USS De Soto-- Part 14: Ended in a Fire

In December 1867, the De Soto was back in the United States where it underwent extensive repairs.  1868, sent to Venezuela  By September 11, 1868, it was decommissioned and two weeks later returned to its original owners.

It became a commercial steamship and resumed its old route between New York City and New Orleans with a stop in Havana.

On 31 December 1870, it left New Orleans with 988 bales of cotton, 200 hogsheads of sugar, 1000 barrels of molasses and sundries.  The ship had traveled just 27 miles when a fire broke out and got out of control.  The De Soto was beached on McCall's Flat and burned to the waterline.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: CSS Sumter Captures Another Prize

JULY 27TH, 1861:  CSS Sumter, Commander Semmes, captured American bark Joseph Maxwell off Venezuela.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Balloon Observation Begins at Fort Monroe

JULY 25TH, 1861:  John LaMountain began balloon reconnaissance ascensions for the Union at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

**  CSS Sumter, Commander Semmes, captured schooner Abby Bradford in the Caribbean Sea and, denied the right to enter Venezuela with Confederate prizes, dispatched her to a Southern port.

**  USS Resolute, Acting Master W. Budd, brought two schooners and one sloop into Washington, D.C..

--Old B-R'er