John Henry Russell-- Part 2: Service in the Civil War and Afterwards

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1848 and was briefly assigned to the Coast Survey and then made a cruise to Brazil in 1849 and served on the New York-West Indies mail line from 1853 to 1856 and then as navigator on the USS Vincennes during explorations of the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans.

Assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron at the end of the 1850s, he returned  to the United States for ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

In 1861, he participated in the effort to prevent Confederate troops from capturing the U.S. ships at Norfolk, Virginia.  In September, he led an expedition to Pensacola, Florida, to destroy the Confederate privateer Judah.

He next assumed command of the gunboat USS Kennebec and participated in operations on the Mississippi River as far north as Vicksburg and later in the blockade of Mobile.  In 1863 he was commanding the USS Pontiac and returned to ordnance duty in Washington in 1864 and then to the Pacific Squadron where he commanded the USS Cyane (the ship he began his naval career on) 1864 to 1865.

Various duties ashore and afloat, on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts followed and he completed his service as the Commandant of the Mare  Island Navy Yard in San Francisco in 1886.  Appointed to the rank of rear admiral on 4 March 1886, he retired  on 27 August and resided in Washington, D.C., until his death on 1 April 1897.

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In 1938, the destroyer USS Russell (DD-414) was named in his honor, while the USS Russell (DDG-59) is named in both his and his son's honor.

--Old B-Runner

The Naval Forces At the Battle of Tuliffiny

In my other Civil War blog, Saw the Elephant, I am writing about the Battle of Tuliffiny in South Carolina in December 1864.  It was a part of Sherman's March to the Sea.  Of interest, it featured the cadets of Charleston's Citadel playing a big role in the battle.

From the Civil War Times 1864-12-6 Tuliffiny.

This was a Union amphibious assault of the Navy, Marines and Army.

Navy ships involved in it from the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron under Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren:

USS St. Louis  (the only ship of this name in the Civil War I could find was an ironclad on the Mississippi River)
USS Pawnee
USS Canandaigua

USS Flag
USS New Hampshire
USS Sonoma

USS Mingoe
USS Pontiac
USS Saratoga

USS James Adger
USS Cimarron
USS Donegal

Not all of these ships were at the actual battle.  This appears to be a list of ships of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron based at Hilton Head, S.C..

Commander George H. Preble commanded the Naval Support Brigade ashore.

--Old B-Runner

Rob Roy Destroyed, Amazon Surrenders

MARCH 2ND, 1865:  In an effort to avoid capture by an armed boat from the USS Fox, the crew of the blockade runner Rob Roy, from Belize, Honduras, ran ashore  and set fire to her at Deadman's Bay, Florida.  The cargo removed from the burning wreck consisted of cavalry sabers and farming and mechanical implements.

The steamer Amazon, "quite recently used as a rebel transport," surrendered to the USS Pontiac on the Savannah River.  The Amazon was carrying a cargo of cotton when she surrendered.

--Old B-Runner

Naval Cooperation for Sherman on His New March-- Part 2

Sherman and his subordinates utilized water transport and naval support as much as possible during his move northward.  This date, Lt.Col. Alexander C. McClurg, Chief of Staff of the 14th Army Corps, wrote Lt.Cmdr. Luce of the USS Pontiac: "All the transports will, by this afternoon or evening, be unloaded and ordered to return to Savannah.  General Morgan, commanding the rear division, has been ordered to withdraw his pickets on the Georgia shore of the [Savannah] river as soon as the transports have passed the lower landing.

"The general commanding requests that you assist and cover the crossing of these troops.  The general commanding takes this opportunity to express to you and your officers his thanks for your efficient cooperation during your stay and movements at this point."

Two days later, Major general Cuvier Grover added a letter to Luce:  "Understanding that you have in view leaving this station, I will respectfully request that, if it be consistent with your instructions, you would remain here until such time as you can be relieved by some other naval vessel, as I would consider it quite necessary that there should be at least one gunboat here at all times."

--Old B-R'er