In the decade preceding the war, Delaware led the United States in shipbuilding. During that time it built 35 iron-hulled ships, more than Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore and Boston.
With the coming of the Civil War, the U.S. Navy was still using wooden-huller warships. And very few of them were steamships.
Once it was learned that the Confederates were building the ironclad CSS Virginia, the U.S. Navy rushed to build its own ironclad steamer, the Monitor. After the clash between the two ships it became well apparent that a new age of naval architecture was here and the federal government rushed to build more ironclad steamers.
To meet the new demand, they established shipyards at Chester, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey. And, they began transforming Wilmington-built ships into the many blockaders they were going to need to seal the Confederacy's coast. They were also converted into troopships and supply vessels.
--Old B-R
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Shipbuilding in Delaware During the Civil War: Building the Iron Steamships
From the August 21, 2015, Coastal Point "Civil War Profiles: Shipbuilding in Delaware during the Civil War" by Thomas J. Ryan.
From 1740-1775, Wilmington, Delaware, launched over 300 vessels. Legend has it that the Wilmington-built ship Nancy was the first to raise a quickly-sewn together American flag in St. Croix, Virgin islands, when it learned of the Declaration of Independence.
In the decades before the Civil War, Delaware led the nation in shipbuilding.
In the 1850s, two firms: Harlan & Hollingsworth and Pusey & Jones, both located along the WEilmington waterfront, began to perform ship repairs and engine installation. Pusey & Jones also contracted to build the first iron steamship, the Flora McDonald. Harlan & Hollinsworth soon followed with the iron steamers Ashland and Ocean. The two shipyards fostered the beginning of many supporting industries in the Wilmington area.
--Old B-Runner
From 1740-1775, Wilmington, Delaware, launched over 300 vessels. Legend has it that the Wilmington-built ship Nancy was the first to raise a quickly-sewn together American flag in St. Croix, Virgin islands, when it learned of the Declaration of Independence.
In the decades before the Civil War, Delaware led the nation in shipbuilding.
In the 1850s, two firms: Harlan & Hollingsworth and Pusey & Jones, both located along the WEilmington waterfront, began to perform ship repairs and engine installation. Pusey & Jones also contracted to build the first iron steamship, the Flora McDonald. Harlan & Hollinsworth soon followed with the iron steamers Ashland and Ocean. The two shipyards fostered the beginning of many supporting industries in the Wilmington area.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, September 7, 2015
General Lee Advises Maury Against Remaining in Mexico-- Part 2
"The thought of abandoning the country, and all that must be left in it, is abhorrent to my feelings, and I prefer to struggle for its restoration, and share its fate rather than to give up all as lost."
He admire Mexico but still loved Virginia.
"I shall be very sorry if your presence is lost to Virginia. She now has sore need of all her sons, and can ill afford to lose you. I am very much obliged to you for all you have done for us, and hope your labours in the future may be as efficacious as in the past, and that your separation from us may not be permanent.
--Old B-R'er
He admire Mexico but still loved Virginia.
"I shall be very sorry if your presence is lost to Virginia. She now has sore need of all her sons, and can ill afford to lose you. I am very much obliged to you for all you have done for us, and hope your labours in the future may be as efficacious as in the past, and that your separation from us may not be permanent.
--Old B-R'er
General Lee Advises Maury Against Remaining in Mexico-- Part 1
SEPTEMBER 6TH, 1865: General Lee advised Matthew Maury against remaining in Mexico. He wrote: "We have certainly not found our form of government all that was anticipated by its original founders; but this may be partly our fault in expecting too much, and partly due to the absence of virtue in the people.
"As long as virtue was dominant, the Republic, so long was the happiness of the people secure. I cannot, however, despair yet; I look forward to better days, and trust that time and experience-- the great teachers of men under the guidance of our ever-merciful God-- may save us from destruction, and restore to us the bright hopes and prospects of the past."
--Old B-Runner
"As long as virtue was dominant, the Republic, so long was the happiness of the people secure. I cannot, however, despair yet; I look forward to better days, and trust that time and experience-- the great teachers of men under the guidance of our ever-merciful God-- may save us from destruction, and restore to us the bright hopes and prospects of the past."
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Maury Continues With Mexico Colonization Plan
SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2015: Steadily proceeding with the colonization plan proposed by Matthew Maury, whom he deeply respected, Emperor Maximilian issued a decree which began: "We, Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, in consideration of the sparseness of the population in the Mexican territory, in proportion to its extent, desiring to give all immigrants all possible security for property and liberty...do decree as follow:
:"Mexico is open to immigrants of all nations. Immigration agents shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to protect the arrival of immigrants, install them on the lands assigned them, and assist them in every possible way in establishing themselves. These agents will receive the orders of the Imperial Commissioner of Immigrants, especially appointed by us, and to whom all the communications relative to immigration shall be addressed."
In other words, the way was open for Confederate immigration to Mexico.
--Old B-R'er
:"Mexico is open to immigrants of all nations. Immigration agents shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to protect the arrival of immigrants, install them on the lands assigned them, and assist them in every possible way in establishing themselves. These agents will receive the orders of the Imperial Commissioner of Immigrants, especially appointed by us, and to whom all the communications relative to immigration shall be addressed."
In other words, the way was open for Confederate immigration to Mexico.
--Old B-R'er
Looking for Remnants of the CSS Neuse Back in 2014
From the March 6, 2014, Beach Carolina Magazine "Search for Remnants of Confederate Ironclad CSS Neuse Begins This Monday" by Michael Black.
Monday, march 10, at 10 a.m., the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources' State Underwater Archaeology team will be in the Neuse River in Kinston searching for artifacts from the CSS Neuse using the latest high resolution technology.
The 23-foot boat R/V Snapdragon II will be operating between the King and the Queen street bridges for about five hours.
The river is currently high enough due to spring flood depth. Side Scan Sonar, a magnetometer and differential GPS will be used.
The CSS Neuse was underwater from 1865 to the 1960s. Several attempts at raising the hull took place in 1964 and it was finally taken out of its namesake river and brought to a site at the Gov. Richard Caswell Memorial in Kinston where it remained until the last few years when it was brought inside.
It is the understanding of the researchers that there are still sections of the ship in the river.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, march 10, at 10 a.m., the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources' State Underwater Archaeology team will be in the Neuse River in Kinston searching for artifacts from the CSS Neuse using the latest high resolution technology.
The 23-foot boat R/V Snapdragon II will be operating between the King and the Queen street bridges for about five hours.
The river is currently high enough due to spring flood depth. Side Scan Sonar, a magnetometer and differential GPS will be used.
The CSS Neuse was underwater from 1865 to the 1960s. Several attempts at raising the hull took place in 1964 and it was finally taken out of its namesake river and brought to a site at the Gov. Richard Caswell Memorial in Kinston where it remained until the last few years when it was brought inside.
It is the understanding of the researchers that there are still sections of the ship in the river.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, September 4, 2015
CSS Georgia Salvaged by Navy
From the Mystic Seaport.
The Navy is using a huge 17,000 pound guillotine to break up pieces of the CSS Georgia which otherwise would be too large and heavy to be brought to the surface of the Savannah River.
The wreckage artifacts recovered are the responsibility of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC).
They will be curated at a lab located at Texas A&M.
--Old B-R'er
The Navy is using a huge 17,000 pound guillotine to break up pieces of the CSS Georgia which otherwise would be too large and heavy to be brought to the surface of the Savannah River.
The wreckage artifacts recovered are the responsibility of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC).
They will be curated at a lab located at Texas A&M.
--Old B-R'er
The CSS Georgia's Conservation Research Lab
From the SAugust 31, 2015, BATT "History revived, one artifact at a time."
The artifacts and pieces of the CSS Georgia which are being brought up are being sent to the Condervation Research Lab at Texas A&M at College Station, Texas. This organization has been in operation for over thirty years and it has conserved items from 130 projects around the world.
Most recently, they have been working on French explorer LaSalle's ship, the La Belle. Since 1996 they have conserved over 1,700,000 artifacts and they are just now finishing work on it.
And now, their attention turns to the CSS Georgia.
Parker Brooks, a graduate student technician was sent to Georgia to the wreck site and says that each object recovered has a different story. He has this to say about one of those objects: "The P.S. Justice was a Union-made piece and here we are finding it on the bottom of the Savannah River on the CSS Georgia, well south of the Mason-Dixon Line. So how in the world did something like this find itself on the ship?"
The P.S. Justice was a bayonet.
--Old B-Runner
The artifacts and pieces of the CSS Georgia which are being brought up are being sent to the Condervation Research Lab at Texas A&M at College Station, Texas. This organization has been in operation for over thirty years and it has conserved items from 130 projects around the world.
Most recently, they have been working on French explorer LaSalle's ship, the La Belle. Since 1996 they have conserved over 1,700,000 artifacts and they are just now finishing work on it.
And now, their attention turns to the CSS Georgia.
Parker Brooks, a graduate student technician was sent to Georgia to the wreck site and says that each object recovered has a different story. He has this to say about one of those objects: "The P.S. Justice was a Union-made piece and here we are finding it on the bottom of the Savannah River on the CSS Georgia, well south of the Mason-Dixon Line. So how in the world did something like this find itself on the ship?"
The P.S. Justice was a bayonet.
--Old B-Runner
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Archaeology Work at North Carolina's Fort Caswell-- Part 2
Last year, I went out to Fort Caswell to take a look around, but it is on the grounds of a religious group which was having a meeting and entry was denied.
They are encountering problems, however, with World War I-era pipes and roads constructed yo the yop of the ruins.
Bricks indicate the original fort and lead pipes the 20th century.
Fort Caswell was constructed after the War of 1812 and designed to a medieval architecture with three drawbridges, a dry moat and a wet moat. Though never attacked in a major action, the fort did play roles in the Civil War, Spanish-American War and both world wars.
The students are using grids with strings and they have found bits of ceramics, tools, glass and a lot of rusted metal. Everything will be preserved and documented.
The site has a World War I rifle pit at Caswell Dunes on the NRHP.
--Old B-Runner
They are encountering problems, however, with World War I-era pipes and roads constructed yo the yop of the ruins.
Bricks indicate the original fort and lead pipes the 20th century.
Fort Caswell was constructed after the War of 1812 and designed to a medieval architecture with three drawbridges, a dry moat and a wet moat. Though never attacked in a major action, the fort did play roles in the Civil War, Spanish-American War and both world wars.
The students are using grids with strings and they have found bits of ceramics, tools, glass and a lot of rusted metal. Everything will be preserved and documented.
The site has a World War I rifle pit at Caswell Dunes on the NRHP.
--Old B-Runner
Archaeology Work at North Carolina's Fort Caswell-- Part 1
From the June 17, 2015, State Port (NC) Pilot "Archaeology students continue to uncover history at Fort Caswell. by Lee Hinnant.
Fort Caswell was built in 1827 and now 17 college students and several volunteers are completing weeks of careful digging, scraping and sifting of earth in and around the old fort. Their efforts have paid off in finding one of the four walled rifle tunnels leading away from the fort. They were built during the Civil War to give Confederate soldiers a shielded place to leave the fort and fire on Union troops in case the fort was attacked.
They are looking for the fort's original cistern which collected water.
They have also unearthed the fort's original water-filled moat that surrounded it.
--Old B-R'er
Fort Caswell was built in 1827 and now 17 college students and several volunteers are completing weeks of careful digging, scraping and sifting of earth in and around the old fort. Their efforts have paid off in finding one of the four walled rifle tunnels leading away from the fort. They were built during the Civil War to give Confederate soldiers a shielded place to leave the fort and fire on Union troops in case the fort was attacked.
They are looking for the fort's original cistern which collected water.
They have also unearthed the fort's original water-filled moat that surrounded it.
--Old B-R'er
North Carolina's "Rocks" Are Solid-- Part 3" Leave the "Rocks" Be
Most authorities say that if the "Rocks" go, the Cape Fear River will start silting in again. Wilmington would have to close as a port to large ocean-going ships and would essentially become just a glorified marina.
There are some who say that this move is all a par of a conspiracy to turn Southport, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River into a "mega-port. Sen. Lee denies this.
Both Southport (Smithville during the Civil War) and Bald Head Island have also come out against the destruction of the "Rocks." The reopening of New Inlet would hurt the tourist-friendly part of Bald Head Island.
Environmentalists "who ought to be the notion's (tearing down the "Rocks") biggest cheerleaders," are against it. It would erase an estuary system that has built up along Zeke's Island. The lagoon that formed because of the "Rocks" is a mecca for fishermen.
The Wilmington Star-News closes the editorial with its recommendation:
"The sensible thing, then, would be to put the notion on hold and study it for a long, long, long time."
--Old B-Runner
There are some who say that this move is all a par of a conspiracy to turn Southport, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River into a "mega-port. Sen. Lee denies this.
Both Southport (Smithville during the Civil War) and Bald Head Island have also come out against the destruction of the "Rocks." The reopening of New Inlet would hurt the tourist-friendly part of Bald Head Island.
Environmentalists "who ought to be the notion's (tearing down the "Rocks") biggest cheerleaders," are against it. It would erase an estuary system that has built up along Zeke's Island. The lagoon that formed because of the "Rocks" is a mecca for fishermen.
The Wilmington Star-News closes the editorial with its recommendation:
"The sensible thing, then, would be to put the notion on hold and study it for a long, long, long time."
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
North Carolina's "Rocks" Are Solid-- Part 2
The two-mile dam was built by the Corps between 1874 and 1882.to close New Inlet which was opened by a particularly bad hurricane in 1761. As early as the 1850s, surveyors and engineers had determined that currents from New Inlet were silting in the Cape Fear River channel and in time would cause the port of Wilmington's closing.
However, during the Civil War, New Inlet proved to be the preferred entrance and exit of blockade-runners.
After the war, the U.S. government hastened to close it and put the father of famed architect Henry Bacon in charge of it He used his father's rock-laying technique developed at "The Rocks" to build up the foundation of his Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C..
--Old B-Runner
However, during the Civil War, New Inlet proved to be the preferred entrance and exit of blockade-runners.
After the war, the U.S. government hastened to close it and put the father of famed architect Henry Bacon in charge of it He used his father's rock-laying technique developed at "The Rocks" to build up the foundation of his Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C..
--Old B-Runner
North Carolina's "Rocks" Are Solid-- Part 1
From the August 30, 2015, Wilmington Star-News editorial "Rocks Solid."
This concerns last week's posting about a move to take down part or all of "The Rocks" which were built to close New Inlet, a favorite route of blockade-runners during the Civil War into the port of Wilmington, North Carolina. Fort Fisher was built to protect New Inlet.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers once listed "The Rocks" near Fort Fisher as one of its proudest achievements. "So why does state Sen. Mike Lee want to tear it down?"
The New Hanover County Republican has introduced a bill to remove all or part of it between Zeke's Island and Bald Head/Smith island.
He talks about restoring the natural flow of the Cape Fear River and the local environment.
--Old B-R'er
This concerns last week's posting about a move to take down part or all of "The Rocks" which were built to close New Inlet, a favorite route of blockade-runners during the Civil War into the port of Wilmington, North Carolina. Fort Fisher was built to protect New Inlet.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers once listed "The Rocks" near Fort Fisher as one of its proudest achievements. "So why does state Sen. Mike Lee want to tear it down?"
The New Hanover County Republican has introduced a bill to remove all or part of it between Zeke's Island and Bald Head/Smith island.
He talks about restoring the natural flow of the Cape Fear River and the local environment.
--Old B-R'er
Blockade-Runner Montana
From Vimeo "Montana/Nola-1863-- Civil War Blockade-Runner-- Bermuda Shipwreck" by Dr. Philippe Max Rouja.
A video accompanies this site. The Montana was an elusive ship carrying many identities. It made trips between England, Bermuda and North Carolina.
From Wikipedia.
The Montana was wrecked off the north coast of Bermuda on 30 December 1863. It was 750 tons and the wreck is located in 25 feet of water. It originally used the Nola name and was also called the Paramount and Gloria. These names were used to confuse the Union ships watching for it.
When it ran aground, Captain Pittman was in command. All the cargo and crew were saved.
Evidently, it ran into the shoals ion its maiden voyage as a blockade-runner.
It is a favorite dive site in Bermuda.
--Old B-Runner
A video accompanies this site. The Montana was an elusive ship carrying many identities. It made trips between England, Bermuda and North Carolina.
From Wikipedia.
The Montana was wrecked off the north coast of Bermuda on 30 December 1863. It was 750 tons and the wreck is located in 25 feet of water. It originally used the Nola name and was also called the Paramount and Gloria. These names were used to confuse the Union ships watching for it.
When it ran aground, Captain Pittman was in command. All the cargo and crew were saved.
Evidently, it ran into the shoals ion its maiden voyage as a blockade-runner.
It is a favorite dive site in Bermuda.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Exploring the Wreck of a Blockade-Runner: The Montana
From the April 29, 2013, Bernews.
Bermuda's Department of Conservation Service and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute offer guided tours of the wreck of a ship of many names: Nola, Gloria, Paramount and Montana.
It was built in Glasgow, Scotland, and was a 236-foot long paddle wheel steamer capable of 15 knots. It hit a shallow reef off Bermuda and sank in December 1863. The ship is located in 30 feet of water and ius partially intact.
Of 71 blockade-runners operating in and out of Bermuda, the Union Navy had captured or sunk 43 by 1864.
The Montana wreck consists of two boilers and twp paddle wheel frames lying on their sides. Its site is alongside the Constellation, a World War II ship wreck that inspired Peter Benchley's Bermuda thriller "The Deep."
So, not only did blockade-runners have to worry aboout Union ships, but also reefs, shallow water and other situations.
--Old B-Runner
Bermuda's Department of Conservation Service and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute offer guided tours of the wreck of a ship of many names: Nola, Gloria, Paramount and Montana.
It was built in Glasgow, Scotland, and was a 236-foot long paddle wheel steamer capable of 15 knots. It hit a shallow reef off Bermuda and sank in December 1863. The ship is located in 30 feet of water and ius partially intact.
Of 71 blockade-runners operating in and out of Bermuda, the Union Navy had captured or sunk 43 by 1864.
The Montana wreck consists of two boilers and twp paddle wheel frames lying on their sides. Its site is alongside the Constellation, a World War II ship wreck that inspired Peter Benchley's Bermuda thriller "The Deep."
So, not only did blockade-runners have to worry aboout Union ships, but also reefs, shallow water and other situations.
--Old B-Runner
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