The tour guide said that the state rents Fort Fisher from the Sunny Point Ammunition Depot, across the river for a whopping $1 a year. This is the largest army ammunition depot in the country. I always thought Sunny Point was a strange name for something containing something that dangerous.
During World War II, US anti-aircraft gunners trained at Fort Fisher, causing some of the fort to be torn down for a landing strip (where the parking lot and visitors center are located today). Recently, he had a walk and some of the tourists were older gentlemen who had trained at Fisher in the 1940s (when it was part of the huge Camp Davis, north of Wilmington). One was a 92-year-old former captain who commanded the guns that shot down the very first German jet. Unfortunately, the captain just recently died.
Col. William Lamb was transferred from Fort St. Phillip (later Fort Anderson) across the Cape Fear River because of the drunkenness that occurred in Fort Fisher's garrison after the stranded blockade-runner Modern Greece's liquor stores were discovered. Someone was needed to restore order.
He was fortunate enough to have his wife and children join him at Fort Fisher. Even though his wife, Daisy, was from Rhode Island, he loved her dearly and even commissioned a $3,500 stained glass window at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk (Lamb's hometown) after her death around the turn of the century.
He also kept a diary which Daisy must have read as he carefully worded one entry "Daisy cross today...but a great wife." Obviously she looked at it as she added a comment.
Smart Guy, That William Lamb. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hell Gate, Georgia
In the last post I mentioned the blockade-runner Ladona that was captured August 4, 1862, at Hell Gate, Georgia, by the USS Unadilla. I'd never heard of a Hell Gate, Georgia, so had to do some research.
It is located near Savannah, south of Skidaway Island, east of the town of Richmond Hill in Chatham County. I also saw that it is a channel and there is fishing there.
It's lat. and long. N-31.8672, W-81.08372.
My sister, Julie, lives near there. I wonder if she has ever heard anything about it?
I also found a connection with a town in Vermont named Georgia that got the name Hell's Gate during the War of 1812, so will write about that in my War of 1812 Blog, Not So Forgotten.
Old B-R'er
It is located near Savannah, south of Skidaway Island, east of the town of Richmond Hill in Chatham County. I also saw that it is a channel and there is fishing there.
It's lat. and long. N-31.8672, W-81.08372.
My sister, Julie, lives near there. I wonder if she has ever heard anything about it?
I also found a connection with a town in Vermont named Georgia that got the name Hell's Gate during the War of 1812, so will write about that in my War of 1812 Blog, Not So Forgotten.
Old B-R'er
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: August 1st to 5th,1862-- Modern Torpedoes?
AUGUST 1ST
USS Penobscot captured sloop Lizzie off New Inlet, NC, with cargo including salt.
AUGUST 2ND
William H. Aspinwall, a Union merchant, and big booster of ironclads, wroteAsst. sec. of the Navy Fox suggesting a weaponry innovation that would be the forerunner of the modern torpedo, "...a properly shaped cylindrical shot fired 6 or 8 feet under the water.... At short range great effect could be attained below the iron plating.... I have the plan for firing a gun projecting 6 or 6 or 10 feet below the waterline of a vessel, which I think would worl well, if it is found that a shot can be relied on to do the intended injury-- under water."
Of course, during the war, the term torpedo referred to what today would be classified as mines. The closest either side came to a torpedo moving through the water were Cushing's launch ramming a torpedo into the CSS Albemarle and the Confederate submarine Hunley's ramming a torpedo into the USS Housatonic.
In 1864, when Admiral Farragut said, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" he was referring to the mines near Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay.
AUGUST 4TH
USS Unadilla captured British steamer Lodona attempting to run the blockade at Hell Gate, Georgia. Normally, I only list blockade-runners being captured off Wilmington, but the Name Hell Gate intrigued me.
AUGUST 5TH
Asst. Sec. Navy Fox reports that the Richmond Inquirer had a story about the first meeting of an army and navy officer after McClellan's withdrawal after the Seven Day Battles had the Army officer throwing his arms around the Navy man's neck and saying, "Oh, my dear Sir, we ought to have a gunboat in every family." The Navy helped cover McClellan's withdrawal.
Old B-Runner
USS Penobscot captured sloop Lizzie off New Inlet, NC, with cargo including salt.
AUGUST 2ND
William H. Aspinwall, a Union merchant, and big booster of ironclads, wroteAsst. sec. of the Navy Fox suggesting a weaponry innovation that would be the forerunner of the modern torpedo, "...a properly shaped cylindrical shot fired 6 or 8 feet under the water.... At short range great effect could be attained below the iron plating.... I have the plan for firing a gun projecting 6 or 6 or 10 feet below the waterline of a vessel, which I think would worl well, if it is found that a shot can be relied on to do the intended injury-- under water."
Of course, during the war, the term torpedo referred to what today would be classified as mines. The closest either side came to a torpedo moving through the water were Cushing's launch ramming a torpedo into the CSS Albemarle and the Confederate submarine Hunley's ramming a torpedo into the USS Housatonic.
In 1864, when Admiral Farragut said, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" he was referring to the mines near Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay.
AUGUST 4TH
USS Unadilla captured British steamer Lodona attempting to run the blockade at Hell Gate, Georgia. Normally, I only list blockade-runners being captured off Wilmington, but the Name Hell Gate intrigued me.
AUGUST 5TH
Asst. Sec. Navy Fox reports that the Richmond Inquirer had a story about the first meeting of an army and navy officer after McClellan's withdrawal after the Seven Day Battles had the Army officer throwing his arms around the Navy man's neck and saying, "Oh, my dear Sir, we ought to have a gunboat in every family." The Navy helped cover McClellan's withdrawal.
Old B-Runner
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
A Walk Around Fort Fisher-- Part 1
Hey, this was the thing that got me interested in the Civil War and, from there, history in general. This goes way back to when I was seven years old.
While out at the fort for Second Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a guided tour walk around the remains. I've done this before and it is always interesting to see what the person says, especially since I have more than just a passing knowledge of the fort.
I am right now reading about what I was doing thirty years ago in July 1982. i was starting my second week of an extended vacation to Carolina Beach and jogging and swimming during the morning and then going either out to Fort Fisher or the Blockade-Runner Museum in the afternoon and doing research. This was a great vacation that also involved many bars at CB and nearby Kure Beach.
The walk around the remaining Fort Fisher traverses was led by an older man I took to be ex-Marine DI, but, he said he was in the Army. The words just easily flowed Marine.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
While out at the fort for Second Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a guided tour walk around the remains. I've done this before and it is always interesting to see what the person says, especially since I have more than just a passing knowledge of the fort.
I am right now reading about what I was doing thirty years ago in July 1982. i was starting my second week of an extended vacation to Carolina Beach and jogging and swimming during the morning and then going either out to Fort Fisher or the Blockade-Runner Museum in the afternoon and doing research. This was a great vacation that also involved many bars at CB and nearby Kure Beach.
The walk around the remaining Fort Fisher traverses was led by an older man I took to be ex-Marine DI, but, he said he was in the Army. The words just easily flowed Marine.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Monday, July 30, 2012
Reillys Buried at Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery
I looked up the burial records of Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina, and found the following Reilly's buried there. I did not see if they were on the same lot, but they may have been according to the dates. That is, family of James Reilly.
James Aloyisus Reilly, died December 14, 1870 at age 17 months.
James Owen Reilly, died February 6, 1936 at age 56.
Major James Reilly, died November 5, 1894 at age 71.
Martha E. Henry Reilly, wife, died December 27, 1919 at age 78.
James Gibbons Reilly, died December 13, 1975 at age 2 years.
The Major and His Family. --Old B-R'er
James Aloyisus Reilly, died December 14, 1870 at age 17 months.
James Owen Reilly, died February 6, 1936 at age 56.
Major James Reilly, died November 5, 1894 at age 71.
Martha E. Henry Reilly, wife, died December 27, 1919 at age 78.
James Gibbons Reilly, died December 13, 1975 at age 2 years.
The Major and His Family. --Old B-R'er
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: July 29th to July 31st-- Farragut's Not Buying It
JULY 29TH
The USS Mount Vernon and USS Mystic capture blockade-runner British brig Napier near Wilmington.
Rear Admiral Farragut writes about Union land losses back east and how Union generals are deceived by false reports of Confederate strength, saying, "The officers say I don't believe anything. I certainly believe very little that comes in the shape of reports...I mean to be whipped or to whip my enemy, and not be scared to death."
JULY 31ST-AUGUST 1ST
Confederate batteries at Coggins' Point attacked Union forces on the James River and sink two Army transports. USS Cimarron returned fire. Commander Woodhull (a good name for a sailor) wrote in praise of Gunner's Mate John Merrett, who was very ill and waiting transfer to a hospital but nonetheless manned his station in the powder magazine. "Merrett is an old man-of-warsman; his discipline, courage and patriotism would not brook inaction when his ship was in actual battle. His conduct, I humbly think, was a great example to all lovers of the country and its cause...it is the act of a fine speciman of the old Navy tar."
Not Too Sick to Fight. --Old B-Runner
The USS Mount Vernon and USS Mystic capture blockade-runner British brig Napier near Wilmington.
Rear Admiral Farragut writes about Union land losses back east and how Union generals are deceived by false reports of Confederate strength, saying, "The officers say I don't believe anything. I certainly believe very little that comes in the shape of reports...I mean to be whipped or to whip my enemy, and not be scared to death."
JULY 31ST-AUGUST 1ST
Confederate batteries at Coggins' Point attacked Union forces on the James River and sink two Army transports. USS Cimarron returned fire. Commander Woodhull (a good name for a sailor) wrote in praise of Gunner's Mate John Merrett, who was very ill and waiting transfer to a hospital but nonetheless manned his station in the powder magazine. "Merrett is an old man-of-warsman; his discipline, courage and patriotism would not brook inaction when his ship was in actual battle. His conduct, I humbly think, was a great example to all lovers of the country and its cause...it is the act of a fine speciman of the old Navy tar."
Not Too Sick to Fight. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Confederate Major Reilly-- Part 5
Major James Reilly was taken prisoner and sent to Fort Delaware. While there, the commander of the Army of the Potomac's artillery, General Hunt, visited him. Reilly had served under Hunt before the war and the general was so impressed with his abilities that he offered Reilly a commission in the U.S. Army if he'd join him. Reilly refused. Now, this is something I bet didn't happen very often during the war.
Reilly returned to Wilmington after the war and lived there. He is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery, not too far from Whiting's grave.
An Interesting career and Great Talk. Thanks Black Jack Travis. --Old B-Runner
Reilly returned to Wilmington after the war and lived there. He is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery, not too far from Whiting's grave.
An Interesting career and Great Talk. Thanks Black Jack Travis. --Old B-Runner
Friday, July 27, 2012
Anyway, Back to Confederate Major James Reilly-- Part 5
Anyway, Major Reilly was the senior Confederate officer present who was not wounded and it came time to surrender Fort Fisher. Reilly surrendered to Captain E. Lewis Moore of the 7th Connecticut, the first Union officer he could find as federal troops were converging on Battery Buchanan from two directions.
Years later, a newspaper wanted to know actually surrendered the fort. Reilly wrote that he had and that he had actually surrendered to Captain J. Homer Edgerly of the 3rd New Hampshire Infantry.
Later, Whiting and Lamb officially surrendered the fort to Union General Terry.
Whiting was taken to Fort Columbus in New York Harbor and while recovering from his wounds, was visited by General Butler and thoroughly questioned while Butler was trying to come out from the investigation of why he didn't capture Fort Fisher.
Whiting recovered from his wound, but unfortunately came down with the soldier's disease, a chronic case of dysentery and died March 10, 1865.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Years later, a newspaper wanted to know actually surrendered the fort. Reilly wrote that he had and that he had actually surrendered to Captain J. Homer Edgerly of the 3rd New Hampshire Infantry.
Later, Whiting and Lamb officially surrendered the fort to Union General Terry.
Whiting was taken to Fort Columbus in New York Harbor and while recovering from his wounds, was visited by General Butler and thoroughly questioned while Butler was trying to come out from the investigation of why he didn't capture Fort Fisher.
Whiting recovered from his wound, but unfortunately came down with the soldier's disease, a chronic case of dysentery and died March 10, 1865.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: July 23rd to July 28th, 1862-- The Alabama Gets Underway
JULY 23RD
Asst. Secretary of the US Navy wrote that work on the ironclads was progressing, "We have forty underweigh, and are putting others in hand as fast as contracts for engines shall be made. The machinery for manufacturing marine engines is limited." The Union Navy's rapid change from wood to iron doomed the Confederate effort to break the Union stranglehold with those of their own.
JULY 24TH
Rear Admiral Farragut's fleet departs it station below Vicksburg due to the falling Mississippi River. The ships. hey ended up at Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Confederate control of Vicksburg allowed some supplies to reach the Confederacy from west of the river.
JULY 28TH
The brig Agrippa was ordered to rendezvous with steamer Enrica, afterwards known as the CSS Alabama in the Azores to transfer guns, ammunition, coal and other cargo to the Alabama.
Old B-Runner
Asst. Secretary of the US Navy wrote that work on the ironclads was progressing, "We have forty underweigh, and are putting others in hand as fast as contracts for engines shall be made. The machinery for manufacturing marine engines is limited." The Union Navy's rapid change from wood to iron doomed the Confederate effort to break the Union stranglehold with those of their own.
JULY 24TH
Rear Admiral Farragut's fleet departs it station below Vicksburg due to the falling Mississippi River. The ships. hey ended up at Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Confederate control of Vicksburg allowed some supplies to reach the Confederacy from west of the river.
JULY 28TH
The brig Agrippa was ordered to rendezvous with steamer Enrica, afterwards known as the CSS Alabama in the Azores to transfer guns, ammunition, coal and other cargo to the Alabama.
Old B-Runner
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: July 21st to 22nd , 1862
JULY 21ST
US steamers carrying troops arrive to protect Evansville, Indiana, at request of the states's Governor Morton. Confederate guerrillas had captured Henderson, Kentucky, across the Ohio River, and were now driven away. These coordinated Army-Navy attacks help keep Confederates from reoccuppying positions along the interior rivers.
JULY 22ND
USS Essex and Queen of the West attack the CSS Arkansas which was at anchor with a disabled engine at Vicksburg. Many of the Confederates on board the Arkansas were ashore sick and wounded from the action of July 15th. Queen of the West rammed the Arkansas, but with little effect and the Essex exchanged close quarter gunfire. Both Union ships were badly damaged.
Confederate commander Brown described one of the Essex's broadsides from twenty feet away like "nothing that I had ever heard before....We were so close that out men were burnt by the powder of the enemy's guns..."
President Davis telegraphs Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus that the CSS Arkansas desperately needs boatmen and with the blockade becoming more effective, there has to be a lot of them out of work and wants the governor to find some.
Old B-Runner
US steamers carrying troops arrive to protect Evansville, Indiana, at request of the states's Governor Morton. Confederate guerrillas had captured Henderson, Kentucky, across the Ohio River, and were now driven away. These coordinated Army-Navy attacks help keep Confederates from reoccuppying positions along the interior rivers.
JULY 22ND
USS Essex and Queen of the West attack the CSS Arkansas which was at anchor with a disabled engine at Vicksburg. Many of the Confederates on board the Arkansas were ashore sick and wounded from the action of July 15th. Queen of the West rammed the Arkansas, but with little effect and the Essex exchanged close quarter gunfire. Both Union ships were badly damaged.
Confederate commander Brown described one of the Essex's broadsides from twenty feet away like "nothing that I had ever heard before....We were so close that out men were burnt by the powder of the enemy's guns..."
President Davis telegraphs Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus that the CSS Arkansas desperately needs boatmen and with the blockade becoming more effective, there has to be a lot of them out of work and wants the governor to find some.
Old B-Runner
Monday, July 23, 2012
Cincinnati's Fort Fisher Connection
When we got back from Washington Park last night, I did a bit of research on it and found out it had been a series of cemeteries before 1855 when it was turned into the park. Bodies were reinterred in Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery. My buddy Denny said that the Proctor and Gamble and Kroger of those companies are buried there.
Looked the cemetery up and found quite a list of other notables including Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase and a whole lot of Union generals (and even one Confederate one) were there. Two of the Union names particularly jumped out at me as having Fort Fisher and Wilmington connections.
Godfrey Weitzel was involved in the the first attack on Fort Fisher. If I recall, he was supposed to be in command until his commanding general, Ben Butler, superceded him. The other one was Jacob D. Cox who was very involved in the capture of Wilmington in the five weeks following the fall of Fort Fisher.
We're Off to see Them in a Little Bit. --Old B-R'er
Looked the cemetery up and found quite a list of other notables including Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase and a whole lot of Union generals (and even one Confederate one) were there. Two of the Union names particularly jumped out at me as having Fort Fisher and Wilmington connections.
Godfrey Weitzel was involved in the the first attack on Fort Fisher. If I recall, he was supposed to be in command until his commanding general, Ben Butler, superceded him. The other one was Jacob D. Cox who was very involved in the capture of Wilmington in the five weeks following the fall of Fort Fisher.
We're Off to see Them in a Little Bit. --Old B-R'er
Farragut's Cannon in Cincinnati
Yesterday, I arrived in Cincinnati and that night went to the newly redeveloped Washington Park downtown for a concert featuring two popular local bands. While walking around, I espied off in the distance what appeared to be a 19th century naval cannon.
Obviously, I had to check it out. Turned out to be a 30-pdr Parrott cannon that had been on one of Admiral Farragut's ships at the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay in Alabama. Unfortunately, it did not say what ship. A plaque by it said that it had been in Washington Park since 1870 and had been acquired by the War Department and had been a gift to the city by T.W. Seig of the 6th Ohion Infantry regiment.
It had been restored in the mid-1970s using anonymous donations and volunteer labor and was rededicated Aug. 5, 1997, 133 years after the Battle of Mobile Bay.
After I got back to Denny's, I went online but could find no new information about it.
Sure would like to know what ship it was on.
Old B-Runner
Obviously, I had to check it out. Turned out to be a 30-pdr Parrott cannon that had been on one of Admiral Farragut's ships at the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay in Alabama. Unfortunately, it did not say what ship. A plaque by it said that it had been in Washington Park since 1870 and had been acquired by the War Department and had been a gift to the city by T.W. Seig of the 6th Ohion Infantry regiment.
It had been restored in the mid-1970s using anonymous donations and volunteer labor and was rededicated Aug. 5, 1997, 133 years after the Battle of Mobile Bay.
After I got back to Denny's, I went online but could find no new information about it.
Sure would like to know what ship it was on.
Old B-Runner
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Confederate Major James Reilly-- Part 4
Confederate General Whiting was wounded at Fort Fisher and taken to New York where he died. The clergyman who officiated at his funeral was the general's brother. He was buried in New York City and remained buried until late in the 1890s when his body was disinterred and brought back to Wilmington. where he was buried next to his wife. There are those who wonder why his wife would wait that long to do that.
Meanwhile, Colonel Lamb was dropped off in Virginia and was treated at Chesapeake Hospital where one of his foes from the battle, Newton Curtis was also being treated for a bad wound that cost him an eye. . During the course of their recovery, the two become good friends, a friendship that lasted until both died. They even worked together to make Fort Fisher a national park.
Old B-Runner
Meanwhile, Colonel Lamb was dropped off in Virginia and was treated at Chesapeake Hospital where one of his foes from the battle, Newton Curtis was also being treated for a bad wound that cost him an eye. . During the course of their recovery, the two become good friends, a friendship that lasted until both died. They even worked together to make Fort Fisher a national park.
Old B-Runner
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Confederate Major James Reilly-- Part 3
Reilly earned the nickname "Old Tarantula." Despite being in many battles in several wars, he was wounded only one time during the Mexican War.
After Gettysburg, he was promoted from sergeant to major, owing to his great storehouse of artillery knowledge. He hadn't been promoted before because he wasn't on the Army of Northern Virginia's command pipeline. He wasn't rich, wasn't a Virginian and he wasn't a West Pointer.
He was sent to Fort Fisher where that knowledge came into great use by Colonel Lamb.
Confederate Navy Captain Robert T. Chapman was in command of Battery Buchanan at the final day of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865. He was drunk and abandoned his position, taking the boat that could have transported the wounded Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb to safety.
Chapman, of course, escaped capture and later guarded Jefferson Davis in the flight from Richmond in April.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
After Gettysburg, he was promoted from sergeant to major, owing to his great storehouse of artillery knowledge. He hadn't been promoted before because he wasn't on the Army of Northern Virginia's command pipeline. He wasn't rich, wasn't a Virginian and he wasn't a West Pointer.
He was sent to Fort Fisher where that knowledge came into great use by Colonel Lamb.
Confederate Navy Captain Robert T. Chapman was in command of Battery Buchanan at the final day of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865. He was drunk and abandoned his position, taking the boat that could have transported the wounded Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb to safety.
Chapman, of course, escaped capture and later guarded Jefferson Davis in the flight from Richmond in April.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Confederate Major James Reilly-- Part 2
Jack Travis had been a re-enactor for twenty years, many of which were with Reilly's Battery, considered during the war to be one of the best artillery units in the Army of Northern Virginia.
James Reilly was born in Ireland and was a devout Catholic. The battery would hold a prayer service before each battle and after the war he created a Catholic Church in Mako.
On coming to America, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Seminole and Mexican Wars with the artillery. He was stationed at Fort Johnson in Smithville, NC, near the entrance of the Cape Fear River when South Carolina seceded in December 1860. Wilmington militia units immediately assembled and in early January, marched on Fort Johnson, forcing Reilly, as the lone ordnance sergeant manning the place, to surrender. North Carolina's governor immediately ordered the militia to return Fort Johnson and Fort Caswell to Reilly as the state had not yet seceded.
Once North Carolina did secede, Reilly turned in his resignation and joined the Confederate Army.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
James Reilly was born in Ireland and was a devout Catholic. The battery would hold a prayer service before each battle and after the war he created a Catholic Church in Mako.
On coming to America, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Seminole and Mexican Wars with the artillery. He was stationed at Fort Johnson in Smithville, NC, near the entrance of the Cape Fear River when South Carolina seceded in December 1860. Wilmington militia units immediately assembled and in early January, marched on Fort Johnson, forcing Reilly, as the lone ordnance sergeant manning the place, to surrender. North Carolina's governor immediately ordered the militia to return Fort Johnson and Fort Caswell to Reilly as the state had not yet seceded.
Once North Carolina did secede, Reilly turned in his resignation and joined the Confederate Army.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
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