More Action on the James River-- Part 1

AUGUST 16TH, 1864:Ships of the James River Division, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, transported and supported Union troops in an advance from Dutch Gap.  The USS Mount Vernon transported troops from Dutch Gap to Aiken's Landing and stayed to provide support.  The monitor USS Canonicus shelled the Confederate lines and paid particular attention to Signal Hill Battery.

Throughout the long months of stalemate along the James, naval forces operated intimately with  the Army, facilitating small advances and checking reverses with their big guns.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Tallahassee Running Short of Coal

AUGUST 17TH, 1864:  The CSS Tallahassee, Commander Wood, was by now running short of coal and headed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he hoped to refuel in order to continue his devastating attack on Federal commerce.

En route, the Tallahassee destroyed the schooners North America and Josiah Ashom and released the brig Neva on bond.

--Old B-Runner

USS Niagara Captures Formed CSS Georgia

The USS Niagara, Commodore Thomas T. Craven, captured the steamer Georgia off the coast of Portugal.  The Georgia was the former commerce raider CSS Georgia, which had been sold to British merchants in June 1864.

American ambassador to England, Charles Francis Adams recommended that she be taken when she put to sea because of her previously belligerent status.  The Georgia was later condemned by a prize court in Boston.

--Old B-R'er

Farragut's Fleet Continues Bombarding Fort Morgan

AUGUST 15TH, 1864:  Rear Admiral Farragut's fleet sustained its pounding of Fort Morgan with shot from its heavy guns.  Typical of the action that took place in Mobile Bay from the time the ships passed into it August 5th, until general Page surrendered the fort was a log entry from the monitor USS Manhattan:  "At 7 [p.m.] opened fire on Fort Morgan.  At 8 Fort Morgan opened fire on this ship and fired two shot.

"From 8 to midnight: Continuing to fire on Fort Morgan; Morgan fired one shot at this ship.  At 10:20 ceased firing having fired 7 XV-inch shell.  Fort fired on our encampment on shore from 9 till end of watch."

--Old B-Runner

More CSS Albemarle Rumors

AUGUST 15TH, 1864:  Rumors concerning the CSS Albemarle continued to reach Union naval forces in the Albemarle Sound.  Colonel David W. Wardrop, Union Army commander in the area, wrote top Commander Macomb:  "I have received information from the parties heretofore reliable that the enemy have been fitting up some of their boats with torpedoes and are intending to attack the fleet in conjunction with the ram on Tuesday next.

"It is also confidently reported that a second ram will be done in a fortnight.  They are very busy up the Roanoke River, but it is very difficult to learn what is being done...."

--Old B-R'er

Action on James River

AIGUST 13TH, 1864:  The USS Agawan engaged three different Confederate batteries near Four Mile Creek on the James River.  The Agawan fired 228 shells at them and were about out of ammunition and dropped downriver.  It engaged the same batteries the next day in support of Union troops moving along the ricer.

Sgips of the Confederate James River squadron, including the ironclads CSS Virginia II, CSS Richmond CSS Fredericksburg and CSS Hampton, CSS Nansemond and CSS Drewry, shelled Union positions near Dutch Gap. Virginia, for over eleven hours.

This was done at the request of the Army and intended to support Confederate troop movements.

--Old B-Runner

The Tallahassee Captures Eleven Union Ships in Two Days

AUGUST 15TH, 1864:  The CSS Tallahassee captured and scuttled the schooners Mary A. Howes, Howard, Floral Wreath, Restless and Etta Caroline and bonded the Sarah B. Harris off New England.  The Harris then carried prisoners away.

AUGUST 16TH, 1864:  The Tallahassee captured and burned off the New England Coast the bark P.C. Alexander and schooners Leopard, Pearl, Sarah Louise and Magnolia.

--Old B-Runner

Action at Arkansas on the Mississippi River

AUGUST 10-11TH, 1864:  Small steamers USS Romeo, USS Prairie Bird and transport steamer  Empress engaged a Confederate battery at Gaines Landing, Arkansas, on the Mississippi River.  The Confederates had secretly wheeled it into place.

The Empress was attacked on the 10th and had its captain killed and disabled her.  The Romeo came to its aid, engaged the battery and towed the Empress to safety.

The next day, the Confederates opened up on the Prairie Bird which was passing by.  Hearing the firing, the Romeo returned and the two ships were able to drive them away.

All three ships were severely engaged in the two day battle.  The Empress alone had received some sixty-three hits.

--Old B-R'er

Sickness a problem on Confederate Ships on the James River-- Part 2

The conclusion reached in the subsequent report illustrated the hazards of duty on the river:  "We consider the causes of the  great amount of sickness on board said vessels to be, first, and chiefly, that the exposure to malaria, the necessary consequence of a residence on the waters of  James River; as a secondary cause to this, but in our opinion highly conducive to the hurtful influence, we would enumerate the  heated exposure of the ironclads, especially when at quarters and during action, the want of proper exercise on shore, and of  a deficient supply of vegetables and fruits for the ships' companies...."

Difficult living conditions and sickness were common, especially in the summer, for both navies on the James River as well as elsewhere throughout the tidewaters of the South.

--Old B-Runner

All Out Union Effort to Stop the CSS Tallahassee

AUGUST 14, 1864:  As all-out Union efforts to capture the CSS Tallahassee, Commander Wood,  increased, the cruiser seized and scuttled the ship James Littlefield with cargo of coal.

Rear Admiral Paulding noted in New York"  "Our vessels must fall in with her.  They strip everybody of everything valuable."

--Old B-R'er

Sickness a Problem for the Confederate Ships on the James River-- Part 1

AUGUST 10, 1864:  One of the additional difficulties of naval operations in the lowlands surrounding the James River, was the high rate of sickness.

This date, Flag Officer Mitchell, commanding the Confederate James River Squadron, wired Major General George E. Pickett:  "Our crews are so much reduced in numbers from sickness that we shall have to discontinue our picket guard at at Osborne's on the James River to enable us to man our batteries, in order that we may act against the enemy.  About one-third of the men are sick."

Later in the month, a board of surgeons inspected the ships of the squadron with a view toward reducing the prevalence of malaria and other disabling diseases.

--Old B-R'er

Importance of Commerce Raiding for the Confederacy

AUGUST 10, 1864:  Secretary Mallory wrote Commander Bulloch in Liverpool of the continuing importance of commerce raiding to the Confederacy: "It seems certain that we could not obtain such ships as we specially want; but we must not therefore desist in our attempts and must do the best we can under the circumstances which surround us.

"The enemy's distant whaling grounds have not been visited by us,  His commerce constitutes one of his reliable sources of national wealth no less than one of his best schools for seamen, and we must strike it,  if possible."

The secretary's desires were to be carried out with even greater success than he had anticipated with the CSS Shenandoah.

--Old B-Runner

Great Alarm on U.S. Coast Because of the CSS Tallahassee

AUGUST 13TH, 1864:  Reports of the Tallahassee's destructive success created much alarm in northern seaports.  This date, John D. Jones, president of the Board of Underwriters, wired Secretary Welles from New York: "Confederate steamer Tallahassee is reported cruising within sixty miles of this port.  She has already captured six vessels.

"Will you please have the necessary measures taken, if not already done, to secure her capture?"

Half an hour after receipt of this message, Welles replied: "Three vessels left New York Navy Yard yesterday afternoon; more leave to-day.  Vessels left Hampton Roads last night; more leave to-day.  Several vessels leave Boston to-day and to-morrow.  Every vessel available has been ordered to search for the pirate."

In addition this date, Captain C.K. Stribling, Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, despatched three ships "in pursuit of the pirate."

However, Commander Wood and his Tallahassee continued its havoc, burning the schooner Lamont Du Pont and bark Glenavon.

--Old B-R'er

Confederate Midshipmen Training Continues

AUGUST 10TH, 1864:  Reporting from Paris, Flag Officer Barron reported to Secretary Mallory that all Confederate midshipmen in Europe except the Alabama's had been examined for promotion.

Though its ships were few in numbers, the Confederacy continued an active and systematic training program for its young naval officers.

In his annual report to President Davis, Mallory stressed the value of training for naval service: "Naval education and training lie at the foundation of naval success; and the power that neglects this essential element of strength will, when the battle is fought, find that its ships, however formidable, are but built for a more thoroughly trained and educated enemy....

"While a liberal education at the ordinary institutions of learning prepares men for useful service not only in the Army, but in most branches of public affairs, special education and training, and such as these institutions cannot afford, are essential to form a naval officer."

The Confederate Naval Academy, on board the CSS Patrick Henry in the James River, performed this service for the stateside midshipmen.

--Old B-Runner

Grant Wants Monitors Retained in the James River

AUGUST 9TH, 1864:  Lt. General Grant wrote to Rear Admiral Lee in response to a question as to the usefulness of the Union ironclad monitors in the James River:  "...I think it would be imprudent to withdraw them.  At least two such vessels, in my judgement, should be kept in the upper James.

"They stand a constant threat to the enemy and prevent him taking the offensive."

Plus, the monitors had the best chance of fighting off the three Confederate ironclads at Richmond.

From experience, Grant well understood the vital role sea power played in the war.  He was a master of using the North's naval advantage for his own uses.

--Old B-Runner