February 14, 1862: Attack on Fort Donelson Begins

FEBRUARY 14, 1862:  Gunboats USS St. Louis, Carondelet, Louisville, Pittsburg, Tyler and Conestoga under Flag Officer Foote joined with General Grant in attacking Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River.  Donelson, on high ground, could subject the gunboats to a plunging fire and was a more difficult objective than Fort Henry.

Foote did not consider the gunboats properly prepared for the assault on Donelson so soon after the heavy action at Fort Henry; nevertheless, at the "urgent request" pf both Grant and General Halleck to reduce the fortifications, Foote moved against the Confederate works.

Bitter fire at close range opened on both sides.  The flagship, St. Louis, was shit fifty-nine times and lost steering control, as did the Louisville.  Both disabled vessels drifted down stream and the gunboat attack was broken off.

Flag Officer Foote suffered injuries which forced him to give up command three months later.

--Old B-Runner

February 7, 1862: A Huge Explosion on the Tennessee River

FEBRUARY 7TH, 1862: The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, forced Confederates on the Tennessee River to abandon and burn steamers Samuel Orr, Appleton Belle and Lynn Boyd to prevent their falling into Union hands.  The Samuel Orr was loaded with torpedoes, "which," Phelps observed, "very soon exploded; the second one was freighted with powder, cannon, shot, grape balls, etc.

"Fearing an explosion from the fired boats (there were two together), I had stopped at a distance of 1,000 yards, but even there our skylights were broken by the concussion; the light upperdeck was raised bodily, the doors forced open, and locks and fastenings everywhere broken.

"The whole river for a half mile around about was completely beaten up by falling fragments and the shower of shot, grape, balls, etc."

Reckon He Should Have Been Watching From 2,000 yards.  --Old B-Runner

February 7, 8, 1862: More Confederate Ships Lost on the Tennessee River

FEBRUARY 7TH, 1862:  The USS Bohio, Acting Master William D. Gregory, captured schooner Eugenie Smith, en route from Havana to Matamoras.

FEBRUARY 8TH, 1862:  Captain Buchanan ordered the CSS Patrick Henry, Commander Tucker, and CSS Jamestown, Lieutenant Joseph N. Barney, to be kept in constant state of readiness "to cooperate with the Merrimack when that ship is ready for service."

**  The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, seized steamers Sallie Wood and Muscle at Chickasaw, Alabama.  The Confederates destroyed three other vessels to prevent their capture, bringing the total loss of ships since the fall of Fort Henry to nine.

Lt. Phelps Doing a Number on Confederate Ships in the Tennessee River.  --Old B-Runner

Capture of Fort Henry-- Part 2: Sweeping the Tennessee River

In continuing operations the three days following the capture of Fort Henry, the USS Tyler, Conestoga and Lexington, under Lt. S.L. Phelps, swept the Tennessee for Confederate transports, seized the unfinished steamer Eastport and destroyed a railroad bridge spanning the Tennessee River.

Leaving the Carondlet on station as guardship, Foote  proceeded the evening of the 6th with the three other ironclads, all damaged, to Cairo to direct preparation for the assault on Fort Donelson.  He saw the vast possibilities in breaching the Confederate defenses in the center of its western line.

from far up in Kentucky, south and west to the Mississippi at Columbus, all hung in the balance.  Fort Donelson would open the second door to the flood of Union power to sweep into the South.  With the center broken, collapse of the line would follow.

--Old B-R'er

February 6, 1862-- Part 1: Fort Henry Captured

FEBRUARY 6TH, 1862:  Naval forces under Flag Officer Foote, comprising the partially ironclad gunboats USS Essex, Carondelet, Cincinnati, St. Louis and the wooden gunboats USS Tyler, Conestoga and Lexington, captured strategic Fort Henry on the Tennessee River.

Originally planned as a joint expedition under Foote and General Grant, heavy rains the two days before the attack delayed the troop movements, and the gunboats attacked alone.  Accurate gunfire from the gunboats pounded the fort and forced Brigadier General Tilgham, CSA, with all but four of his guns useless, to strike his flag and surrender to Foote

February 3, 1862: Foote On His Way to Fort Henry-- Part 2

FEBRUARY 3RD, 1862:  Brigadier General C.F. Smith had well expressed this earlier:  "The Conestoga, gunboat, admirably commanded by Lieutenant Phelps of the Navy, is my only security in this quarter.  he is constantly moving his vessel up and down the Tennessee and Cumberland."

That same day, Foote wrote to Secretary of the Navy Welles that he would have had more ships against the fort fort  but for want of men.

"The volunteers from the Army to go in the gunboats exceed the number of men required, but the derangement of companies and regiments" had permitted few to transfer afloat.

I take this to mean that there were plenty of soldiers who volunteered, but that they were not allowed to go by their officers to keep company and regimental manpower up to numbers.

--Old B-R'er

January 30, 1862: Reconnaissance to Fort Henry

JANUARY 30, 1862:  The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, and USS Lexington, Lt. Shirk, reconnoitered the Tennessee River, making final preparations for the attack on Fort Henry.

Phelps, who performed yeoman service on the western waters reported:  "In the right channel, and near the foot of the island, are numerous buoys, evidently marking the location of some kind of explosive machine or obstruction; these I think we can rake out with our boats."

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, January 17, 1862-- Part 2: More Reconnoitering

Lieutenant Phelps reported the results of a 5 October reconnaissance:  "I examined the fort [Henry] carefully at a distance of from 2 to 2 1/2 miles....  The fortification is quite an extensive work and armed with heavy guns, mounted en barbette, and garrisoned by a considerable force.

"It is situated about 1 1/2 miles above the head of Panther Creek Island....  There is no channel upon one side of the island, and a narrow and somewhat crooked one upon the other, which continues so till within a mile of the fort, where the water becomes of a good depth from bank to bank, some 600 yards."

Detailed knowledge and careful preparations in large measure provided for the ultimate success of the February offensive operations against both Forts Henry and Donelson with the objective of driving the Confederates out of Kentucky where they held a line across the southern part of the state.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, January 17, 1862-- Part 1: Reconnoitering Fort Henry

JANUARY 17TH, 1862:  The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, and USS Lexington, Lt. Shirk, reconnoitered the Tennessee River below Fort Henry, attempting to determine the location of a reported "masked battery" at the foot of Panther Creek Island.

Having become convinced that the battery had been removed, Phelps fired "a few shells" at the fort, but the range was too great for his guns to reach "...our batteries," reported General Albert S, Johnston, CSA, "though ready, did not reply."

As early as October 1861, the Navy had initiated a careful examination of the Confederate works in the area in preparation for the Army-Navy assault on Fort Henry.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, January 7, 1862: Intel on Forts Henry and Donelson-- Part 2

Continued from Jan. 5

"It is too late now to move against the works on either river, except with a well-appoinred and powerful naval force."

As early as mid-December 1861, Phelps had reconnoitered the Cumberland and warned of the immense difficulties involved in a naval assault on Fort Donelson, the strategically located Confederate stronghold.

"None of these works can be seen," he observed, "rill approached to within easy range."

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, January 7, 1862: Intel on Forts Henry and Donelson-- Part 1

JANUARY 7TH, 1862:  Lt. S.L. Phelps, USS Conestoga, on an expedition up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers gained valuable intelligence about Confederate activity at Forts Henry and Donelson.

"The rebels," he reported to Flag Officer Foote, "are industriously perfecting their means of defense both at Dover and Fort Henry.  At Fort Donelson (near Dover) they have placed obstructions in the river, 1 1/2 miles below their battery, on the left bank and in the bend where the battery comes in sight ....

"The fire of the gunboats [at Fort Donelson] would be at a bad angle ... The forts are placed, especially on the Cumberland, where no great range can be had, and they can only be attacked on one narrow and fixed line ..."

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, January 1, 1862: USS Lexington Joining USS Conestoga Cruising the Ohio River

JANUARY 1ST, 1862:  Flag Officer Foote reported to Secretary of Navy Welles that he was sending the USS Lexington, Lt. Shirk, to join the USS Conestoga, Lt. S,L, Phelps, who had been rendering valuable service cruising the rivers and protecting "Union people" on the borders of the Ohio River and tributaries; indeed, the control of the rivers advanced Union frontiers deep into territory sympathetic to the South.

Foote added:  "I am using all possible dispatch in getting all the gunboats ready for service.  there is a great demand for them in different places in the western rivers."

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, November 18, 1861: Engagement at New Inlet, N.C.

NOVEMBER 18TH, 1861:  The USS Monticello, Lieutenant Daniel Braine, engaged a Confederate battery near New Inlet, North Carolina.  This would be an early fortification, part of which became Fort Fisher.  he later commander the USS Pequot in the attacks on Fort Fisher later in the war.

**  The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, on an expedition in the Cumberland River, dispersed Confederate forces and silenced a battery at Canton, Kentucky.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, October 26, 1861: CSS Sumter Destroys Another American Ship

OCTOBER 26TH, 1861:  The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. phelps, transported Union troops to Eddyville, Kentucky, for an attack on Confederate cavalry at Saratoga.

**  The CSS Sumter, Commander Semmes, captured and burned the American schooner Trowbridge in the Atlantic after removing a five months' supply of provisions.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, September 16, 1861: The Conestoga Captures Steamers on Cumberland River

SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1861:  The USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, captured Confederate steamers V.R. Stephenson and Gazelle on the Cumberland River, Kentucky.

Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Action in Missouri and North Carolina

SEPTEMBER 10, 1861:  USS Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, and USS Lexington, Commander Stembel, covering a troop advance, silenced the guns of a Confederate battery and damaged gunboat CSS Yankee at Lucas Bend, Missouri.

**  USS Pawnee, Commander Rowan, captured schooner Susan Jane in Hatteras Inlet.  Other blockade runners, unaware that the Union Navy now controlled the inlet, were also taken as prizes.

**  USS Cambridge, Commander W.A. Parker, captured British blockade running schooner Revere off Beaufort, North Carolina, with cargo of salt and herring.

CSS Yankee.  Quite a Name for a Confederate Ship, Like the CSS United States.  --Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Recon Missions on the Mississippi and in Virginia

AUGUST 15TH, 1861:  USS Tyler and Conestoga, Lt. S.L. Phelps, scouted the Mississippi for Confederate fortifications and movements as far south as New Madrid, Missouri, while the USS Lexington, Lt. Roger N. Stembel, operating with the Army, made a similar reconnaissance of the river north to Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

** USS resolute, Acting Master W. Budd, while on a reconnaissance mission, engaged Confederate troops at Mathias Point, Virginia.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: U.S. Gunboats Arrive at Cairo, Illinois

AUGUST 12TH, 1861:  Gunboats USS Tyler, Lexington and Conestoga procured and fitted out by Commander J. Rodgers, arrived at Cairo, Illinois, to protect the strategic position at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and to scout the rivers for Confederate batteries and troop movements.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago Naval Forces on Western Rivers Established--Part 2

Under John Rodgers, three river steamers were purchased at Cincinnati.  Rodgers, overcoming no little difficulty in obtaining and training crews, getting guns and other equipment, converted the steamers to gunboats USS Tyler, Lexington and Conestoga.

These three gunboats, as stated by Alfred Thayer Mahan, were of inestimable service "in keeping alive the attachment to the Union where it existed."

--Old B-R'er

The Selfridge Curse Strikes Again-- Part 2

MARCH 8TH, 1864: Thomas O. Selfridge had been aboard the USS Cumberland during her engagement with the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads on 8 March 1862, which resulted in her sinking and had commanded the USS Cairo when she struck a torpedo and sank instantly in the Yazoo River on 12 December 1862. //// Rear Admiral Porter, upon hearing of his young officer's latest mishap, replied: "Well, Selfridge, you do not seem to have much luck with the top of the alphabet. I think that for your next shop I will try the bottom." //// Selfrisge's next command was the paddle wheel monitor USS Osage and after it grounded (but did not sink) in the Red River, he went on to command the new gunboat USS Vindicator-- even further down the alphabet. Of interest, the USS Osage also sank, but Selfridge was not in command at the time. (Must have been a curse carry-over.) //// Good thing that Selfridge obviously was a favorite of Porter. //// It's Who You Know Sometimes. --Old B-Runner