Showing posts with label deserters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deserters. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
USS Nipsic-- Part 2: The War and Afterwards
On June 27, 1864, she captured the blockade running schooner Julia as it attempted to enter Charleston Harbor.
On June 26, 1865, three sailors deserted from the Nipsic: Henry May, Ordinary Seaman, Julius Bergan, Seaman and John Partington, Seaman. The three had served together on three vessels: Allegheny, Mahaska and Nipsic.
After the war, the Nipsic served primarily with the South Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Brazil and the West Indies, protecting American interests until 1873 when she was decommissioned and broken up.
But, That Was Not All. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Raising the CSS Georgia-- Part 2: Getting Off the Ship
The experience was so miserable that some decided to desert. "Some deserted, only to be tracked down and returned to the ship, where they were slapped in leg irons (some found on the wreck), maybe flogged and forced into the gunboat's suffocating innards shoveling coal.
"Someone had to keep the boiler going day and night, otherwise the Georgia would surely sink." Not only could the ship not move, she was extremely leaky because of the green wood used in her construction.
Then came one William T. Sherman and his army after its March Across Georgia. He arrived by Savannah in late December 1864, less than two and a half years after the ship was built. The ship's captain gave orders to spike the guns, scuttle the ship and retreat to prevent its capture.
The next day, the CSS Georgia was at the bottom of the Savannah River where it remained for the next 150 years.
--Old B-Runner
"Someone had to keep the boiler going day and night, otherwise the Georgia would surely sink." Not only could the ship not move, she was extremely leaky because of the green wood used in her construction.
Then came one William T. Sherman and his army after its March Across Georgia. He arrived by Savannah in late December 1864, less than two and a half years after the ship was built. The ship's captain gave orders to spike the guns, scuttle the ship and retreat to prevent its capture.
The next day, the CSS Georgia was at the bottom of the Savannah River where it remained for the next 150 years.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, October 10, 2014
Please, No More Union Deserters
OCTOBER 8, 1864: Flag Officer Mitchell wrote Secretary Mallory regarding the enlistment of Union deserters for duty with the James River squadron: "I beg that no more deserters from the enemy be sent to the squadron in the future, for they are apt not only to desert themselves, but induce others to do so who might otherwise continue loyal.
"The fidelity of no man can be relied upon who has ever proved a traitor to any flag he has engaged to serve under. They form a dangerous element on board a ship."
The difficulty of procuring qualified and competent officers and men to man the ships of the James River Squadron was to continue until the end of the war.
----Old B-Runner
"The fidelity of no man can be relied upon who has ever proved a traitor to any flag he has engaged to serve under. They form a dangerous element on board a ship."
The difficulty of procuring qualified and competent officers and men to man the ships of the James River Squadron was to continue until the end of the war.
----Old B-Runner
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