And There Were Other Guerilla Attacks in This Area

From the book "From Cape Charles to Cape Fear: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron" by Robert M. Browning.

On 15 May 1863, thirty members of the Pasquotank guerillas jumped on board the sixty ton mailboat Arrow as she steamed by the drawbridge by Coinjack.

Proceeding down the canal, they also managed to surprise the crew of the ninety-four ton  side-wheel steamer Emily.

They boldly sailed into Albemarle Sound and into the Chowan River and ascended the Blackwater  River as far as Franklin, Virginia, far out of reach of the larger Union gunboats.

--Old B-Runner

Capture and Destruction of Mailboat Fawn-- Part 2

"Commander Earl English of the Wyalusing ascertained that the Fawn was burned by about twenty (20) men from the Albemarle, commanded by one of her officers named Hopkins, who before the rebellion ran a boat on this canal.

"They fired on demanding surrender, killing and wounding seven (7) persons; twenty-nine (29) prisoners were taken, including one (1) colonel and two (2) majors, the rest soldiers government employes, and citizens.

"A Major Jenney and Mr. Julian, a member of Congress, were released at Elizabeth City and went to Roanoke island.

Commander Macomb turned over seven (7)  hostages to Colonel Wardrop, and they were sent by him to General Shepley in Norfolk.

--Old B-R'er

Capture and Destruction of Mailboat Fawn-- Part 1

Not only did the Fawn carry mail, but also paymaster's funds.  

Report of Rear-Admiral S.P. Lee to Gideon Welles of the Fawn's capture and destruction. 

He had received the report from Commander Macomb that the Fawn had been captured on September 9, 1864.  Naval assistance was requested to capture the group of Confederates that had captured it.  Macomb had sent the USS Wyalusing under Lieutenant-Commander Earl English to Elizabeth City  thinking that he might catch the rebels there.

English was also ordered "to bring off some principal citizens of that place" because of an understanding that Elizabeth City would protect vessels passing through the canal.

English had with him some Marines from the Shamrock and Chicopee plus some men from the Wyalusing (not sure if English went to Elizabeth City on foot or in the ship).  Anyway, he arrested seven prominent citizens and found out that the rebels had at least an eight hours head start and thought it useless to continue pursuit.

--Old B-Runner

James B. Hopkins, CSN and the Capture of the Mailboat Fawn-- Part 2

Seven men from the Fawn were killed or wounded by federal accounts.

Commander James Macomb sent three gunboats carrying extra Marines in pursuit but were too late to capture Hopkins' group.

The gunboats proceed to Elizabeth City, N.C.,  where Lieutenant Commander  English arrested seven citizens whom he sent to Norfolk as hostages.

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Later in the fall, Confederate raiders blew up the lighthouse at the entrance to Croatan Sound.

Thus was the small-scale war in the Carolina Sounds in 1864 and 1865.

--Old B-Runner

James B. Hopkins, CSN and the Capture and Destruction of Union Mail Boat Fawn

I wrote about the Confederate Navy service of James B. Hopkins in the last post.

From the "Civil War on the Outer Banks" by Fred M. Mallison.

James Hopkins was stationed on the CSS Albemarle, commanded by John Newland Maffitt, in 1864.  Maffitt organized a party of his crew under the command of Pilot James B. Hopkins to capture or destroy the federal mail boat that regularly traveled the  the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Hopkins' venture was successful.

On the night of September 9 they captured the mailboat Fawn, her crew, passengers, and cargo and burned the vessel.

Hopkins withdrew with twenty-nine prisoners, including a colonel and two majors.

--Old B-Runner

Some More Confederate Navy Officers

From Register of Confederate Naval Officers.

JAMES H. HOOD

Born in Canada.  Chief Engineer, October21, 1861.

Served on the C.S. Cruiser Nashville 1861-1862.

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JAMES B. HOPKINS

Acting Master, pilot. December 5, 1863.  Pilot First Class, February 1, 1864

Served on the CSS Beaufort, Richmond Station 1861-62.  CSS Arctic, Wilmington Station, 1863.

CSS Albemarle, 1864

Commanded expedition that destroyed U.S. mailboat Fawn on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, September 9, 1864.

--Old B-Runner