150 Years Ago: Maury Appointed Honorary Counselor of Mexico

SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1865:  Emperor Maximilian of mexico issued an imperial decree appointing Matthew Fontaine Maury as "Honorary Counselor of the State."

Maury was becoming more and more the trusted confidant of both the Emperor and Empress, which did not help him with the rest of the administration.

--Old B-Runer

150 Years Ago: CSS Shenandoah Encounters a Gale-- Part 2: On the Friendless Sea and Without a Country

The struggles of the Shenandoah accorded with the struggles that  "filled our minds."  Alone on the friendless sea, "we were without a home or country, our little crew all that were left of the thousands who had sworn to defend that country or die with her, and there were moments when we would have deemed that a friendly gale which would have buried our sorrowful hearts and the beautiful Shenandoah in those dark waters.

"What a contrast to those gay hopes and proud aspirations with which we had entered upon the cruise.  How eager we had been to court danger.  Now gloomily and cautiously we avoided recognition.  The very ship seemed to have partaken our feelings and no longer moved with her accustomed swiftness."

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: CSS Shenandoah Encounters a Gale-- Part 1

SEPTEMBER 17-30TH, 1865:  After rounding Cape Horn, the CSS Shenandoah ran into a northeast gale which forced her, according to Lt. Waddell, "to west longitude of 24 degrees 40' before she reached the parallel of 40 degrees S..."

Day after day icebergs and savage blocks of ice came near.  "We were without a moon to shed her cheerful light over our desolate path, and the wind blow so fiercely that the ship's speed could not be reduced below five knots.  It was more prudent to go ahead  than to heave to, for I was without observations for several days and in an easterly current.  Some of the icebergs were castellated...."

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago: The CSS Shenandoah Enters the Atlantic Ocean

SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1865:  The CSS Shenandoah, Lt. Waddell, rounded Cape Horn and entered theAtlantic Ocean enroute to Liverpool, England.  In the Pacific, the Shenandoah had struck the New England whaling industry a blow as that administered to the English whaling industry in 1813 by the USS Essex, commanded by Captain David Porter, the father of Civil War Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter.

There was a lot of truth in the boast made by Waddell in later years when he said, "I made New England suffer."

--Old B-R'er

Newport, Rhode Island's Fort Adams-- Part 2: Served During Five Wars

Construction of the new fort began in 1824 and continued until 1857.  From 1825-1832, it was overseen by Lt. Col. Joseph Gilbert Totten, the foremost military engineer of his day.  He became chief engineer of the U.S. Army in 1838 and served in that post until his death in 1864.

The new fort was first garrisoned in 1841 and a troop presence continued until 1950.  It served in five wars: Mexican, Civil, Spanish-American and World Wars I and II, but never fired a shot in anger.

During the Mexican War, it was commanded by Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, brother of President Franklin Pierce who also fought in the War of 1812.  From 1843-1853, it was commanded by another War of 1812 veteran, Col. William Gala.  In 1853 the garrison was ordered to California and many lost their lives when their ship, the SS San Francisco sank in a North Atlantic storm on December 24, 1853.

--Old B-Runner

Newport, Rhode Island's Fort Adams-- Part 1: Actually, There Were Two Forts

From Wikipedia.

Last week I wrote about the USNA coming to Newport, Rhode Island, during the Civil War.  Newport was protected by Fort Adams.

Established in 1799 as a First System Fort and named for the incumbent president at the time, John Adams. This former U.S. Army post was first commanded by Captain John Henry, who was later instrumental in teh starting of the War of 1812.  Today it is part of Fort Adams State Park.

The first Fort Adams was designed by Major Louis de Tousard and mounted 17 cannons.  During the War of 1812 it was garrisoned by Wood's State Corps of Rhode Island militia.

After the War of 1812, it was decided to replace the first Fort Adams with a newer and larger fort.  This one was designed by Brigadier general Simon Bernard who had served under Napoleon.  It became the most complex fortification in the Western Hemisphere.

--Old B-Runner

Preserving CSS Georgia Artifacts

From the August 23, 2015, Washington Times "Researchers, graduate students work to preserve artifacts" by Sam Peshek.

The Texas A&M University Conservation Lab has been working on preserving artifacts from French explorer Robert de La Salle's ship, the Belle which sank in Matagorda Bay in Texas in 1686 and was excavated in 1997.  Many of these artifacts are now on display at the Bullock Museum in Austin, Texas.

As this project is nearing completion, the lab now turns its attention to the artifacts from the Confederate ironclad CSS Georgia as they are being sent from the ship's wreck in the Savannah River.

Four recovered cannons are there now and undergoing electrolysis in a two-year project to remove marine growth from them so they can be displayed.

Two of them are Brookes cannons, one weighing 6,000 pounds built at a Georgia foundry.  There is also a Union Dahlgren cannon and a six-pounder.

The lab is also working on the artifacts from the Civil War gunboat USS Westfield, a former New Jersey ferry, destroyed by its crew in 1963 at the Battle of Galveston to prevent capture.  These items were pulled up from the Houston Ship Channel in 2009.  That channel was also undergoing deepening and widening as is the situation of the CSS Georgia.

--Old B-R'er

Photo Slide Show of CSS Georgia Recovery

There is a nice photo slideshow of recovery efforts at the wreck of the CSS Georgia in the Savannah River near Savannah, Georgia, in the August 23, 2015, Savannah Morning News.

You can find it at "Navy divers salvage Confederate ironclad from the Savannah River."

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago: Approves Maury's Confederate Immigration Pamphlet-- Part 2

"'Certainly,' said he.  Then he said, I wish you to continue the conversation with te Empress; I have something pressing to do.  She will make notes, give me verbal explanations, and have it all ready for me by four o'clock in the morning, when I will attend to it.'

"Carlotta was walking in the garden.  he referred me to some books on the table, and went to look for her.  She came, and we commenced discussing matters, she making notes nearly as fast as I could talk... we discussed, with approbation, my going to see you [Maury's wife]; the appointments of agents in the South and their salaries, and the organization of a land office.

"She is very clever, practical and businesslike.  I told her I though she could do more business in a day than all of the Ministers put together could do in a week.  She said, "'I believe I could.'"

A low Opinion of Mexican Ministers.  --Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: Maximilian Approves Maury's Confederate Immigration Pamphlet-- Part 1

SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1865:  Emperor Maximilian approved Maury's "Regulations and Instruction" prepared to accompany the immigration decree.  The pamphlet provided general information on Mexico's climate, topography, mineral wealth and agricultural possibilities.

That evening after dinner with the royal family, in private conference with the Emperor, Maury told him:  "I can't manage immigration through Ministers.  I must transact business with you directly, and not through them; nor must they have anything to do with it.  'That's what I intend,' said he.  said I, 'I have not seen my wife and children for three years; I want to be quick, organize immigration, and take the steamer of 13th November for France.""

--Old B-Runner

Remembering 9/11 in 2015: "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)"

Continued from my Saw the Elephant blog.

Lyrics from Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue."  This song pretty-well summed up my feeling after 9/11.

Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flying out from somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world like the 4th of July.

Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty is shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly and it's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell
And it'll feel like the whole world is raining down on you
Brought to you, courtesy of the Red, White & Blue.

Justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot up your ass, it's the American Way.

Thanks Toby, I Needed That Back Then.   Still Do.

Newport's Atlantic House Hotel: Former Home of the USNA

Yesterday's post mentioned this hotel in Newport, Rhode Island which was leased by the U.S. government as the temporary home of the Naval Academy during the war.  I wanted to know if it still stands.  In researching I found out that the U.S. Navy has had a lot to do with the town.

The U.S. navy has been involved in Newport Rhode Island, since the 1860s.  The Naval War College and Torpedo Station (now the Naval Undersea Warfare Center) were founded there after the Civil War.

Also on Aquidneck Island and including the Naval Education Training Center and North Atlantic Destroyer Squadron which had its home at the Newport Naval base until 1970.

There is an Atlantic House Hotel at Narragansett Pier located on Ocean Road by the Atlantic Ocean.  It would not be the original one used by the Navy as this one was built 1866-1867.  Iy is a 43-room hotel and has since been remodeled.

So, the USNA Atlantic House Hotel either caught fire and burned down or was taken down.

The "New" Atlantic House Hotel Would Probably be a Very Interesting Place to Stay.  --Old B-Runner

Annapolis Comes to Newport

From the Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial Blog by John Pentangelo.

On May 8, 1861, the USS Constitution sailed into Newport, Rhode, Island, with the United States Naval Academy Classes of 1861-1864 aboard.

Initially, the Plebes (1st Year midshipmen) were both berthed and had classes aboard the Constitution.

Captain George S. Blake was superintendent of the USNA during this move to a safer site as Annapolis was a hotbed of secession and Southern supporters.

The Navy then leased the Atlantic House, a hotel at the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Pelham Street opposite Touro Park.  This new structure provided mess facilities, administrative offices, classrooms and quarters for upper classmen.

As much as we love the USS Constitution today, the plebes didn't share that opinion, referring to the legendary ship as "Purgatory."  Going to anything at the Atlantic House was "Paradise."

--Old B-Runner

Shipbuilding in Delaware During the Civil War-- Part 4: Boom Continued After the War

Pusey & Jones contracted to build seven sidewheel/propeller steamers as Union supply ships.

Several companies sprang up to fulfill contracts:  Kirkman & Co., W & A Thatcher and Jackson & Sharp.  Robert Barr & Co. also contracted for a number of vessels.

The shipbuilding boom continued after the war for the new generation of U.S. naval ships.  This continued for the remainder of the 19th century and into the 20th.  Most of the shipyards shut down after World War II and Wilmington's waterfront went into decline.

The new Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. Ltd. absorbed Harlan & Hollingsworth in 1917.  Pusey & Jones went out of business in 1960.

--Old B-R'er

Shipbuilding in Delaware During the Civil War-- Part 3: Blockade-Runners and Monitors

The Confederacy converted some Wilmington-built ships into blockade-runners.

The Cecile brought in more than 2,000 rifles to the South before it was wrecked on a reef in 1862.

The Wilmington-built Austin became the blockade-runner Donegal and made many runs into Mobile before it was captyred and became a supply vessel in the Union Navy.

For some reason, Wilmington shipyards only received limited construction orders from the U.S. Navy.  Harlan & Hollingsworth reluctantly agreed to construct three Monitor-class ships.  The reason for this was because of the U.S. government's notoriety for not finishing projects quickly.

--Old B-Runner