George F. Winslow of the USS Marblehead-- Part 1: There Were Two George F. Winslows in the Union Navy

I wrote about this officer in my Battle of Legareville-- Part 3 post.  With the last name of Winslow, I was wondering if he  might be some relation to John Ancrum Winslow who commanded the USS Kearsarge in is fight with the CSS Alabama, so had to look him up.

I only found one mention of him in the U.S. Navy Officers 1798 to 1900

There were two Civil War-era George F. Winslows listed a naval officers.

The second one was:

Acting Asst. Surgeon 26 July 1862

Asst. Surgeon  28 May 1864

Passed Asst. Surgeon  14 June 1867

Surgeon  2 April 1875

Medical Inspector   21 August 1893

Medical Director  23 January 1898

This one was probably not the one from the USS Marblehead.

He has a carte de visit online at the Library of Congress taken while an assistant surgeon.

It says he was son of Captain Giles H. Winslow.  Served on steamer Morse 1863 and Osceola in 1864.  The USS Osceola took part in the attacks on Fort Fisher.

So, I Might Just Have a Fort Fisher Connection.  --Old B-Runner

March 4, 1865: Loss of Army Transport Thorn to a Torpedo in the Cape Fear River

MARCH 4TH, 1865:  The U.S. transport Thorn struck a torpedo below Fort Anderson in the Cape Fear River.  Brigadier General Gabriel J. Rains, Superintendent of the Confederate Torpedo Corps and a pioneer in the development of torpedoes, reported:  "The vessel sunk, as usual in such cases, in two minutes, but in this the crew escaped, but barely with their lives."

The loss of the 400 ton Army steamer within two weeks of the damage to the USS Osceola  and destruction of a launch from the USS Shawmut by torpedoes underscored the fact that although the Union controlled the waters below Wilmington it did not have complete freedom of movement.

The presence -- or even suspected presence -- of Confederate torpedoes forced the Navy to move more slowly than otherwise have been possible.

--Old B-Runner

February 19-20, 1865: Fort Strong Engaged and Confederates Release the Torpedoes in the Cape Fear River, NC

FEBRUARY 19TH TO 20TH, 1865:  Following the evacuation of Fort Anderson, Rear Admiral Porter's gunboats steamed seven miles up the Cape Fear River to the Big Island shallows and the piling obstructions and engaged Fort Strong's five guns.  Ship's boats swept the river for torpedoes (mines) ahead of the fleet's advance.

On the night of the 20th, the Confederates released 200 floating torpedoes, which were avoided with great difficulty and kept the boat crews engaged in sweeping throughout the hours of darkness.

Although many of the gunboats safely swept with their nets, the USS Osceola, Commander J.M.B. Clitz, received hull damage and lost a paddle wheel box by an explosion.

Another torpedo destroyed a boat from the USS Shawmut, inflicting four casualties.

--Old B-Runner

Loss of U.S. Transport Thorn in the Cape Fear River

MARCH 4, 1865:  The U.S. transport Thorn struck a torpedo below Fort Anderson in the Cape Fear River.  Brigadier General Gabriel J. Rains, Superintendent of the Confederate Torpedo Corps and a pioneer in the development of torpedoes, reported:  "The vessel sunk, as usual in such cases, in two minutes, but in this the crew escaped, but barely with their lives."

The loss of the 400 ton Army steamer within two weeks of the damage to the USS Osceola and destruction of the launch from the USS Shawmut by torpedoes (20-22 February, 1865) underscored the fact that although the Union controlled the waters below Wilmington it did not have complete freedom of movement.

The presence--or even the suspected presence--of Confederate torpedoes forced the Navy to move more slowly than would otherwise have been possible.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: Action on the James River

JULY 28TH, 1864:  The USS Mendota and USS Agawam shelled Confederate positions across Four Mile Creek, on the James River, in support of Union moves to clear the area and restore full Northern use of the river at that point.

AUGUST 3RD, 1864:  The USS Miami engaged Confederate batteries at Wilcox's Landing, Virginia, who weer firing on Union transports, forcing them to withdraw after an hour.

The next day, the Miami and USS Osceola drove off batteries firing on other transports at Harrison's Landing on the James River.

Throughout the South, Union gunboats kept vital communications and supply lines open despite Confederate efforts to disrupt and destroy them.

--Old B-R'er