USS Glasgow: A Busy Ship

On July 1, 1864, the USS Glasgow fired on an unknown blockade runner also under the guns of Fort Morgan.  When Fort Gaines surrendered to Union forces on August 8, 1864, the Glasgow was there.  Admiral David Farragut came onboard for a brief visit November 26.

During 1865, the Glasgow continued her duties and in addition, due to her speed and light draft, was flagship of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.  She struck an obstruction and sank in shoal water off Mobile 8 May 1865, and was not raised until  19 June.

After that, the ship went to Pensacola, Florida, for repairs and returned to duty 1 July 1866.

The Glasgow was chosen to continue in the U.S. Navy after the war and continued cruising in the Gulf of Mexico.  She served as a storeship and visited  New Orleans, Lakeport and Mexican ports until she entered the Pensacola Navy Yard for repairs 23 January 1868.

The Glasgow departed Pensacola 10 March and spent five months cruising with the squadron on the lower Mississippi River and off Pensacola where she returned 6 August.

Decommissioning came 17 October 1868 and was sold 4 June 1869 to Thomas McClellan.

NOTE.  This ship should not be confused with the USS Eugenie (1862).  This is the first Eygenie I wrote about last week.

This still doesn't clear up the question of which ship captured the blockade runner Alabama.

--Old B-R'er

Some Confusion On the USS Eugenie-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Was a captured Confederate schooner acquired by the U,S. Navy through prize court and put into service at Key west, Florida.  Not much is known about her, but 150 tons and mounted one gun.

Original name Eugenie Smith captured February 7, 1862, by the brig Bohio near the mouth of the Mississippi as it attempted to run the blockade.  Sent to Key West for condemnation by the prize court and renamed the Eugenie on 22 April 1862.

Fitted as a guard ship for the port of Key West and placed in command of Acting Master S.F. Holbrook.  Continued as a guard ship until sold in November 1864.

Nothing about it capturing the blockade runner Alabama.

--Old B-Runner

Blockade Runner Alabama

From the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

The first three steamers to run the blockade out of Mobile were the locally owned Alabama, Cuba and Fanny (a captured ship that had been the Fox).  Between may 1862 and September 1863, these three ships were responsible for carrying more than 4,000 bales of cotton to Havana, Cuba.

Using the figures of one of the Alabama's runs to Havana in June 1863 as a base figure, with a cotton bale weighing about 510 pounds and cotton selling for  32 cents a pound, a little more than $3 million in cotton was exported in 16 months.  Even so, this was just one-seventh what had been exported before the war from Mobile.

The Alabama, Cuba and Fanny were lost by mid-September 1863, however.  The Cuba was burned to prevent capture in May 19, 1863; the Alabama was captured on September 12 and the Fanny was burned the same day to prevent capture.

--Old B-R'er

September 12, 1863: Steamer Alabama Captured By USS Eugenie

SEPTEMBER 12TH, 1863:  USS Eugenie, Acting Master's Mate F. H. Dyer, captured steamer Alabama odd Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana.

The Chandeleur Islands are on the easternmost part of Louisiana.  They are barrier islands.

--Old B-Runner