USS Norfolk Packet-- Part 1: Bought By Navy and at Battle of New Orleans

From Wikipedia.

Was a large schooner purchased by the U.S. Navy 10 September 1861 and commissioned  7 February 1862.

It was 108 feet long,  gad a 28.2-foot beam, was a sailing ship, crew of 40 and mounted a 13-inch mortar, two 32-pdr. guns and two 12-pdr. guns.

It was bought from George Goodspeed of New York City and converted for naval use by J. Engles at the New York Navy Yard.   First commander was Lt. Watson Smith.

Assigned to the mortar squadron of  Cmdr. David Dixon Porter and participated in Farragut's attack on New Orleans.  The flotilla moved into position on 16 April and the mortar ships pounded Forts Jackson and St. Philip below New Orleans. Farragut's ship ran past the forts and New Orleans surrendered the next day.

--Old B-Runner

USS Maria J. Carlton-- Part 3: Was It Salvaged?

Continued from April 20, 2017.

There was a post in Civil War Talk by Mike d.

He said that a rifled shot from Fort Jackson struck the Carlton's quarterdeck a broke a beam, passing through the magazine and out the ship's starboard quarter.  The crew immediately set signals that the ship was disabled.

He found no mention of the 13-inch mortar or shells being removed after the ship sank.;

From 1982 to 1987, Ray Saltus used a mag drag in the area, but made no positive hits.

Mike d wants to know if anyone knows whether or not the Maria J. Carlton was salvaged or if the mortar was ever recovered.

Later, he added that the Carlton's commander when it sank, Master C.E. Jack, also commanded another mortar ship named the Sidney C. Jones, which he had to burn on 15 July 1862, below Vicksburg.

Right Up There With Selfridge Sinking Ships.  --Old B-Runner