155 Years Ago: Two Confederate Ships Captured by USS Thomas Freeborn

AUGUST 4TH, 1861:  Cutter from the USS Thomas Freeborn, Lieutenant Eastman, captured schooner Pocahontas, loaded with wood, and sloop Mary Grey in Pohick Creek, Virginia.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Action on the Potomac River

JUNE 27, 1861:  The USS Thomas Freeborn, Commander Ward,  USS Reliance, Acting Lt. Jared P.K. Mygatt, with two boats from the USS Pawnee, Commander Rowan, attacked Confederate forces at Mathias Point, Virginia.  Commander Ward was killed in the action.

Naval actions at Mathias Point, Aquia Creek, and elsewhere caused Admiral D.D. Porter to later observe of these early operations on the Potomac and Chesapeake:  "... the country was too busy watching the black clouds gathering in the South and West to note the ordinary events that were taking place on the Potomac, yet they formed the small links in the chain, which in the end, shackled the arms of the great rebellion."

**  The USS Resolute, Acting Master W. Budd, burned a Confederate supply depot on Virginia shore of the Potomac River.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Confederates Building "Infernal Submarine Vessel" at New Orleans

JUNE 24TH, 1861:  USS Pawnee, Commander Rowan, and the USS Tomas Freeborn, Commander Ward, shelled Confederate batteries at Matthias Point, Virginia.

JUNE 25TH, 1861:  Secretary of Navy Welles received a report that "the rebels in New Orleans are constructing an infernal submarine vessel to destroy the USS Brooklyn, or any vessel blockading the mouth of the Mississippi ... a projectile with a sharp iron or steel pointed prow to perforate the bottom of the vessel and then to explode."

It was also reported that "a formidable  floating battery [is] being built at Mobile, to be mounted with large guns of immense size and range to drive away or capture the ships, by engaging them at long range."

JUNE 26TH, 1861:  The USS Minnesota, Flag Officer Stringham, captured bark Sally Magee off Hampton Roads.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Potomac Flotilla Engages Confederate Batteries at Aquia Creek, Virginia.

MAY 29TH-JUNE 1ST, 1861:  The Potomac Flotilla, consisting of the USS Thomas Freeborn, Commander Ward, USS Anacostia, Lt. Napoleon Collins, USS Resolute, Acting Master William Budd, engaged Confederate batteries at Aquia Creek, Virginia.

The flotilla was joined by the USS Pawnee, Commander Rowan, on the evening of May 31st.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Alexandria, Virginia, Surrenders to Union Navy

MAY 24TH, 1861:  Commander Rowan, commanding the USS Pawnee, demanded the surrender of Alexandria, Virginia; amphibious expedition departed Washington Navy Yard, after embarking secretly at night under Commander Dahlgren's supervision, and occupied Alexandria.

Admiral D.D. Porter later noted of this event: "The first landing of Northern troops upon the Virginia shores was under cover of these improvised gunboats [USS Thomas Freeborn, Anacostia, and Resolute] ... at Alexandria...  Alexandria was evacuated by the Confederates upon demand of a naval officer-- Commander S.C. rowan ... and ..the American flag was hoisted on the Custom House and other prominent places by the officer in charge of a landing party of sailors-- Lieutenant R.B. Lowry.

"This ... gave indication of the feelings of the Navy, and how ready was the service to put down secession on the first opportunity offered."

--Old B-Runner

Operation in Virginia

SEPTEMBER 24, 1864:  The wooden steamer USS Fuchsia and sidewheelers Thomas Freeborn and Mercury proceeded to Milford Haven, Virginia, near where Confederates were believed to be preparing a number of boats to attack the blockading force at the mouth of the Piankatank River.

Reaching Stutt's Creek they went 3 miles upstream and landed a force of 40 sailors who destroyed four Confederate boats, captured five and demolished a fishery.

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago Today: Daring Confederates in the Chesapeake

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1863  A Confederate Navy small boat expedition under Acting Masters John Y. Beall and Edward McGuire captures the schooner Alliance loaded with sutler stores in the Chesapeake Bay. Two days later they captured another schooner and the next night, the 22nd, captured another two schooners.

All but the Alliance were cast adrift at Wachapreague Inlet.

The Confederates next tried to run the blockade in the Alliance, but ran aground and was burned on the morning of 23 September after the USS Thomas Freeborn opened fire on her.

A combined Union Army-Navy effort failed to stop Beall and his men who later destroyed several lighthouses on Maryland's eastern shore before being captured 15 November 1863.

Sounds Like We Have Another Read. --Old B-Runner