Admiral Porter Writes About the Exploding Parrot Rifles-- Part 1

From the December 30, 1864, New York Times  Admiral Porter's report on the First Battle of Fort Fisher.

"I regret, however, to report some severe casualties by the bursting of six 100-pounder Parrott cannon.  One burst on board the Ticonderoga, killing six  of the crew and wounding seven others;  another burst on board the Yankee, killing one officer and two men; another on the Juanita, killing two officers and wounding and killing ten others; another on the Mackinaw, killing one officer (John Griscom) and wounding five men; another on the Quaker City, wounding, I believe,  two or three; another on the Susquehanna, killing and wounding seven."

So, the ships and casualties:

Ticonderoga, 13
Yankee,   3
Juanita,   12
Mackinaw,  6
Quaker City,   2 or 3
Susquehanna,   7

--Old B-Runner

Reed Werden, USN-- Part 2: Served in NABS and SABS

Reed Werden was on the steam frigate USS Minnesota when the Civil War began and participated in the attacks of the forts at Hatteras Inlet and operations in the North Carolina Sounds in Stringham's fleet.  The USS Stars and Stripes, his former ship, was also there.

He commanded the steamers USS Yankee and USS Stars and Stripes in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron 1861-1862.  While in command of the Stars and Stripes, he led the First Division in the capture of Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

He was commissioned to the rank of commander 16 July 1862, and commanded the USS Conemaugh in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron 1862-1863.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago, January 1, 1862: Action on the Potomac River

JANUARY 1, 1862:  The USS Yankee, Lt. Eastman, and USS Anacostia, Lt. Oscar C. Badger, exchanged fire with Confederate batteries at Cockpit Point, Potomac River; the Yankee was damaged slightly.

Attacks by ships of the Potomac Flotilla were instrumental in forcing the withdrawal of strong Confederate emplacements along the river.  Batteries at Cockpit and Shipping Point were abandoned by 9 March 1862.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Defending Fort Ellsworth

AUGUST 28TH, 1861:  Commander Dahlgren, Commandant of Washington Navy Yard, sent 400 seamen on steamboat Philadelphia to Alexandria, Virginia, to report to Brigadier General William B. Franklin for the defense of Fort Ellsworth.

The timely naval reinforcement strengthened the fort's defenses and consequently that of the nation's capital, Washington, D.C..

**  The USS Yankee, Commander T.T. Craven, captured schooner Remittance near Piney Point, Virginia.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Engagement at Potomac Creek, Virginia

AUGUST 23, 1861:  The USS Release and USS Yankee engaged Confederate batteries at the mouth of Potomac Creek, Virginia.

Potomac Creek is a 16.7 mile long tidal tributary of the Potomac River and empties into it at Marlboro Point.

The U.S. Dept. of the Interior mentions that on August 22, 1861, the USS Jacob Bell and Release (ice boat) engaged batteries at Marlboro Point and Potomac Creek, Virginia, in its National Register of Historic Places.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago:Engaging the Confederates

JULY 29TH, 1861:  The USS Yankee, Commander T.T. Craven, and USS Reliance, Lt. Mygatt, engaged Confederate battery at Marlborough Point, Virginia.

**  Four U.S. steamers engaged Confederate battery at Aquia Creek, Virginia, for three hours.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Protecting Annapolis

JULY 18TH, 1861:  Confederate schooner Favorite was captured by the USS Yankee, Commander T.T. Craven, on Yeocomico River; Favorite was sunk later at Piney Point on the Potomac.

**  Commander Ridgely, U.S. Receiving Ship Allegheny, reported his ship had received a battery of guns from the Washington Navy Yard and was standing by in the harbor for the protection of Annapolis.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: USS Yankee Fired On By Confederate Batteries

MAY 7TH, 1861:  Union blockading force capture Confederate steamers Dick Keys and Lewis near Mobile.

**  USS Yankee, Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge, fired on by Confederate batteries at Gloucester Point, Virginia.

--Old B-R'er

Operation on Rappahannock River in Virginia-- Part 1: Watch Out for Those Torpedoes

MARCH 6TH, 1865:  Commodore F.A. Parker ordered Lt.Cmdr. Edward Hooker to take the USS Commodore Read, Yankee, Delaware and Heliotrope up the Rappahannock River to cooperate with an Army detachment in conducting a raid near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Parker cautioned:  "...you will be particularly careful in looking out for torpedoes; having all narrow channels and shoal places swept by small boats kept in advance of the flotilla.  At points where torpedoes may be exploded from shore, you will land flanking parties, and you are to shell as usual all heights..."

In case of masked batteries on them.

--Old B-Runner