March 28, 1864: Sailors Baling Cotton

MARCH 28TH, 1864:  The versatility of Union gunboat crews was continually tested.  Crewmen from the USS Benton, Lieutenant Commander Greer, had hone ashore on the 27th near Fort De Russy (Louisiana) and taken some 13 bales of cotton from an abandoned plantation.

They returned this date, Greer reported, and "got 18 bales from the same place, which they baled themselves, using an old awning for the purpose."

More Prize Money for Everyone.  --Old B-Runner

The Fall of Grand Gulf, Mississippi

In the last post, I wrote about Gideon Welles and President Lincoln receiving news of the capture of Grand Gulf on May 8, 1863.  Some more information about it.

From Wikipedia.

The Battle of Grand Gulf was fought April 29, 1863.  Then, i had to wonder why Washington, D.C., didn't get the news until May 8?

The fact is that the Union forces lost the battle on April 29.

Rear Admiral David D. Porter took seven ironclads in to attack Grand Gulf, downriver from Vicksburg.  The Confederates withstood a horrendous bombardment and prevented Federal infantry from landing.

The two major Confederate fortifications were earthen Fort Cobun and Fort Wade.  Union troops were from Major General Jogn A. McClernand's XIII Corps.  Porter's ironclads were the USS Benton, Lafayette, Tuscumbia, Carondelet, Louisville, Mound City and Pittsburg.  The Tuscumbia was put out of action.

The Union fleet withdrew, but after dark ran by the Confederate fortifications.  They landed troops and several days later, the Confederates evacuated Grand Gulf.

--Old B-Runner

June 6, 1862: Battle of Memphis

JUNE 6TH, 1862:  The USS Benton, Louisville, Carondolet, St. Louis and Cairo, under Captain Davis, and rams Queen of the West and Monarch under Col. Charles Ellett, Jr., engaged the Confederate River Defense Fleet: CSS Earl Van Dorn, General Beauregard, General M. F. Thompson, Colonel Lowell, General Bragg, General Sumter, General Sterling Price and Little Rebel under Captain Montgomery in the Battle of Memphis.

In the ensuing close action the Queen of the West was rammed and Colonel Ellett mortally wounded.  The Confederate River defense Fleet was destroyed; all ships, excepting the Van Dorn, were either captured, sunk or grounded on the river bank to avoid sinking.

Memphis surrendered to Captain Davis, and the pressure of relentless naval power had placed another important segment of the Mississippi River firmly under Union control.

Wasn't Much of a Battle.    --Old B-Runner

June 5, 1862: Action On the Mississippi River and Florida

JUNE 5TH, 1862:  The tug assigned to the USS Benton, Captain Davis, captured the steamer Sovereign near Island No. 37 in the Mississippi River.

**  The Confederate steamer Havana was set afire in Deadman's Bay, Florida, to prevent her capture by the USS Ezilda, tender to the USS Somerset, Lt. English.

--Old B-Runner

March 17, 1862: Action At Island No. 10 Continues

MARCH 17TH, 1862:  The USS Benton, with Flag officer Foote aboard, was lashed between the USS Cincinnati and St. Louis to attack Island No. 10 and Confederate batteries on the Tennessee shore at a range of 2,000 yards.

"The upper fort," Foote reported, "was badly cut up by the Benton and the other boats with her.  We dismounted one of their guns...."

In the attack, Confederate gunners scored hits on the Benton and damaged the engine of the Cincinnati.  A rifled gun burst on board the St. Louis and killed and wounded a number of officers and men.

--Old B-Runner

Island No. 10-- Part 2: Problems With Mississippi Current

Flag Officer Foote continued two days later:  "The Benton is underway and barely stems the strong current of the Ohio, which is five knots per hour in this rise rise of water, but hope, by putting her between two ironclad steamers to-morrow, she will stem the current and work comparatively well....

"I hope on Wednesday [12 March] to take down seven ironclad gunboats and ten mortar boats to attack Island No. 10 and New Madrid..

"As the current in the Mississippi is in some places 7 knots per hour, the ironclad boats can hardly return here, therefore we must go well prepared, which detains us longer than even you imagine necessary from your navy-yard and smoothwater standpoint....  We are doing our best, but our difficulties and trials are legion."

We can get 'Em there, But Not Back

Action in Louisiana

MARCH 26-27TH, 1865:  A detachment of sailors led by Acting Ensign Peyton H. Randolph of the USS Benton joined troops under the command of Brigadier General B.G. Farar in a combined expedition to Trinity, Louisiana,  where they captured a small number of Confederate soldiers as well as horses, arms and stores.

--Old B-Runner

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: August 24 to August 26th, 1862: It's Admiral Buchanan to You

AUGUST 24TH

USS Isaac N. Seymour ran aground aground and sank in the Neuse River, NC.

USS Henry Andrew wrecked after grounding in a storm 15 miles south of Cape Henry, Va.  Blockading duty could be risky as these last two show.

USS Stars and Stripes (how's that for the name of a Union ship?) captured British ship Mary Elizabeth, attempting to run the blockade into Wilmington with a cargo of salt and fruit.


AUGUST 25TH

Log entry of USS Benton for the day shows how busy the ships on western waters were: "At 7 [am] sent a boat ashore, which destroyed seven skiffs and one batteau.  At 11:40 came to at Bolivar Landing [Mississippi].  At 11:45 General Woods landing troops; opened fire upon the enemy.  We opened fire with out bow and starboard guns in protecting the landing of the troops...fired a number of shots in the direction of the rebel force."


AUGUST 26TH

Captain Franklin Buchanan promoted to admiral in the Confederate Navy " for gallant and meritorious conduct in attacking the enemy's fleet in Hampton Roads and destroying the frigate Congress, sloop of war Cumberland.

Old B-Runner