Capture and Destruction of Mailboat Fawn-- Part 1

Not only did the Fawn carry mail, but also paymaster's funds.  

Report of Rear-Admiral S.P. Lee to Gideon Welles of the Fawn's capture and destruction. 

He had received the report from Commander Macomb that the Fawn had been captured on September 9, 1864.  Naval assistance was requested to capture the group of Confederates that had captured it.  Macomb had sent the USS Wyalusing under Lieutenant-Commander Earl English to Elizabeth City  thinking that he might catch the rebels there.

English was also ordered "to bring off some principal citizens of that place" because of an understanding that Elizabeth City would protect vessels passing through the canal.

English had with him some Marines from the Shamrock and Chicopee plus some men from the Wyalusing (not sure if English went to Elizabeth City on foot or in the ship).  Anyway, he arrested seven prominent citizens and found out that the rebels had at least an eight hours head start and thought it useless to continue pursuit.

--Old B-Runner

March 20, 1865: CSS Albemarle Raised

MARCH 20TH, 1865:  Commander Macomb, USS Shamrock, reported the successful raising of the Confederate ram Albemarle.

The formidable ironclad had been sunk the previous autumn in a daring attack led by Lieutenant William B. Cushing in an improvised torpedo boat.

To see what happened to the ship after this, go to my April 8, 2015, entry in this blog.

--Old B-Runner

Capture of the Mail Boat Fawn By Confederates in N.C.

From the Navy and Marine Living History Association  Compendium of U.S. Marine actions  in the Civil War.

"SEPTEMBER 9, 1864:   Marines of the USS Shamrock and USS Chicopee under the command of Lieutenant Commander  Earl English, landed at Elizabeth City, North Carolina to search for those who had attacked the mail boat Fawn and killed seven persons on board.

"Failing to find those involved, they took seven prisoners back to the ships."

This was the ship from which U.S. Congressman George Washington Julian was captured, but quickly released.  I would have thought capturing a Congressman would have been a good bargaining chip in prisoner exchanges.

Oh Well.  --Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago: Welles Reestablishes the West India Squadron

DECEMBER 4, 1865:  Secretary Welles announced that the West India Squadron was to be reestablished in that area "where we have so large a trade, and where, owing to the proximity of the islands to our shores, it is essential that we cultivate friendly relations."

Commodore James S. Palmer was designated to command this squadron with the USS Rhode Island serving as his flagship.  The eight additional vessels comprising the squadron were: USS  De Soto, Swatara, Monongahela, Florida, Augusta, Shamrock, Ashuelot,  and Monocacy.

--Old B-R'er

Supporting Sherman in North Carolina-- Part 1

APRIL 2, 1865:  Supporting General Sherman in North Carolina, Commander Macomb reported to Porter:  "In obedience to directions contained i9n your letter of the 28th ultimo, I started yesterday evening from Plymouth with the Shamrock, Wyoming, Hunchback, Valley City and Whitehead and proceeded up this river as far as the Stumpy Reach (about 10 miles from the mouth), where we came to anchor for the night.

"We had proceeded this far without dragging for torpedoes, in order to make quicker time (the river being broad and not suitable for torpedoes), but on starting this morning, we dragged the channel ahead of us, in which manner we advanced all day, and reached this place about 5 p.m. without having encountered any torpedoes....

"I have brought up three large flats, with which I ferry the regiment over.  I left orders at New Berne for the Commodore Hull and Shokokon to join me as soon as possible."

--Old B-Runner

Fall of Plymouth, N.C.-- Part 1

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 1, 1864  Capitalizing on Lt. Cushing's success destroying the CSS Albemarle, Commander Macomb moved against Plymouth, North Carolina, capturing the town and defenses after a heated engagement.

Immediately after Cushing's return on 29 October, Macomb steamed up the Roanoke River with six ships.  The USS Valley City proceeded via Middle River and entered the Roanoke above Plymouth to cut off the garrison's escape by water.  Macomb's gunboats engaged the lower batteries protecting the town, but seeing that two schooners had been sunk by the sunken USS Southfield, obstructing the river, withdrew to Albemarle Sound.

On the 30th, Macomb took his fleet through the Middle River to attack the city and its defenses from above, spending the entire day navigating the treacherous channels and shelling the Confederate works at long range.  On 31 October, Macomb formed his line of battle, with converted ferryboat USS Commodore Hull in the lead, followedby the sidewheel double-enders USS Tacony, USS Shamrock, USS Ostego and USS Wyalusing.

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago: CSS Florida, N.C. Lighthouse and USS Mobile

OCTOBER 4TH, 1864:

The CSS Florida arrived at Bahia, Brazil, for provision and coal.  Within three days the Florida's brilliant career as a commerce raider would be at an end.

Confederates destroyed the lighthouse at the entrance from Albemarle to Croatan Sound, North Carolina.  Commander William H. Macomb, USS Shamrock, reported: "It was blownup and afterwards set on fire so as to make the destruction complete.

OCTOBER 5TH, 1864:  The USS Mobile seized the blockade-running British schooner Annie Virdon south of Velasco, Texas, with a cargo of cotton.

--Old B-Runner: