APRIL 29TH
Admiral Porter's gunboats engaged Confederate fortifications at Grand Gulf in a five and a half hour battle. They managed to silence the lower batteries but not the upper ones. Porter admitted his ships were cut up by Confederate fire, but, "We are now in a position to make a landing where the general [Grant] pleases."
APRIL 29-MAY 1ST
Union Army-Navy feign an attack on Confederate batteries at Haynes' Bluff on the Yazoo River to prevent Confederates there from sending support to Grand Gulf. On the 30th, the USS Choctaw was hit 53 times.
APRIL 30- MAY 1ST
Grant ferries troops across the Mississippi at Bruinsburg to start his campaign of isolating Vicksburg from reinforcements.
The Noose Tightens on Vicksburg. --Old B-Runner
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
USS Lily, Tug, Sinks April 28, 1863
The U.S. Navy lost two ships in the west over two days back 150 years ago. neither one was due to to action with Confederates. The USS Preble caught fire and blew up due to carelessness of a sailor and the tug USS Lily was swept by current into the ram of the USS Choctaw.
I had never heard of either, so time to look them up. Again, there is not a lot of information on either ship, even less on the Lily.
Thanks Wikipedia.
The USS Lily was a steam tugboat acquired by the government by purchase May 5, 1862 and used by the Quartermaster Corps on western rivers and then transferred to the Navy in September of that year. Then, it was assigned to Admiral Porter's Mississippi Squadron. According to Gulf Wrecks, it weighed 50 tons and was built as the Jessie Benton and usually referred to as the Jessie until the Navy acquired it and renamed it the Lily.
It was sunk in the Yazoo River, near Vicksburg as actions there were ramping up for attack.
It is believed that the Lily was raised at some point thereafter.
Old B-Runner
I had never heard of either, so time to look them up. Again, there is not a lot of information on either ship, even less on the Lily.
Thanks Wikipedia.
The USS Lily was a steam tugboat acquired by the government by purchase May 5, 1862 and used by the Quartermaster Corps on western rivers and then transferred to the Navy in September of that year. Then, it was assigned to Admiral Porter's Mississippi Squadron. According to Gulf Wrecks, it weighed 50 tons and was built as the Jessie Benton and usually referred to as the Jessie until the Navy acquired it and renamed it the Lily.
It was sunk in the Yazoo River, near Vicksburg as actions there were ramping up for attack.
It is believed that the Lily was raised at some point thereafter.
Old B-Runner
USS Preble Sinks Today, 150 Years Ago
In Naval happenings, I wrote about the USS Preble catching fire off Pensacola, Florida, today, 150 years ago and sinking. I'd never heard of the ship's role in the Civil War and wasn't able to find out a lot about it, just Wiki.
Sixteen gun sloop-of-war built at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine and launched in 1839 and commissioned 1840. Named after Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807). It was 117-feet long, 32-foot beam and mounted sixteen 32-pounders.
Served in the Mediterranean and African Squadron as well as the Mexican War. Made trip to Hong Kong and played a part in the opening of Japan to outside trade.
Became a practice ship for midshipmen at the Naval Academy until place in ordinary in 1856.
Recommissioned in the Civil War, served in the Gulf Blockading Squadron. Guardship at Pensacola, Florida, until April 27, 1863, when it caught fire due to a careless crewman. It was abandoned and exploded.
In 1963, Navy divers discovered the wreck and recovered many artifacts.
Old B-R'er
Sixteen gun sloop-of-war built at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine and launched in 1839 and commissioned 1840. Named after Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807). It was 117-feet long, 32-foot beam and mounted sixteen 32-pounders.
Served in the Mediterranean and African Squadron as well as the Mexican War. Made trip to Hong Kong and played a part in the opening of Japan to outside trade.
Became a practice ship for midshipmen at the Naval Academy until place in ordinary in 1856.
Recommissioned in the Civil War, served in the Gulf Blockading Squadron. Guardship at Pensacola, Florida, until April 27, 1863, when it caught fire due to a careless crewman. It was abandoned and exploded.
In 1963, Navy divers discovered the wreck and recovered many artifacts.
Old B-R'er
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: April 26th to 28th,1863-- Getting Ready for Grand Gulf
APRIL 26TH
USS Lexington joined the ram fleet under Brigadier General Alfred W. Ellet to engage and disperse Confederate cavalry at the mouth of the Duck River, Tennessee. There we go again, Navy ships under Army control along with the Ellet family.
CSS Alabama captured and burned the ship Dorcas Prince east of Natal, Brazil, with cargo of coal. Surprising Semmes wouldn't have turned it into a tender. Steamers were always needing coal.
USS De Soto captures another ship in Gulf of Mexico. (See April 24th)
APRIL 27TH
Admiral Porter issues general order for attack on Grand Gulf. Confederates have four places where guns are placed and he wants all four engaged at same time. The ironclad gunboats go in first, firing bow guns at first battery.
Boat crews from USS Monticello and Matthew Vassar boarded and destroyed British blockade-runner Golden Liner in Murrell's Inlet, SC.
USS Preble accidentally destroyed by fire while at anchor off Pensacola, Florida.
APRIL 28TH
US tug Lily, attempting to cross the bow of the USS Choctaw at anchor in the Yazoo River, was swept by current into Choctaw's ram and sunk.
Old B-Runner
USS Lexington joined the ram fleet under Brigadier General Alfred W. Ellet to engage and disperse Confederate cavalry at the mouth of the Duck River, Tennessee. There we go again, Navy ships under Army control along with the Ellet family.
CSS Alabama captured and burned the ship Dorcas Prince east of Natal, Brazil, with cargo of coal. Surprising Semmes wouldn't have turned it into a tender. Steamers were always needing coal.
USS De Soto captures another ship in Gulf of Mexico. (See April 24th)
APRIL 27TH
Admiral Porter issues general order for attack on Grand Gulf. Confederates have four places where guns are placed and he wants all four engaged at same time. The ironclad gunboats go in first, firing bow guns at first battery.
Boat crews from USS Monticello and Matthew Vassar boarded and destroyed British blockade-runner Golden Liner in Murrell's Inlet, SC.
USS Preble accidentally destroyed by fire while at anchor off Pensacola, Florida.
APRIL 28TH
US tug Lily, attempting to cross the bow of the USS Choctaw at anchor in the Yazoo River, was swept by current into Choctaw's ram and sunk.
Old B-Runner
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The Mississippi Marine Brigade and Mississippi River Squadron
From Wikipedia
A few weeks ago, I was writing about the ship Queen of the West, commanded by Charles Rivers Ellet and mentioned that it had been in the Mississippi River Squadron and under Army command at one time.
This has always been a confusing item to me, so did the old Wiki thing.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER SQUADRON
Initially was part of the Army though commanded by Naval officers and originally known as the Western Gunboat Flotilla. Still confused here. Ellet was an Army officer.
MISSISSIPPI MARINE BRIGADE
Was a Union Army unit raised as part of the US Ram Fleet. They acted as Marines and would be transported on the rams from place to place. Their main duty was to fight Confederate guerrillas operating along Western rivers.
Commanded by members of the Ellet family and were part of the regular Army.
Organized in early 1863 with 350 men and officers.
A few weeks ago, I was writing about the ship Queen of the West, commanded by Charles Rivers Ellet and mentioned that it had been in the Mississippi River Squadron and under Army command at one time.
This has always been a confusing item to me, so did the old Wiki thing.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER SQUADRON
Initially was part of the Army though commanded by Naval officers and originally known as the Western Gunboat Flotilla. Still confused here. Ellet was an Army officer.
MISSISSIPPI MARINE BRIGADE
Was a Union Army unit raised as part of the US Ram Fleet. They acted as Marines and would be transported on the rams from place to place. Their main duty was to fight Confederate guerrillas operating along Western rivers.
Commanded by members of the Ellet family and were part of the regular Army.
Organized in early 1863 with 350 men and officers.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Naval War in Real Time: Allocating the Cannons
APRIL 24, 1863, 150 Years Ago.
The Confederacy had to continually allocate and spread its limited number of troops and guns to fight off Union attacks from the sea. This was shown in the exchange of letters between General Beauregard at Charleston and Secretary of War J.A. Seddon.
This date, Beauregard wrote requesting Whitwort guns (long-range and extremely accurate), "one to place on Morris island, to cover at long range the bar and enable us to get guns off the Keokuk, also to keep the enemy from replacing buoys and surveying [the] bar, the other to place on Sullivan's Island to cover vessels running the blockade [which] frequently run ashore."
The next day, Seddon replied, "I regret to be unable to spare the guns for the object mentioned. The claims of Wilmington and the Mississippi are now paramount."
Well, If You Don't Ask... You Won't Get. --Old B-R'er
The Confederacy had to continually allocate and spread its limited number of troops and guns to fight off Union attacks from the sea. This was shown in the exchange of letters between General Beauregard at Charleston and Secretary of War J.A. Seddon.
This date, Beauregard wrote requesting Whitwort guns (long-range and extremely accurate), "one to place on Morris island, to cover at long range the bar and enable us to get guns off the Keokuk, also to keep the enemy from replacing buoys and surveying [the] bar, the other to place on Sullivan's Island to cover vessels running the blockade [which] frequently run ashore."
The next day, Seddon replied, "I regret to be unable to spare the guns for the object mentioned. The claims of Wilmington and the Mississippi are now paramount."
Well, If You Don't Ask... You Won't Get. --Old B-R'er
Some More on the CSS Wilmington
There was a great thread in the Civil War Talk Naval Page about this ship under "Aye Candy: CSS Wilmington." This is where I got the picture of how it probably would have looked had it been launched. As it was, it was fairly close to completion when the city fell in February 1865.
It was built to replace the two essentially failed ironclads at the port: The CSS North Carolina and CSS Raleigh.
Of interest was that it was not built to be fitted with a ram and would rely entirely on firepower to do its damage, like the Union monitors. And, with its construction, it more closely resembled a monitor than previous casemated Confederate ironclads like the CSS Virginia. However, it did not have a revolving turret, but used pivot guns instead.
The ship was not to have much freeboard above the water and had a very low profile, even lower than the Union monitors. Evidently, Confederate engineers were learning from the monitors.
The twin casemates were very low and had extremely steep sides, better for shell deflection. Plus, these ships used less iron which made them lighter for use in rivers, plus easier to propel.
I Sure Would Have Liked to have Seen This Ship in Action. --Old B-Runner
It was built to replace the two essentially failed ironclads at the port: The CSS North Carolina and CSS Raleigh.
Of interest was that it was not built to be fitted with a ram and would rely entirely on firepower to do its damage, like the Union monitors. And, with its construction, it more closely resembled a monitor than previous casemated Confederate ironclads like the CSS Virginia. However, it did not have a revolving turret, but used pivot guns instead.
The ship was not to have much freeboard above the water and had a very low profile, even lower than the Union monitors. Evidently, Confederate engineers were learning from the monitors.
The twin casemates were very low and had extremely steep sides, better for shell deflection. Plus, these ships used less iron which made them lighter for use in rivers, plus easier to propel.
I Sure Would Have Liked to have Seen This Ship in Action. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Naval War in Real Time: A Big Day at Wilmington!!!
APRIL 23, 1863
Three blockade-runners: Merrimac, Charleston and Margaret and Jessie successfully run the blockade into Wilmington, NC.
Brigadier general William H.C. Whiting wrote: "The Merrimac brings me three splendid Blakeley guns, 8-inch rifled 13-pounders."
There Will be a Party Tonight. --Old B-R'er
Three blockade-runners: Merrimac, Charleston and Margaret and Jessie successfully run the blockade into Wilmington, NC.
Brigadier general William H.C. Whiting wrote: "The Merrimac brings me three splendid Blakeley guns, 8-inch rifled 13-pounders."
There Will be a Party Tonight. --Old B-R'er
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: April 23rd to April 25th, 1863-- Semmes Does a Little Bragging
APRIL 23RD
CSS Florida captured bark Henrietta at sea and burned her.
APRIL 24TH
A real big day for the USS De Soto, maybe a record? The ship captures four blockade-runners bound from Mobile to Havana with cargoes of cotton. Those sailors must have been looking forward to a big payday in prize court.
CSS Alabama captured and burned the whaler Nye off the coast of Brazil. Semmes writes that this is the 16th whaler he's captured, giving him more than Commodore David Porter destroyed in the Pacific in the frigate Essex during the War of 1812.
CSS Florida captured and destroyed the ship Oneida bound from Shanghai to New York with a cargo of tea.
APRIL 25TH
The CSS Georgia under Lt. W.L. Maury captured the ship Dictator off the Cape Verde Islands and burned it the next day.
A couple questions here. I have never heard of this CSS Georgia and was this Maury related to the famous Confederate William Fontaine Maury? The fact that the Georgia was a Confederate ship capturing another ship elsewhere on the ocean (I'll have to check and see if the Cape Verde Islands are by Africa) makes me think it must have been a cruiser. I guess I'll have to look them up.
Old B-Runner
CSS Florida captured bark Henrietta at sea and burned her.
APRIL 24TH
A real big day for the USS De Soto, maybe a record? The ship captures four blockade-runners bound from Mobile to Havana with cargoes of cotton. Those sailors must have been looking forward to a big payday in prize court.
CSS Alabama captured and burned the whaler Nye off the coast of Brazil. Semmes writes that this is the 16th whaler he's captured, giving him more than Commodore David Porter destroyed in the Pacific in the frigate Essex during the War of 1812.
CSS Florida captured and destroyed the ship Oneida bound from Shanghai to New York with a cargo of tea.
APRIL 25TH
The CSS Georgia under Lt. W.L. Maury captured the ship Dictator off the Cape Verde Islands and burned it the next day.
A couple questions here. I have never heard of this CSS Georgia and was this Maury related to the famous Confederate William Fontaine Maury? The fact that the Georgia was a Confederate ship capturing another ship elsewhere on the ocean (I'll have to check and see if the Cape Verde Islands are by Africa) makes me think it must have been a cruiser. I guess I'll have to look them up.
Old B-Runner
Monday, April 22, 2013
How Much Do You Know About the Navy in the Civil War?
Very much like the War of 1812, the naval aspect of the Civil War is largely unknown to most people. However, this is the part I find the most interesting, a big reason why I do this blog.
At home, I have almost three shelves of Civil War Navy books along with a lot of other bits and pieces of information.
Actually, it was the Battle of Fort Fisher in North Carolina that started my interest in the Civil War, and with its huge naval aspect, not too surprising that I would be interested in it. Plus, growing up during the Centennial, the ironclad CSS Neuse was raised from the Neuse Rver, which also got me interested in ironclads.
Guess I didn't have much of a chance.
Old B-Runner
At home, I have almost three shelves of Civil War Navy books along with a lot of other bits and pieces of information.
Actually, it was the Battle of Fort Fisher in North Carolina that started my interest in the Civil War, and with its huge naval aspect, not too surprising that I would be interested in it. Plus, growing up during the Centennial, the ironclad CSS Neuse was raised from the Neuse Rver, which also got me interested in ironclads.
Guess I didn't have much of a chance.
Old B-Runner
Friday, April 19, 2013
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: April 21st to 22nd, 1863
APRIL 21ST
Mallory wrote Commander Bullock: "The recent repulse of the enemy before Charleston will show the world that we have not been idle with regard to ordnance and that the enemy's ironclads suffered severely."
Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote in his private journal that Welles was not satisfied with Du Pont's efforts at Charleston and thought he gave up too soon. Dahlgren defended Du Pont's actions.
From what I read, Du Pont would have lost more ironclads had he continued the engagement.
Porter reconnoitered the Confederate defenses at Grand Gulf and found they were rapidly strengthening.
Confederate batteries at Vicksburg opened fire on Union Army steamers attempting a night time passage past the city. One was sunk, one disabled, one badly damaged, but rest got through.
Farragut's fleet passed Port Hudson. He lost the USS Mississippi in the effort. The smoke from the battle was so thick he had to send the pilots up the masts to see.
APRIL 22nd
The USS Mount Vernon captured the schooner St. George off New Inlet, NC, with cargo of salt and rum.
Farragut writes Fox about his ideas on the naval uniform of officers and wants them to stop changing the uniform every few weeks.
So, A Little House-Keeping. --Old B-R'er
Mallory wrote Commander Bullock: "The recent repulse of the enemy before Charleston will show the world that we have not been idle with regard to ordnance and that the enemy's ironclads suffered severely."
Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote in his private journal that Welles was not satisfied with Du Pont's efforts at Charleston and thought he gave up too soon. Dahlgren defended Du Pont's actions.
From what I read, Du Pont would have lost more ironclads had he continued the engagement.
Porter reconnoitered the Confederate defenses at Grand Gulf and found they were rapidly strengthening.
Confederate batteries at Vicksburg opened fire on Union Army steamers attempting a night time passage past the city. One was sunk, one disabled, one badly damaged, but rest got through.
Farragut's fleet passed Port Hudson. He lost the USS Mississippi in the effort. The smoke from the battle was so thick he had to send the pilots up the masts to see.
APRIL 22nd
The USS Mount Vernon captured the schooner St. George off New Inlet, NC, with cargo of salt and rum.
Farragut writes Fox about his ideas on the naval uniform of officers and wants them to stop changing the uniform every few weeks.
So, A Little House-Keeping. --Old B-R'er
CSS Oreto?-- Part 2
The CSS Florida met up with the Lapwing (CSS Oreto) off the coast of Brazil on April 14, 1863, and again on May 3rd. On April 20th, the Lapwing captured the American ship Kate Dyer and bonded it as it was carrying a neutral cargo.
The Lapwing was found to be leaking badly and unfit for cruising, so its guns were transferred back to teh Florida. Lt. Averett was also brought back to the Florida and Acting Master R.S. Floyd, CSN, replaced him.
He was directed to anchhor by Rocas, 80 miles west of Fernando de Noronha, where the Florida would again recoal.
Floyd waited 30 days and ran out of food. On June 20th, he burned the Lapwing and wnet ashore in the ship's boats and reported to the Confederate agent at Barbados Island.
The Story of a Little-Known Ship. --Old B-Runner
The Lapwing was found to be leaking badly and unfit for cruising, so its guns were transferred back to teh Florida. Lt. Averett was also brought back to the Florida and Acting Master R.S. Floyd, CSN, replaced him.
He was directed to anchhor by Rocas, 80 miles west of Fernando de Noronha, where the Florida would again recoal.
Floyd waited 30 days and ran out of food. On June 20th, he burned the Lapwing and wnet ashore in the ship's boats and reported to the Confederate agent at Barbados Island.
The Story of a Little-Known Ship. --Old B-Runner
CSS Oreto?-- Part 1
In the last post, I mentioned that on April 20th, the CSS Oreto captured a ship. Wasn't that the name given to the CSS Alabama before entering Confederate service? Anyway, I wasn't sure about it. Looked it up and there sure wasn't much about a CSS Oreto. Eventually found one thread. Turns out I had already mentioned it back on my March 28th blog entry.
It was a ship captured by the CSS Florida under Lt. John Newland Maffitt. It was carrying coal, something Maffitt always needed, so he kept the ship and used it as a tender for his coal needs.
Here is what the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships had to say about the CSS Oreto (Lapwing).
The Lapwing was a bark sailing from Boston to Batavia, Java with a cargo of coal, tobacco and provisions. It was captured by the CSS Florida March 28, 1863. Maffitt transferred two howitzers, two officers and eighteen men under the command of Lt. S.W. Averett and ordered to rendezvous with the Florida at 30 degrees West Longitude along the equator or at the island of Fernando de Noronha. There, the Florida would recoal. The ship was now considered to be the tender CSS Oreto, but usually referred to as the Lapwing.
Old B-R'er
It was a ship captured by the CSS Florida under Lt. John Newland Maffitt. It was carrying coal, something Maffitt always needed, so he kept the ship and used it as a tender for his coal needs.
Here is what the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships had to say about the CSS Oreto (Lapwing).
The Lapwing was a bark sailing from Boston to Batavia, Java with a cargo of coal, tobacco and provisions. It was captured by the CSS Florida March 28, 1863. Maffitt transferred two howitzers, two officers and eighteen men under the command of Lt. S.W. Averett and ordered to rendezvous with the Florida at 30 degrees West Longitude along the equator or at the island of Fernando de Noronha. There, the Florida would recoal. The ship was now considered to be the tender CSS Oreto, but usually referred to as the Lapwing.
Old B-R'er
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: April 19th to 20th-- "Daddy Farragut"
APRIL 19TH
A good day for the Charleston blockade as two blockade-runners captured carrying cotton while trying to slip out of the harbor.
APRIL 20TH
A joint Army-Navy attack captured a key Confederate position on the Nansemond River. Later that night, Confederates evacuate another key battery on the river and the attack on Suffolk, Virginia, was essentially over although there would be occasional skirmishes for the next two weeks.
Two of the Navy's rising stars, Lt. Cushing and Capt. Lamson, were cited for gallantry and meritorious service in the action.
Union ships reconnoiter down the Mississippi River from New Carthage to the Confederate stronghold at Grand Gulf in preparation for the Union attack. Confederates are seen rapidly fortifying the place. Porter wants to attack right away, but needs troops.
Union ships capture Fort Burton at Butte a la Rose, Louisiana. Third Assistant Engineer George W. Baird noted in his diary: "The fight was short, sharp and decisive. It was done after the style of Daddy Farragut: we rush in....We rushed right up to it and the four black vessels all firing made a savage appearance."
Admiral Porter examined the hulk of the USS Indianola, captured by the Confederates and later blown up and sunk below Vicksburg after the fake ironclad floated down past Vicksburg. Its hull and machinery seemed in good shape. Much of the iron casemate had been destroyed. Two guns were recovered and he thinks it could be raised and put into service again.
The CSS Oreto captured and bonded the Kate Dyer at sea, headed for Antwerp, Belgium.
A Lot Happening on the 20th. --Old B-Runner
A good day for the Charleston blockade as two blockade-runners captured carrying cotton while trying to slip out of the harbor.
APRIL 20TH
A joint Army-Navy attack captured a key Confederate position on the Nansemond River. Later that night, Confederates evacuate another key battery on the river and the attack on Suffolk, Virginia, was essentially over although there would be occasional skirmishes for the next two weeks.
Two of the Navy's rising stars, Lt. Cushing and Capt. Lamson, were cited for gallantry and meritorious service in the action.
Union ships reconnoiter down the Mississippi River from New Carthage to the Confederate stronghold at Grand Gulf in preparation for the Union attack. Confederates are seen rapidly fortifying the place. Porter wants to attack right away, but needs troops.
Union ships capture Fort Burton at Butte a la Rose, Louisiana. Third Assistant Engineer George W. Baird noted in his diary: "The fight was short, sharp and decisive. It was done after the style of Daddy Farragut: we rush in....We rushed right up to it and the four black vessels all firing made a savage appearance."
Admiral Porter examined the hulk of the USS Indianola, captured by the Confederates and later blown up and sunk below Vicksburg after the fake ironclad floated down past Vicksburg. Its hull and machinery seemed in good shape. Much of the iron casemate had been destroyed. Two guns were recovered and he thinks it could be raised and put into service again.
The CSS Oreto captured and bonded the Kate Dyer at sea, headed for Antwerp, Belgium.
A Lot Happening on the 20th. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Siege and Surrender of Island No. 10
March 15 to April 8, 1862
After the fall of forts Henry and Donelson and evacuation of Columbus, Kentucky, General Beauregard fortified Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River about 60 miles south of Columbus in an attempt to keep Foote's gunboats from joining Farragut's coming up from the south.
Union general Pope arrived outside of New Madrid, Missouri, on March 3rd and after reconnoitering and examining information, determined that because of 50 heavy guns and Confederate gunboats, New Madrid could only be taken by siege. That same day, Confederates abandoned New Madrid and their commander was relieved of duty.
Looking at Island No/ 10, Pope decided that a canal would have to be dug to take it and it was finished by April 4th. On April 7th, four Union regiments moved across the Mississippi to cut off the Confederate retreat. Island No. 10 surrendered and 3,500 troops captured and 500 escaped.
The fall of the island opened the way to Fort Pillow.
Pope's success along the Mississippi led to his being chosen to command the Army of the Potomac and the disaster that later came at the Second Battle of Bull Run.
Old B-R'er
After the fall of forts Henry and Donelson and evacuation of Columbus, Kentucky, General Beauregard fortified Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River about 60 miles south of Columbus in an attempt to keep Foote's gunboats from joining Farragut's coming up from the south.
Union general Pope arrived outside of New Madrid, Missouri, on March 3rd and after reconnoitering and examining information, determined that because of 50 heavy guns and Confederate gunboats, New Madrid could only be taken by siege. That same day, Confederates abandoned New Madrid and their commander was relieved of duty.
Looking at Island No/ 10, Pope decided that a canal would have to be dug to take it and it was finished by April 4th. On April 7th, four Union regiments moved across the Mississippi to cut off the Confederate retreat. Island No. 10 surrendered and 3,500 troops captured and 500 escaped.
The fall of the island opened the way to Fort Pillow.
Pope's success along the Mississippi led to his being chosen to command the Army of the Potomac and the disaster that later came at the Second Battle of Bull Run.
Old B-R'er
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