March 11, 1865: Naval Hookup With Sherrnan at Fayetteville

MARCH 11TH, 1865:  Lieutenant Commander George W. Young, senior officer present off Wilmington, led a naval force consisting of the USS Eolus and boat crews from the USS Maratanza, Lenapee and Nyack up the Cape Fear River to Fayetteville, where they rendezvoused with General Sherman's army.

The naval movement had been undertaken at the request of Major General Terry, who,Young reported, had said on the morning of the 11th "that he was about starting an expedition up the North West Branch [of the Cape Fear River] for the purpose of clearing the way to to Fayetteville, and wished to have one of the gunboats, as a support, to follow."

The expedition was halted for the night at Devil's Bend because of "the circuitous nature of the river", but resumed the next morning and arrived at Fayetteville on the evening of the 12th.

In addition to opening communications between Sherman and the Union forces on the coast, the naval units arrived in time to protect the general's flank while he crossed the river.

--Old B-Runner

October 29, 1864: CSS Olustee (Former CSS Tallahassee) Goes on a Commerce Destroying Cruise From Wilmington

OCTOBER 29TH, 1864:  The CSS Olustee, formerly the CSS Tallahassee, Lieutenant William H.Ward, eluded the blockaders off Wilmington, North Carolina.

He returned to Wilmington on November 7 after a brief, but successful cruise, having destroyed the bark Empress Theresa,schooners  A.J. Bird, E.F. Lewis, and Vapor, ship  Arcole and brig T.D. Wagner, during the first three days of November.

The day before the Olustee slipped out of Wilmington, October 28, the CSS Chickamauga, Lt.  John Wilkinson, also eluded blockaders off Wilmington and set out to sea as  a commerce raider

That same day, the USS Calypso and USS Eolus captured British blockade running steamer Lady Sterling at sea off Wilmington with a cargo of cotton and tobacco.

--Old B-Runner

U.S. Navy Ships Rendezvous With Sherman at Fayetteville, N.C.

MARCH 11-12TH, 1865:  Lt.Cmdr. George W. Young, senior officer present off Wilmington, led a naval force consisting of  the USS Eolus and boat crews from the USS Maratanza, Lenapee and Nyack up the Cape Fear River to Fayetteville where they rendezvoused with General Sherman's army.

The expedition had been undertaken at the request of Major General Terry, who, Young reported,  had said on the morning of the 11th 'that he was about an expedition up the North West Branch [of the Cape Fear River]  for the purpose of clearing the way to Fayetteville, and wished to have one of the gunboats, as a support, to follow."

The expedition was halted for the night at devil's Bend because of "the circuitous nature of the river", but resumed the next morning and arrived at Fayetteville on the evening of the 12th.

In addition to opening communication between Union forces on the coast, the naval units arrived in time to protect the general's flank while he crossed the river.

Another Objective Accomplished.  --Old B-R'er

CSS Chickamauga and CSS Olustee Put Out to Sea from Wilmington

I have more to write about concerning Lt. Cushing and his sinking of the CSS Albemarle, but to catch up on other things going on as far as navies were concerned.

OCTOBER 28TH, 1864:  The CSS Chickamauga, Lt. John Wilkinson, CSN, sortied from Wilmington, N.C., eluded blockaders off the bar, and put to sea as a commerce raider

The USS Calypso and Eolus captured the blockade-running British steamer Lady Sterling off Wilmington with cargo of cotton and tobacco.

OCTOBER 29TH, 1864: The CSS Olustee, formerly the CSS Tallahassee, Lt. William H. Ward, eluded blockaders off Wilmington.  Ward returned to Wilmington November 7th after a brief but successful cruise, having destroyed bark Empress Theresa, schooners A.J. Bird, E.F. Lewis and Vapor, ship Arcole and brig T.D. Wagner during the first three days of November.

The War Goes On.  --Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago: Action on the James River and Capture of Blockade-Runners

OCTOBER 22ND, 1864:  Union shore batteries on the north bank of the James River at Signal Hill opened fire suddenly on the ships of the Confederate James River Squadron, anchored in the river at that point.  Wooden gunboat CSS Drewry sustained moderate damage, and after engaging the batteries for about an hour, the Southern vessels retired under the guns of Fort Darling on Chaffin's Bluff.

British blockade-runner steamer Flora, after being chased by the USS Wamsutta, Geranium and Mingoe off Charleston, S.C., was run aground and destroyed the next day by fire from the monitors and the batteries on Morris Island.

The USS Eolus capture Confederate blockade running steamer Hope near Wilmington with a cargo of machinery.

--Old B-Runner