JUNE 11TH, 1862: The USS Susquehanna, Commander Robert B. Hitchcock, captured blockade runner Princeton in the Gulf of Mexico.
** The USS Bainbridge, Commander Brasher, captured schooner Baigorry with cargo of cotton in the Gulf of mexico.
--Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label USS Bainbridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Bainbridge. Show all posts
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Friday, May 13, 2016
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
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
Saturday, January 26, 2013
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
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
The USS Bainbridge: The War in Real Time-- Part 1
In the last post I mentioned the CSS Alabama capturing the brig Golden Rule off Haiti on January 26, 1863, today, 150 years ago. Semmes noted in his log: "This vessel had on board masts, spars, and a complete set of rigging for the U.S. brig Bainbridge, lately obliged to cut away her masts in a gale at Aspinwall [Panama]." He later added: "I had tied up for awhile longer, one of the enemy's gun-brigs, for want of an outfit. It must have been some months before the Bainbridge put to sea." And, it was.
Well, I had never heard of this ship, so good old Wiki to the rescue.
It was named for William Bainbridge, a U.S. Naval officer in the Barbary War and the War of 1812 and who assumed command of the USS Constitution after Isaac Hull (who had defeated the HMS Guerriere. He defeated the HMS Java in combat.
The first American destroyer, the USS Bainbridge (DD-1) was also named after him in 1902.
I'll have to write about him in my War of 1812 blog.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Well, I had never heard of this ship, so good old Wiki to the rescue.
It was named for William Bainbridge, a U.S. Naval officer in the Barbary War and the War of 1812 and who assumed command of the USS Constitution after Isaac Hull (who had defeated the HMS Guerriere. He defeated the HMS Java in combat.
The first American destroyer, the USS Bainbridge (DD-1) was also named after him in 1902.
I'll have to write about him in my War of 1812 blog.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: January 26th to ,1863-- Two Commerce Raiders Out and About
JANUARY 26TH
CSS Alabama captured and burned bark Golden Rule off Haiti in the Caribbean. Semmes noted that it had masts and sails intended for the USS Bainbridge which had been lost in a gale earlier.
JANUARY 27TH
Ironclad Montauk and other ships engage Fort McAllister, Georgia, on the Ogeechee River. This was a test of the ironclads to see how they would stand up to heavy artillery fire in preparation for the attack on Charleston. They had to fire from a distance because of obstructions and possible torpedoes in the river.
Commander John Worden observed that the confederates were quite accurate, striking his vessel "quite a number of times, doing us no damage."
Du Pont wrote: "The monitor was struck some thirteen or fourteen times, which would have sunk a gunboat easily, but it did no injury whatsoever to the Montauk-- speaking well of the impenetrability of those vessels-- though the distance was greater than what could constitute a fair test.
But the slow firing, the inaccuracy of aim, for you can't see to aim properly from the turret [were a problem]. I asked myself...if one ironclad cannot take eight guns-- how are five to take 147 guns in Charleston harbor."
CSS Alabama captured and burned brig Chastlaine in the Caribbean.
Finally Caught Up. --Old B-R'er
CSS Alabama captured and burned bark Golden Rule off Haiti in the Caribbean. Semmes noted that it had masts and sails intended for the USS Bainbridge which had been lost in a gale earlier.
JANUARY 27TH
Ironclad Montauk and other ships engage Fort McAllister, Georgia, on the Ogeechee River. This was a test of the ironclads to see how they would stand up to heavy artillery fire in preparation for the attack on Charleston. They had to fire from a distance because of obstructions and possible torpedoes in the river.
Commander John Worden observed that the confederates were quite accurate, striking his vessel "quite a number of times, doing us no damage."
Du Pont wrote: "The monitor was struck some thirteen or fourteen times, which would have sunk a gunboat easily, but it did no injury whatsoever to the Montauk-- speaking well of the impenetrability of those vessels-- though the distance was greater than what could constitute a fair test.
But the slow firing, the inaccuracy of aim, for you can't see to aim properly from the turret [were a problem]. I asked myself...if one ironclad cannot take eight guns-- how are five to take 147 guns in Charleston harbor."
CSS Alabama captured and burned brig Chastlaine in the Caribbean.
Finally Caught Up. --Old B-R'er
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