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
Showing posts with label Stone Fleet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stone Fleet. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
January 31, 1862: Europe Looks At the Union Blockade At This Stage-- Part 1
JANUARY 31ST, 1862: A British memorandum reaching the Confederacy, regarding the effectiveness of the Union blockade and sinking of the "Stone Fleet" in Charleston harbor, presented the views of various European nations: "About ten days ago the English foreign office submitted the two following questions to the maritime powers of Europe:
"First. Is the sinking of the stone fleet ... an outrage on civilization? second. Is the blockade effective ... Is it now binding?"
Their Answers Next. --Old B-Runner
"First. Is the sinking of the stone fleet ... an outrage on civilization? second. Is the blockade effective ... Is it now binding?"
Their Answers Next. --Old B-Runner
Monday, January 30, 2017
155 Years Ago, January 25-26, 1862: Second Stone Fleet Sunk at Charleston
JANUARY 25TH, 1862: The USS Archer, Acting Lieutenant John W. Kittredge, captured schooner J.J. McNeil off Pass Cavallo, Texas.
JANUARY 26TH, 1862: The second "Stone Fleet" sunk in Charleston Harbor at Maffitt's Channel. The first "Stone Fleet" had been sunk in the Main Channel on December 20, 1861.
--Old B-Runner
JANUARY 26TH, 1862: The second "Stone Fleet" sunk in Charleston Harbor at Maffitt's Channel. The first "Stone Fleet" had been sunk in the Main Channel on December 20, 1861.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
155 Years Ago, December 20th, 1861: "Stone Fleet" Sunk at Charleston
DECEMBER 20TH, 1861: The "Stone Fleet" was sunk at Charleston by Captain C.H. Davis.
** Steamer Gordon ran the blockade off Wilmington, North Carolina.
--Old B-Runner
** Steamer Gordon ran the blockade off Wilmington, North Carolina.
--Old B-Runner
Sunday, December 18, 2016
155 Years Ago, December 17, 1861: Seven "Stone Fleet" Ships Sunk
DECEMBER 17TH, 1861: Seven "stone fleet" vessels sunk at the entrance of Savannah Harbor.
--Old B-Runner
--Old B-Runner
Monday, December 5, 2016
155 Years Ago, December 5, 1861: Union Takes Wassaw Sound, Georgia
DECEMBER 5TH, 1861: Flag Officer Du Pont regarding expedition to Wassaw Sound, Georgia, and plans for the use of the "stone fleet", wrote: "Ottawa, Pembina, and Seneca penetrated into Wassaw ... the 'stone fleet' are all at Savannah, and I hardly know what to do with them --- for with Wassaw that city is more effectively closed than a bottle with wire over the cork ....
"I am sending to [Captain James I.] Lardner to know if he can plant them on the Charleston bar ... One good thing they [the 'stone fleet's appearance at Savannah] did, I have not a doubt they were taken for men-of-war, and led to giving up the Wassaw defenses...."
Scare Me Once. --Old B-Runner
"I am sending to [Captain James I.] Lardner to know if he can plant them on the Charleston bar ... One good thing they [the 'stone fleet's appearance at Savannah] did, I have not a doubt they were taken for men-of-war, and led to giving up the Wassaw defenses...."
Scare Me Once. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
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
"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
Friday, July 15, 2016
155 Years Ago: Blockade Strategy Board Recommends the "Stone Fleet"
JULY 16TH, 1861: The Blockade Strategy Board reported to Secretary of the Navy Welles on the necessity of halting Confederate commerce: "...it is an important object in the present war that this trade, home and foreign, should be interrupted.... The most obvious method of accomplishing this object is by putting down material obstructions, and the most convenient form of obstruction, for transportation and use, is that of old vessels laden with ballast... and sunk in appropriate places."
This was the first suggestion for the "stone fleet." Elimination of water-borne trade by the Union blockade (more effective than the "stone fleet" obstructions at harbor entrances), meant the economic ruination of the Confederacy.
--Old B-R'er
This was the first suggestion for the "stone fleet." Elimination of water-borne trade by the Union blockade (more effective than the "stone fleet" obstructions at harbor entrances), meant the economic ruination of the Confederacy.
--Old B-R'er
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Archaeological Survey of Charleston Harbor-- Part 1
Back on Oct. 9th I started this entry and will do some more of it.
FIRST STONE FLEET
The Main Ship Channel and Maffitt Channel were the ones used most by blockade-runners, so it was determined by the Union Navy to obstruct them. Forty-five ex-whaling ships were filled with rocks in New England and sent to Charleston for that purpose. Being old and decrepit, some sank en route and others were diverted elsewhere.
Between Dec. 17th and Dec. 21st, 1861, sixteen were sunk in the Main Ship Channel and another thirteen were sunk Jan. 20-25 in the Maffitt Channel.
Locating large mounds of rocks is key to locating these wrecks today. They were sunk in an organized checkerboard pattern. Underwater archaeologists found 15 such ballast mounds with 14 being packed closely together. They couldn't find the Second Stone Fleet at Maffitt's Channel.
They did find four wrecks with large stones, but they think they were flat-bottom boats used to construct the Charleston Harbor jetties from 1878 to 1896.
More to Come Monday. --Old B-R'er
FIRST STONE FLEET
The Main Ship Channel and Maffitt Channel were the ones used most by blockade-runners, so it was determined by the Union Navy to obstruct them. Forty-five ex-whaling ships were filled with rocks in New England and sent to Charleston for that purpose. Being old and decrepit, some sank en route and others were diverted elsewhere.
Between Dec. 17th and Dec. 21st, 1861, sixteen were sunk in the Main Ship Channel and another thirteen were sunk Jan. 20-25 in the Maffitt Channel.
Locating large mounds of rocks is key to locating these wrecks today. They were sunk in an organized checkerboard pattern. Underwater archaeologists found 15 such ballast mounds with 14 being packed closely together. They couldn't find the Second Stone Fleet at Maffitt's Channel.
They did find four wrecks with large stones, but they think they were flat-bottom boats used to construct the Charleston Harbor jetties from 1878 to 1896.
More to Come Monday. --Old B-R'er
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Charleston Harbor Survey Completed-- Part 1
From the Sept. 17, 2012 Maritime Executive "USC Archaeologists Complete Survey of Charleston Harbor Civil War Naval Battlefield."
Charleston's blockade was in the shape of an arc stretching from Dewee's Inlet by the north end of the Isle of Palms (then called Long Island) down to Stono Inlet, south of Folly Beach, considered Charleston's backdoor if one went up the Stono River.
Between the two inlets were five channels, north to south: Maffitt's, North, Swash, Main Ship and Lanford.
Fortified points included: closest to the city Castle Pinckney and a sand island turned into Fort Ripley; in the mouth was Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie on Sullivans Island and farther out Battery Marshall to the north of the Isle of Palms and Battery Wagner on Morris Island, now under water.
Throughout the harbor, there was a variety of obstructions including framed torpedoes and mine fields.
Shipwrecks discovered from the period include the First Stone Fleet which was sunk to block the Main Ship Channel and Maffitt's Channel, the two most-favored by blockade-runners.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Charleston's blockade was in the shape of an arc stretching from Dewee's Inlet by the north end of the Isle of Palms (then called Long Island) down to Stono Inlet, south of Folly Beach, considered Charleston's backdoor if one went up the Stono River.
Between the two inlets were five channels, north to south: Maffitt's, North, Swash, Main Ship and Lanford.
Fortified points included: closest to the city Castle Pinckney and a sand island turned into Fort Ripley; in the mouth was Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie on Sullivans Island and farther out Battery Marshall to the north of the Isle of Palms and Battery Wagner on Morris Island, now under water.
Throughout the harbor, there was a variety of obstructions including framed torpedoes and mine fields.
Shipwrecks discovered from the period include the First Stone Fleet which was sunk to block the Main Ship Channel and Maffitt's Channel, the two most-favored by blockade-runners.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Friday, September 14, 2012
Charleston Harbor Civil War Mapped
From the September 8th Navy Times "Watery battlefield of Charleston Harbor mapped" by Bruce Smith, AP.
Shipwrecks, obstructions and blockade-runners in Charleston Harbor have been mapped out in a project that took nearly as long as the war itself.
James Spirek and others from the University of South Carolina Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology spent almost $500,000 financed by an American Battlefield Protection grant matched by the institute.'
The map includes the locations of the 29 ships in the Stone Fleet and 13 blockade-runner wrecks.The 1st Stone Fleet's wrecks were found by locating ballast mounds in the main shipping channel. A second group of 13 ships was at another channel, but it wasn't found. Efforts will be made to locate these later this year. The Stone Fleets were attempts by the Union to close Charleston to blockade-runners by sinking obsolete ships (mostly whalers) loaded with stones in Charleston Harbor's shipping channels.
Four sunken ironclads were also found. Three of them are buried under sediment and the 4th, the monitor USS Patapsco is near the main shipping channel.
Most of the wrecks are in areas that are bad for divers with strong currents and black water.
During the war, Confederates ashore could easily see the Union blockaders, who, at the same time could easily see them. Both also cracked each other's signal codes so there wasn't a lot of top secrecy.
These findings will be useful to harbor managers, the US Corps of Engineers and historians. Plans are in the works to increase the depth of the main channel beyond its current 45 feet.
All Civil War Research Is Always Welcome. --Old B-R'er
Shipwrecks, obstructions and blockade-runners in Charleston Harbor have been mapped out in a project that took nearly as long as the war itself.
James Spirek and others from the University of South Carolina Institute for Archaeology and Anthropology spent almost $500,000 financed by an American Battlefield Protection grant matched by the institute.'
The map includes the locations of the 29 ships in the Stone Fleet and 13 blockade-runner wrecks.The 1st Stone Fleet's wrecks were found by locating ballast mounds in the main shipping channel. A second group of 13 ships was at another channel, but it wasn't found. Efforts will be made to locate these later this year. The Stone Fleets were attempts by the Union to close Charleston to blockade-runners by sinking obsolete ships (mostly whalers) loaded with stones in Charleston Harbor's shipping channels.
Four sunken ironclads were also found. Three of them are buried under sediment and the 4th, the monitor USS Patapsco is near the main shipping channel.
Most of the wrecks are in areas that are bad for divers with strong currents and black water.
During the war, Confederates ashore could easily see the Union blockaders, who, at the same time could easily see them. Both also cracked each other's signal codes so there wasn't a lot of top secrecy.
These findings will be useful to harbor managers, the US Corps of Engineers and historians. Plans are in the works to increase the depth of the main channel beyond its current 45 feet.
All Civil War Research Is Always Welcome. --Old B-R'er
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: Jan 25-29, 1862
JANUARY 25TH
Sec. of Navy Welles writes Flag Officer Du Pont, commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron about "the importance of a rigorous blockade" over all his charge. It causes "distress and cripple the States in insurrection, plus denies foreign governments any effort "to aid and relieve" the Confederacy.
JANUARY 26TH
The second "Stone Fleet" sunk in Charleston Harbor at Maffitt's Channel. The first had already been sunk in the Main Channel back on Dec. 20th.
JANUARY 27TH
A Union fleet and 2,400 troops conduct a reconnaissance of Wassaw Sound, Georgia. Savannah thrown into great alarm.
JANUARY 29TH
Flag Officer Foote and General Grant believe Fort Henry can be taken with four gunboats and troops.
Flag Officer Goldsborough reports that all vessels intended for the Roanoke Island attack are over the bar at Hatteras Inlet. The troopships are over it as well.
There is still fear of the new Confederate ironclad being built on the hull of the old USS Merrimack. Captain John Marston wants the USS Congress to remain on station in case of an attack by the new ironclad. Lots of rumors circulating around Hampton Roads as to how ready the Confederate ship is.
Things Heating Up. --Old B-Runner
Sec. of Navy Welles writes Flag Officer Du Pont, commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron about "the importance of a rigorous blockade" over all his charge. It causes "distress and cripple the States in insurrection, plus denies foreign governments any effort "to aid and relieve" the Confederacy.
JANUARY 26TH
The second "Stone Fleet" sunk in Charleston Harbor at Maffitt's Channel. The first had already been sunk in the Main Channel back on Dec. 20th.
JANUARY 27TH
A Union fleet and 2,400 troops conduct a reconnaissance of Wassaw Sound, Georgia. Savannah thrown into great alarm.
JANUARY 29TH
Flag Officer Foote and General Grant believe Fort Henry can be taken with four gunboats and troops.
Flag Officer Goldsborough reports that all vessels intended for the Roanoke Island attack are over the bar at Hatteras Inlet. The troopships are over it as well.
There is still fear of the new Confederate ironclad being built on the hull of the old USS Merrimack. Captain John Marston wants the USS Congress to remain on station in case of an attack by the new ironclad. Lots of rumors circulating around Hampton Roads as to how ready the Confederate ship is.
Things Heating Up. --Old B-Runner
Monday, January 2, 2012
Naval Happenings Dec. 10-20th, 1861: Lighthouse and Sunday Services
During the course of this Civil War Sesquicentennial, I will be reporting on some Naval actions as listed in the Civil War Naval Chronology. I will always include anything taking place around Wilmington and the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, including blockade-runners being captured.
DECEMBER 15TH-- USS Jamestown, Cmdr. Green, captured Confederate sloop Havelock near Cape Fear River, NC.
DECEMBER 17TH-- Flag Officer Foote, commanding Naval forces in the Western Waters issued a General Order saying that he wished to have religious services on ships under his command on Sundays, "Discipline to be permanent must be based on moral grounds."
Also, seven of the "Stone Fleet" vessels sunk off the Savannah River.
DECEMBER 19TH-- Confederates demolish lighthouse on Morris Island, near Charleston, SC.
DECEMBER 20TH-- "Stone Fleet" sunk at Charleston by Captain C.H. Gordon.
Steamer Gordon ran the blockade off Wilmington.
Stone You, Stone Me. --Old B-Runner
DECEMBER 15TH-- USS Jamestown, Cmdr. Green, captured Confederate sloop Havelock near Cape Fear River, NC.
DECEMBER 17TH-- Flag Officer Foote, commanding Naval forces in the Western Waters issued a General Order saying that he wished to have religious services on ships under his command on Sundays, "Discipline to be permanent must be based on moral grounds."
Also, seven of the "Stone Fleet" vessels sunk off the Savannah River.
DECEMBER 19TH-- Confederates demolish lighthouse on Morris Island, near Charleston, SC.
DECEMBER 20TH-- "Stone Fleet" sunk at Charleston by Captain C.H. Gordon.
Steamer Gordon ran the blockade off Wilmington.
Stone You, Stone Me. --Old B-Runner
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