AUGUST 10TH, 1864: Rear Admiral Farragut continues his steady day and night bombardment of Fort Morgan, battering down the walls. The fort is resolutely defended by his old shipmate, General Page.
AUGUST 12TH, 1864: The ram Tennessee got up steam for the first time since her capture by Union forces on August 5th. She had been fitted with a new smokestack on the 11th and this date tried it out by steaming around the bay.
On the 13th, the Tennessee steamed down and opened fire on Fort Morgan.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, August 15, 2014
CSS Tallahassee Continues Its Work
AUGUST 12TH, 1864: The CSS Tallahassee seized six more prizes while continuing her devastating cruise off the New York Coast. It burned the ships Atlantic, Adriatic and Spokane with cargoes of lumber. It attempted to scuttle the brig Billow with a cargo of lumber and released the bark Suliote and schooner Robert E. Parker on bond.
The Billow did not sink and was later retaken by the USS Grand Gulf, Commander Ransom, two days later.
--Old B-R'er
The Billow did not sink and was later retaken by the USS Grand Gulf, Commander Ransom, two days later.
--Old B-R'er
Confederate Torpedo Corps Strike City Point
AUGUST 9TH, 1864: Two resourceful members of the Confederate Torpedo Corps, John Maxwell and R.K. Dillard, planted a clockwork torpedo containing twelve pounds of powder on a Union transport at City Point, Virginia, causing a huge explosion which rocked the entire area.
Maxwell and Dillard succeeded in getting through Union lines to the wharf area, where Maxwell convinced the trusting wharf sentry that he had been ordered by the captain of the ammunition barge to deliver a box to the ship.
The box was accepted and the two Confederates hastily started back for Richmond. When the torpedo exploded an hour later, it set in motion a devastating chain reaction which spread the holocaust from the barges to storage buildings on shore and even to General Grant's headquarters.
Grant hurried off a message to General Halleck in Washington: "Five minutes ago an ordnance boat exploded, carrying lumber, grape, canister and all kinds of shot over this point. Every part of the yard used as my headquarters is filled with splinters and fragments of shell."
Sneaky Confederates. --Old B-Runner
Maxwell and Dillard succeeded in getting through Union lines to the wharf area, where Maxwell convinced the trusting wharf sentry that he had been ordered by the captain of the ammunition barge to deliver a box to the ship.
The box was accepted and the two Confederates hastily started back for Richmond. When the torpedo exploded an hour later, it set in motion a devastating chain reaction which spread the holocaust from the barges to storage buildings on shore and even to General Grant's headquarters.
Grant hurried off a message to General Halleck in Washington: "Five minutes ago an ordnance boat exploded, carrying lumber, grape, canister and all kinds of shot over this point. Every part of the yard used as my headquarters is filled with splinters and fragments of shell."
Sneaky Confederates. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, August 14, 2014
CSS Tallahassee Having a Field Day Off New Jersey
AUGUST 10-11TH, 1864: Cruising within 80 miles of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the CSS Tallahassee, Commander Wood, took seven prizes, including schooners Sarah A. Boyce and Carrol, brigs Richards and Carrie Estelle, pilot boats James Funk (No.22) and William Bell (No. 24) and bark Bay State.
All were scuttled and burned except the Carrol, which was bonded for $10,000 and sent to New York with the passengers and crews of the other ships.
Rear Admiral Henry Paulding, Commandant of the New York Navy Yard, immediately wired Secretary Welles" "Pirate off Sandy Hook, capturing and burning."
By evening, Paulding had three ships in pursuit of the Tallahassee. Welles, hoping to prevent another cruise similar to the June 1863 raid by Lt, Charles Read of the CSS Tacony, telegraphed naval commanders at Hampton Roads, Philadelphia and Boston to begin a large-scale search for Wood.
--Old B-R'er
All were scuttled and burned except the Carrol, which was bonded for $10,000 and sent to New York with the passengers and crews of the other ships.
Rear Admiral Henry Paulding, Commandant of the New York Navy Yard, immediately wired Secretary Welles" "Pirate off Sandy Hook, capturing and burning."
By evening, Paulding had three ships in pursuit of the Tallahassee. Welles, hoping to prevent another cruise similar to the June 1863 raid by Lt, Charles Read of the CSS Tacony, telegraphed naval commanders at Hampton Roads, Philadelphia and Boston to begin a large-scale search for Wood.
--Old B-R'er
Battle of Mobile Bay
Costly as the Union victory was and as stubbornly as the Confederates defended it, the victory effectively closed the last Confederate port on the Gulf of Mexico (even though Mobile did not fall anytime soon).
It was now inevitable that the other Confederate fortifications would be compelled to surrender.
The afternoon of August 5th, the monitor USS Chickasaw stood down and engaged Fort Powell at a distance of less than 400 yards. The Confederates evacuated the fort during the night and blew it up.
Forts Morgan and Gaines would also soon fall.
After this, Union naval efforts would be concentrated on the east coast, though "mopping up" operations would continue along the Gulf and western rivers.
--Old B-Runner
It was now inevitable that the other Confederate fortifications would be compelled to surrender.
The afternoon of August 5th, the monitor USS Chickasaw stood down and engaged Fort Powell at a distance of less than 400 yards. The Confederates evacuated the fort during the night and blew it up.
Forts Morgan and Gaines would also soon fall.
After this, Union naval efforts would be concentrated on the east coast, though "mopping up" operations would continue along the Gulf and western rivers.
--Old B-Runner
Farragut Receives Congratulations for Battle of Mobile Bay
Secretary Welles warmly congratulated Rear Admiral Farragut on his stunning triumph: "In the success which has attended your operations you have illustrated the efficiency and irresistible power of a naval force led by a bold and vigorous mind, and insufficiency of any batteries to prevent the passage of a fleet thus led and commanded.
"You have, first on the Mississippi and recently in the bay of Mobile, demonstrated what had been previously doubted, the ability of naval vessels, properly manned and commanded, to set at defiance the best constructed and most heavily armed fortifications.
"In these successive victories you have encountered great risks, but the results have vindicated the wisdom of your policy and the daring valor of our officers and seamen."
Congrats to Farragut. --Old B-R'er
"You have, first on the Mississippi and recently in the bay of Mobile, demonstrated what had been previously doubted, the ability of naval vessels, properly manned and commanded, to set at defiance the best constructed and most heavily armed fortifications.
"In these successive victories you have encountered great risks, but the results have vindicated the wisdom of your policy and the daring valor of our officers and seamen."
Congrats to Farragut. --Old B-R'er
The Tennessee Now Fighting for Farragut
AUGUST 9TH, 1864: The ram Tennessee, whose big guns had so valiantly fought to defend Mobile Bay on August 5th, now in Union hands, bombarded Fort Morgan.
Her log recorded this date: "At 10 a.m. having no steam up in the vessel, the USS Port Royal took us in tow down towards Fort Morgan. Anchored between the Middle Ground and the fort and opened out battery upon the fort."
At 10 p.m. Winnebago towed Tennessee back up to her anchorage.
The sight of their former ship, the CSS Tennessee, now turning its guns against them must have been quite disheartening to the fort's beleaguered defenders.
--Old B-Runner
Her log recorded this date: "At 10 a.m. having no steam up in the vessel, the USS Port Royal took us in tow down towards Fort Morgan. Anchored between the Middle Ground and the fort and opened out battery upon the fort."
At 10 p.m. Winnebago towed Tennessee back up to her anchorage.
The sight of their former ship, the CSS Tennessee, now turning its guns against them must have been quite disheartening to the fort's beleaguered defenders.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Action Continues at Mobile Bay: Fort Morgan Refuses to Surrender
AUGUST 9TH, 1864: Though the Union fleet controlled Mobile Bay and Forts Powell and Gaines were un Union hands, Brig. Gen. Richard L. Page, formerly a U.S. Navy officer and until recently a commander in the CSN, gallantly refused to surrender Fort Morgan to the overwhelming forces arrayed against him.
Federal naval forces took station off the fort while troops began a land siege
After a brief bombardment, Farragut and Union Army commander Major General Gordon Granger advised Page: "To prevent the unnecessary sacrifice of human life which must follow the opening of our batteries, we demand the unconditional surrender of Fort Morgan and its dependencies."
Undaunted, the Confederate officer replied: "I am prepared to sacrifice life, and will only surrender when I have no means of defense."
He was fighting his fort as he would have his ship.
It was too bad that Fort Gaines' commander couldn't have been more like Page.
--Old B-R'er
Federal naval forces took station off the fort while troops began a land siege
After a brief bombardment, Farragut and Union Army commander Major General Gordon Granger advised Page: "To prevent the unnecessary sacrifice of human life which must follow the opening of our batteries, we demand the unconditional surrender of Fort Morgan and its dependencies."
Undaunted, the Confederate officer replied: "I am prepared to sacrifice life, and will only surrender when I have no means of defense."
He was fighting his fort as he would have his ship.
It was too bad that Fort Gaines' commander couldn't have been more like Page.
--Old B-R'er
USS Violet Runs Aground and Sunk Off Cape Fear River
AUGUST 8TH, 1864:
The USS Violet, Acting Ensign Thomas Stothard, ran aground off the western bar of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, and was destroyed.
Stothard and his men labored to keep Violet afloat for five hours, but seeing that the water was gaining, fired her magazine and abandoned the small wooden steamer.
I never heard of this ship.
--Old B-Runner
The USS Violet, Acting Ensign Thomas Stothard, ran aground off the western bar of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, and was destroyed.
Stothard and his men labored to keep Violet afloat for five hours, but seeing that the water was gaining, fired her magazine and abandoned the small wooden steamer.
I never heard of this ship.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Dahlgren Poses the Idea of Naval Infantry
AUGUST 8TH, 1864: Sailors in the Civil War were often called upon to perform duties far removed from ordinary shipboard routine.
This date, Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote to the commanders of his South Atlantic Blockading Squadron on the subject of naval infantry.
"It has frequently happened that the peculiar nature of the duties of this command has required the service of bodies of men to be landed from vessels to act for a short time as infantry, assisted by light fieldpieces. In order to meet similar exigencies commanders of vessels will take pains to select from their crews such men as may seem to have a turn for this kind of duty and have them drilled with small arms until they have attained the necessary proficiency....The light infantry drill will be best adapted to this service, and to be habits of the seamen."
A good idea. And, it is likely some of the sailors were originally in the Union infantry who could help with the training. Perhaps even borrow infantry officers for it. Five months later, Union naval forces on land at Fort Fisher suffered heavy losses in an essentially botched land attack.
--Old B-Runner
This date, Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote to the commanders of his South Atlantic Blockading Squadron on the subject of naval infantry.
"It has frequently happened that the peculiar nature of the duties of this command has required the service of bodies of men to be landed from vessels to act for a short time as infantry, assisted by light fieldpieces. In order to meet similar exigencies commanders of vessels will take pains to select from their crews such men as may seem to have a turn for this kind of duty and have them drilled with small arms until they have attained the necessary proficiency....The light infantry drill will be best adapted to this service, and to be habits of the seamen."
A good idea. And, it is likely some of the sailors were originally in the Union infantry who could help with the training. Perhaps even borrow infantry officers for it. Five months later, Union naval forces on land at Fort Fisher suffered heavy losses in an essentially botched land attack.
--Old B-Runner
Fort Gaines To Be Surrendered
AUGUST 7TH, 1864: Col. Charles D. Anderson, CSA, commanding Fort Gaines at Mobile Bay, proposed the surrender of his command to Rear Admiral Farragut.
The monitor USS Chickasaw had bombarded the fort the day before and Anderson wrote: "Feeling my inability to maintain my present position longer than you may see fit to open upon me with your fleet, and feeling also the uselessness of entailing upon ourselves further destruction of life< i have the honor to propose the surrender of Fort Gaines, its garrison, stores."
Before 10 a.m., 8 August, the Stars and Stripes were flying over the works.
I'd have to consider this an act of cowardice on Anderson's part. One for which he should have been court martialled.
--Old B-R'er
The monitor USS Chickasaw had bombarded the fort the day before and Anderson wrote: "Feeling my inability to maintain my present position longer than you may see fit to open upon me with your fleet, and feeling also the uselessness of entailing upon ourselves further destruction of life< i have the honor to propose the surrender of Fort Gaines, its garrison, stores."
Before 10 a.m., 8 August, the Stars and Stripes were flying over the works.
I'd have to consider this an act of cowardice on Anderson's part. One for which he should have been court martialled.
--Old B-R'er
CSS Tallahassee Runs Out of Wilmington
AUGUST 6TH, 1864: The Css Tallahassee, Commander Wood, ran out of Wilmington, North Carolina, and, after eluding Union blockaders off the bar, embarked on one of the most destructive commerce raiding cruises of the war.
Jefferson Davis later wrote: "This extemporaneous man-of-war... soon lit up the New England coast with her captures...."
In the next two weeks Wood, whom Davis called "an officer of extraordinary ability and enterprise," took or destroyed more than 30 ships.
--Old B-Runner
Jefferson Davis later wrote: "This extemporaneous man-of-war... soon lit up the New England coast with her captures...."
In the next two weeks Wood, whom Davis called "an officer of extraordinary ability and enterprise," took or destroyed more than 30 ships.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, August 11, 2014
CSS Albemarle On the Move
AUGUST 6TH, 1864: The powerful CSS Albemarle, Captain J.W. Cooke, steamed from Plymouth, North Carolina, to the mouth of the Roanoke River, causing great consternation among the Union blockading ships before returning to Plymouth.
Commander Harrell, USS Chicopee, reported: "...the ram made its appearance this morning at a few minutes before 4 a.m. It advanced as far as the mouth of the river and halted.... From the number of people in sight on the beach, no doubt it was expected that an engagement would ensue....
"The ram is now lying in the river blowing off steam. I do not think, however that she will advance. Should she do so, however, I will endeavor to draw her down toward the fleet. I shall now pay my respects to those gentlemen on the beach in the shape of a few shells.
--Old B-Runner
Commander Harrell, USS Chicopee, reported: "...the ram made its appearance this morning at a few minutes before 4 a.m. It advanced as far as the mouth of the river and halted.... From the number of people in sight on the beach, no doubt it was expected that an engagement would ensue....
"The ram is now lying in the river blowing off steam. I do not think, however that she will advance. Should she do so, however, I will endeavor to draw her down toward the fleet. I shall now pay my respects to those gentlemen on the beach in the shape of a few shells.
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Battle of Mobile Bay-- Part 6: The Battering Continues and Surrender
The Hartford struck a glancing blow and poured a broadside into the Tennessee from ten feet. The Chickasaw pounded the ram with heavy shot. The Lackawanna and Hartford had a collision, but recovered. The Monongahela and Ossipee were preparing to ram.
Admiral Buchanan, commanding the Tennessee, had been wounded and turned command over to Commander James D. Johnston. The ship's steering was knocked out, but, unable to maneuver and taking on water, it struggled on, being pounded mercilessly by the whole Union fleet.
Johnston and Buchanan concurred that further resistance would be of no avail and at 10 a.m., the white flag was hoisted.
The Union now had closed the port of Mobile to the outside world, but the city still remained in Confederate hands.
--Old B-R'er
Admiral Buchanan, commanding the Tennessee, had been wounded and turned command over to Commander James D. Johnston. The ship's steering was knocked out, but, unable to maneuver and taking on water, it struggled on, being pounded mercilessly by the whole Union fleet.
Johnston and Buchanan concurred that further resistance would be of no avail and at 10 a.m., the white flag was hoisted.
The Union now had closed the port of Mobile to the outside world, but the city still remained in Confederate hands.
--Old B-R'er
Battle of Mobile Bay-- Part 5: The Tennessee Takes a Battering
The battle between the Union fleet and Tennessee raged for over an hour. The USS Monongahela rammed the Tennessee, but only succeeded in damaging herself. The Lackawanna rammed at full speed, but, as Farragut described it, "the only perceptible effect on the ram was to give it a heavy list."
However, a shot from one of the monitor USS Manhattan's 15-inch guns made a big impression of the Tennessee's crew. Lt. Wharton, CSN, reported" "The Monongahela was hardly clear of us when a hideous-looking monster came creeping up on our Port side, whose slowly revolving turret revealed the cavernous depths of a mammoth gun. 'Stand clear of the Port side!' I shouted.
"A moment after a thunderous report shook us all, while a blast of dense, sulpherous smoke covered out port-holes, and 440 pounds of iron, impelled by sixty pounds of powder, admitted daylight through our side, where, before it struck us, there had been over two feet of solid wood, covered with five inches of solid iron.
"This was the only 15-inch shot that hit us fair. It did not come through; the inside netting caught the splinters, and there were no casualties from it. I was glad to find myself alive after that shot."
Watch Out for Those 15-inchers! --Old B-Runner
However, a shot from one of the monitor USS Manhattan's 15-inch guns made a big impression of the Tennessee's crew. Lt. Wharton, CSN, reported" "The Monongahela was hardly clear of us when a hideous-looking monster came creeping up on our Port side, whose slowly revolving turret revealed the cavernous depths of a mammoth gun. 'Stand clear of the Port side!' I shouted.
"A moment after a thunderous report shook us all, while a blast of dense, sulpherous smoke covered out port-holes, and 440 pounds of iron, impelled by sixty pounds of powder, admitted daylight through our side, where, before it struck us, there had been over two feet of solid wood, covered with five inches of solid iron.
"This was the only 15-inch shot that hit us fair. It did not come through; the inside netting caught the splinters, and there were no casualties from it. I was glad to find myself alive after that shot."
Watch Out for Those 15-inchers! --Old B-Runner
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