island of the Mississippi coast by that name with Fort Massachusetts on it. But, considering the small size of the island, a Union fort and naval base there, I kind of doubt that there were any Confederate guerrilla operations on it.

Now, what would have made more sense was a Ship Island somewhere along the Mississippi River, or perhaps another state of Mississippi river being attacked by guerrillas. But, I was unable to come up with another Ship Island during my search.

Perhaps this was a mistake in the CWNC. --Old B-R'er

The USS Massachusetts

From the June 19, 2011, Biloxi (Ms) Sun-Herald.

  Before the Civil War, the USS Massachusetts was a civilian steamer built in Boston.  At the onset of the war, the US Navy consisted of just 90 vessels, many of which were sailing vessels.  But the new era meant that steamers were needed.  The Navy Department immediately bought 80 additional steamers and 60 sailing ships.

The Massachusetts was purchased May 3, 1861 and commissioned May 24th under commander Melancton Smith III, son of War of 1812 officer Melancton Smoth, Jr..  It was assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron, arriving at Key West June 8th.

On June 9th, it captured the British blockade-runner Perthshire with a cargo of cotton near Pensacola.  It then continued its Gulf patrol, capturing ships on the 17th, 19th and four on the 23rd.

While on patrol, the Confederates decided to take and fortify Ship Island with its then-named Fort Twiggs after General David Twiggs, who was now a Confederate general.  The Union also considered the fort of importance and a month later there was a battle.

Old B-R'er

Fort Massachusetts

From Wikipedia.

Located on West Ship Island, Mississippi.   Built from 1859 to 1861 and in use until 1903.

Confederates occupied it at first, then the Union.  At one time, during the Civil War, as many as 18,000 Union troops were stationed at it.  More than 230 died there and are buried.  Many of those were reburied at Chalmette National Cemetery in New Orleans.

During the war, the Union Navy used the island as a base for supplies and repairs.

The 1st Louisiana Native Guard, one of the first black regiments formed was stationed at the fort for about three years.

The fort was unfinished at the start of the war, but after Union occupation, it resumed.

It was never officially named, but usually called Fort Massachusetts. probably after the ship that I recently posted about.

Bricks for the fort came from Louisiana before the war, but after the outbreak they came from New England, then from Louisiana again after 1865.  Today you will notice the distinct color differences of the different bricks.

A Little-Known Fort.  --Old B-R'er

USS Massachusetts-- Part 2

This was one really busy ship in 1861.  I came across the name again and again in my research.

You have to wonder if Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, around which the ship constantly operated, was named for the ship.  How about a fort being named for a ship?

On July 13, 1861, it captured the Hiland and then on the 14th engaged Confederate steamers Arrow and Oregon off Chandeleur Island and forced them to withdraw.  On August 7th it captured the Charles Henry.  The crew had to be rolling in prize money by now.

In September, the Massachusetts put in for much-needed repairs.  After which, it fortified Chandeleur Island and set up a light for navigation.

On September 17th, a landing party from it took possession of Ship island which then became a major base of the blockading fleet and great shelter from storms.  Farragut used it as a base for his expedition to capture New Orleans the following year.

In early 1862, it was decommissioned in New York City and outfitted to be a troop and transport ship, but later reverted to gunboat status as part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  It captured the Parsis in Wassaw Sound March 12, 1863 and, along with the Commodore Perry, captured the blockade-runner Caledonia May 30, 1864 south of Cape Fear after a two-hour chase.

In August, along with the steamers Gettysburg and Keystone State, captured the blockade-runner Lilian.

 In March 1865, it struck a torpedo in Charleston Harbor, but fortunately, it didn't explode.

Decommissioned in New York City in September 1865, it was in the commerce trade until 1872.

Those Sailors Had to Love That Ship With All That Prize Money from the Runners.  --Old B-Runner

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: March 22- 25th ,1862

MARCH 22ND

Confederate General Lowell wrote from New Orleans that the River Defense Fleet consisted of six steamers. There was some concern among citizens when the fleet sent North on the river, but Confederates considered attack from the North to be most serious threat, not Farragut's fleet below the two forts.


MARCH 25TH

CSS Pamlico and CSS Oregon engaged USS New London at Pass Christian, Mississippi, in a two hour engagement. Neither side damaged. Transports with General Butler and troops arrived at Ship Island, Mississippi which had become the principal operations center west of Key West until Pensacola retaken. These troops to be used in the attack and occupation of New Orleans.

Flag Officer Tattnall ordered to take command of the CSS Virginia because Buchanan injured.


Noose Tightening at New Orleans. --Old B-R'er

Nvaal Happenings 150 Years Ago: February 15-20, 1862

FEBRUARY 15TH

Four Confederate ships attack Union batteries at Venus Point on Savannah River, but were forced back.

FEBRUARY 16TH

Union gunboats destroyed the Tennessee Iron Works above Dover on the Cumberland River.

FEBRUARY 17TH

Ironclad CSS Virginia commissioned under Captain Franklin Buchanan.

Flag Officer Foote writes Welles that he is leaving for Clarksville, Tn., with eight mortar boats and two ironclads. The other ironclads pretty cut up after the engagement at Fort Donelson and remaining for repairs.

FEBRUARY 19TH

Confederates evacuate Clarksville, Tennessee, on the Cumberland River. Foote occupies Fort Defiance and urged an immediate move on Nashville.

Trial run of USS Monitor in New York Harbor. Approximate speed will be between 6-8 knots.

General Robert E. Lee, in charge of Confederate coastal defenses is dismayed about inability to oppose Union guns on the blockaders and notifies Brigadier General Trapier in Florida that he must determine which positions can probably be held and which need to be relinquished.


FEBRUARY 20TH

Flag Officer Farragut arrives at Ship Island to begin preps for attack on New Orleans. naval ships and soldiers have been gathering at Ship Island for several s weeks already.

Rumors abound that the CSS Virginia is to attack Newport News and Hampton Roads.

Secretary of Welles wrote to Lt. Worden, commanding the USS Monitor to proceed to Hampton Roads.

The Stage Is Being Set for the Famous Battle Between the Two Ironclads. --Old B-Runner