June 2-3, 1862: Naval Support of James Island Landings

JUNE 2-3, 1862:  The USS Unadilla, Lt. Collins, USS Pembina, E.B. Hale, Ellen and Henry Andrew provided close gunfire support for Army landings and operations on James Island, South Carolina (by Charleston).

--Old B-Runner

May 20, 1862: Action on the Stono River, S.C.

MAY 20TH, 1862:  Union gunboats occupied the Stono River above Cole's Island, South Carolina, and shelled Confederate positions there.  Flag Officer Du Pont reported to Secretary of the Navy Welles:  "The Unadilla, Pembina, and Ottawa, under Commander Marchand ... succeeded in entering Stono and proceeded up the river above the old Fort opposite Legareville.

"On their approach the barracks were fired and deserted by the enemy....  This important base of operations, the Stono, has thus been secured for further operations by the army against Charleston...."

--Old B-Runner

February 13-15, 1862: Those "Infernal Machines"

FEBRUARY 13-15, 1862:  The USS Pembina, Lt. John P. Bankhead, discovered a  battery of "tin-can" torpedoes (mines) while engaged in sounding the Savannah River above the mouth of Wright's River.  The mines, only visible at low tide, were connected by wires and moored individually to the bottom.

The following day, Bankhead returned and effected the removal of one of the 'infernal machines" for purposes of examination.  On the 15th, Bankhead "deemed it more prudent to endeavor to sink the remaining ones than to attempt to remove them," and sank the mines by rifle fire.

Torpedoes were planted in large numbers in the harbors and rivers of the Confederacy, constituting a major hazard which Union commanders had to consider and reckon with in planning operations.

Don't Go in the Water.  Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago, Dec. 31-Jan. 2, 1862-- Part 1: Attack of Confederates at Port Royal Ferry, S.C.

DECEMBER 31ST, 1861-JANUARY 2ND, 1862:  Naval squadron under Commander C.R.P. Rodgers, including gunboats Ottawa, Pembina and Seneca and four armed boats carrying howitzers, joined General Stevens' troops in successful amphibious attack on Confederate positions at Port Royal Ferry and on Coosaw River.

Gunboat fire covered the troop advance, and guns and naval gunners were landed as artillery support.  Army signal officers acted as gunfire observers and coordinators aboard the ships.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, December 5, 1861: Union Takes Wassaw Sound, Georgia

DECEMBER 5TH, 1861:  Flag Officer Du Pont regarding expedition to Wassaw Sound, Georgia, and plans for the use of the "stone fleet", wrote:  "Ottawa, Pembina, and Seneca penetrated into Wassaw ... the 'stone fleet'  are all at Savannah, and I hardly know what to do with them --- for with Wassaw that city is more effectively closed than a bottle with wire over the cork ....

"I am sending to [Captain James I.] Lardner to know if he can plant them on the Charleston bar ...  One good thing they [the 'stone fleet's appearance at Savannah] did, I have not a doubt they were taken for men-of-war, and led  to giving up the Wassaw defenses...."

Scare Me Once.  --Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, November 5, 1861: Engagement at Port Royal

NOVEMBER 5TH, 1861:  The USS Ottawa, Pembina, Seneca and Pawnee engaged and dispersed  a small Confederate squadron under Commodore Tatnall in Port Royal Sound and fired on Fort Beauregard and Fort Walker.

--Old B-Runner

Naval Activity Early December 1864

DECEMBER 3RD, 1864:  Boat expedition from USS Nita, Stars and Stripes, Hendrick Hudson, Ariel and Two Sisters destroyed a large salt work at Rocky Point, Tampa Bay, Florida.

USS Mackinaw captured schooner Mary at sea off Charleston with cargo of cotton, tobacco and turpentine.

DECEMBER 4TH, 1864:  USS Chocura, Lt.Cmdr. Richard. Meade, captured schooner Lowood south of Velasco, Texas, with cargo of cotton.  Calling the Lowood "a notorious blockade runner", Meade said"  "We had been watching this schooner for some time and finally laid a trap for her, which had proved successful."

USS Pembina seized blockade running Dutch brig Geziena Hilligonda near Brazos Santiago, Texas, with cargo including medicines, iron and cloth.

Boats from the USS Pursuit captured Peep O'Day near Indian River, Florida, with cargo of cotton.

--Old B-Runner

Henry T. Davis, USN

From the June 6, 2011, Falmouth (Mass) Patch.

Henry T. Davis was born in 1838 and grew up in a home with a fine view of the sea.  By 1860, he had attained master mariner status.  By October 1863, Davis had a commission in the US Navy and was posted to the gunboat USS Pembina Nov. 5, 1863, after it was commissioned in New York.

The ship had nine officers aboard (4 from Massachusetts) and the ship was detached to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.  Later, it mainly operated off the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida providing artillery support, blockade duty, escort duty and operations to catch blockade-runners.

At one time it captured the Dutch-owned blockade-runner Geziena Hilligenda with a cargo of medicines, iron and cloth.  Davis was ordered to take the ship to New Orleans.

After the war, he served on the USS Chocura and USS Tahoma until discharged in 1867 when he went into the whaling business before becoming a land-based meat merchant.

On May 26, 1902, he committed suicide by hanging himself after falling into debt $1600.  he is buried in Woods Hole Cemetery.

The Story of An Officer.  --Old B-R'er

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: February 11-15, 1862

From the Civil War Naval Chronology.


FEBRUARY  11TH

Flag officer Foote preparing to attack Fort Donelson, but says he would be much stronger if given ten days to prepare.


FEBRUARY 13-15TH

USS Pembina discovered a battery of  "tin-can" torpedoes in the Savannah River above Wright's River.  Only visible at low tide and attached by wires. The next day, returned and removed one to examine.  On the 15th decided it would be best to blow them up rather than remove them and did so by rifle fire.

Torpedoes were placed in large numbers in Confederate harbors and proved to be a major hazard for Union ships.