During the Virginius Affair crisis, the United States had ordered that not only the North Atlantic Squadron sail to Key West, Florida, but also the South Atlantic and European squadrons. All had arrived by 4 February 1874, but by then the crisis was over.
With all those ships gathered in one point, it was decided to hold the first multi-ship, open-ocean tactical exercise in U.S. Navy history. To avoid problems with who ranked who, Scott was ordered to take his flagship, the USS Worchester on a special cruise to Cuba and the Winward Islands to assess and report on the conditions after the Virginius Affair.
Scott turned over command of the North Atlantic Squadron to Rear Admiral J.R.M. Mullany on 13 June 1874 and retired the same day, having reached mandatory retirement age of 62.
The admiral lived in Washngton, D.C., after that and died 23 March 1882. He was first buried at Washington's Oak Hill Cemetery, but in 1896, his remains were exhumed and reburied at Arlington National Cemetery.
--Old B-R'er
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Gustavus H. Scott-- Part 3: Postwar Command
Member of the examining board for the admission of volunteer officers to the regular Navy in 1868. Promoted to commodore 10 February 1869. Lighthouse inspector 1869-1871. Promoted to rear admiral 14 February 1873 and given command of the North Atlantic Squadron in May of that year.
He was in command of the North Atlantic Squadron when the Virginius Affair took place in Cuba in November 1873. The A Spanish warship captured the American sidewheeler SS Virginius which had been hired by Cuban insurrectionists against Spanish rule to bring men and war material to Cuba during the Ten Years' War.
The ship and crew were brought to Santiago de Cuba where they were found guilty of piracy and sentenced to death by firing squad. Fifty-three were executed before British and American warships arrived and threatened to bombard unless the executions ceased. They did.
--Old B-Runner
He was in command of the North Atlantic Squadron when the Virginius Affair took place in Cuba in November 1873. The A Spanish warship captured the American sidewheeler SS Virginius which had been hired by Cuban insurrectionists against Spanish rule to bring men and war material to Cuba during the Ten Years' War.
The ship and crew were brought to Santiago de Cuba where they were found guilty of piracy and sentenced to death by firing squad. Fifty-three were executed before British and American warships arrived and threatened to bombard unless the executions ceased. They did.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Gustavus H. Scott-- Part 2: Civil War Service
When the Civil War began, although born in Virginia, he refused to resign his commission and commanded the USS Keystone State and searched for the Confederate raider CSS Sumter. This was his first command. Later he joined the West Indies Squadron searching for blockade-runners.
Then he commanded the new gunboat, USS Maratanza and took part in McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. He captured the CSS Teaser 4 July 1862.
From there he joined the blockade off Wilmington, N.C., 25 September 1862 and at one point fired on Fort Caswell.
Promoted to captain, he took command of the USS DeSoto in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. From there,he received command of the USS Canandaigua (the ship that rescued the 150-man crew of the USS Housatonic after it was sunk by the submarine Hunley on Feb. 17, 1864).
He served with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the end of the war and then commanded the USS Saranac of the Pacific Squadron in its search for the Shenandoah.
--Old B-R'er
Then he commanded the new gunboat, USS Maratanza and took part in McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. He captured the CSS Teaser 4 July 1862.
From there he joined the blockade off Wilmington, N.C., 25 September 1862 and at one point fired on Fort Caswell.
Promoted to captain, he took command of the USS DeSoto in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. From there,he received command of the USS Canandaigua (the ship that rescued the 150-man crew of the USS Housatonic after it was sunk by the submarine Hunley on Feb. 17, 1864).
He served with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the end of the war and then commanded the USS Saranac of the Pacific Squadron in its search for the Shenandoah.
--Old B-R'er
USS Saranac's Commander, Gustavus H. Scott-- Part 1: Second Seminole War
From Wikipedia.
I read that Gustavus H. Scott commanded the USS Saranac during its search for the CSS Shenandoah. It turns out he led a long career in the Navy.
1812-1882.
US Navy. Served in the Second Seminole War and the Civil War, eventually rising to the rank of rear admiral and was once the commander of the North Atlantic squadron.
Born in Virginia 13 June 1812. Midshipman in 1828 and served on the USS Guerriere in the Pacific Squadron. he was off Charleston, S.C. during the Nullification Crisis of 1832. On the USS Vandalia 1835-1836.during the Second Seminole War.
First lieutenant on USS St. Lawrence of the Pacific Squadron 1852-1853. On the USS Michigan in the Great Lakes 1855-1857 and Lighthouse Inspector 1858-1860.
--Old B-Runner
I read that Gustavus H. Scott commanded the USS Saranac during its search for the CSS Shenandoah. It turns out he led a long career in the Navy.
1812-1882.
US Navy. Served in the Second Seminole War and the Civil War, eventually rising to the rank of rear admiral and was once the commander of the North Atlantic squadron.
Born in Virginia 13 June 1812. Midshipman in 1828 and served on the USS Guerriere in the Pacific Squadron. he was off Charleston, S.C. during the Nullification Crisis of 1832. On the USS Vandalia 1835-1836.during the Second Seminole War.
First lieutenant on USS St. Lawrence of the Pacific Squadron 1852-1853. On the USS Michigan in the Great Lakes 1855-1857 and Lighthouse Inspector 1858-1860.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, November 16, 2015
USS Suwanee-- Part 2
The Suwanee was launched at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and commissioned 23 January 1865> It cost $171,000.
Ordered to the Pacific on 17 February 1865 and went to New York City and then cruised the Atlantic coast looking for Confederate commerce raiders.
It passed around South America and steamed up its Pacific coast and arrived at Acapulco where it joined the Pacific Squadron. It was promptly ordered to look for the Shenandoah.
On 9 July 1868, it was wrecked in Shadwell Passage, Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia.
--Old B-R'er
Ordered to the Pacific on 17 February 1865 and went to New York City and then cruised the Atlantic coast looking for Confederate commerce raiders.
It passed around South America and steamed up its Pacific coast and arrived at Acapulco where it joined the Pacific Squadron. It was promptly ordered to look for the Shenandoah.
On 9 July 1868, it was wrecked in Shadwell Passage, Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia.
--Old B-R'er
The USS Suwanee, the Second Ship Looking for the Shenandoah-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
i have already written about the USS Saranac, the ship that sent to look for the CSS Shenandoah and may or may not have almost caught the raider in the Atlantic Ocean in the fall of 1865. The other ship detailed to look for her was the USS Suwanee.
The Suwanee was a third-rate gunboat commissioned late in the war which spent several weeks looking for the CSS Shenandoah. Like the Saranac, the ship was wrecked off British Columbia, but seven years before in 1868.
It was a double-ender, iron-hulled, sidewheeler built for the U.S. Navy by Reaney, Son & Archbold of Chester, Pennsylvania. It was 255 feet long and 35-foot beam with a crew of 159. It mounted ten guns: two 100-pdr. Parrott rifles, four 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbores, two 24-pdr. howitzers and rwo 20-pdr Dahlgren rifles.
--Old B-Runner5
i have already written about the USS Saranac, the ship that sent to look for the CSS Shenandoah and may or may not have almost caught the raider in the Atlantic Ocean in the fall of 1865. The other ship detailed to look for her was the USS Suwanee.
The Suwanee was a third-rate gunboat commissioned late in the war which spent several weeks looking for the CSS Shenandoah. Like the Saranac, the ship was wrecked off British Columbia, but seven years before in 1868.
It was a double-ender, iron-hulled, sidewheeler built for the U.S. Navy by Reaney, Son & Archbold of Chester, Pennsylvania. It was 255 feet long and 35-foot beam with a crew of 159. It mounted ten guns: two 100-pdr. Parrott rifles, four 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbores, two 24-pdr. howitzers and rwo 20-pdr Dahlgren rifles.
--Old B-Runner5
Saturday, November 14, 2015
"Last Flag Down" The CSS Shenandoah Surrenders-- Part 2
The flag that the Shenandoah lowered on Nov. 6, 1865 was the so-called "Stainless Banner," the Second National flag which had a mostly white field with the battle flag in the upper left corner.
The Confederate flag, of course, is very divisive in the United States these days.
The Americans were going to recreate the event of the flag lowering on the docks but found they would not be allowed to do so.
However, a roll of honor will be read and greetings from the Waddell and Jefferson Davis families will be read.
Liverpool was quite involved in the war. An American flag still flies over 10 Rumford Place, which is where James Dunwood Bulloch, banker of the Confederacy, was headquartered. He bought several Locally-built Liverpool ships for his country.
--Old B-R'er
The Confederate flag, of course, is very divisive in the United States these days.
The Americans were going to recreate the event of the flag lowering on the docks but found they would not be allowed to do so.
However, a roll of honor will be read and greetings from the Waddell and Jefferson Davis families will be read.
Liverpool was quite involved in the war. An American flag still flies over 10 Rumford Place, which is where James Dunwood Bulloch, banker of the Confederacy, was headquartered. He bought several Locally-built Liverpool ships for his country.
--Old B-R'er
"Last Flag Down": The Final Surrender of the War-- Part 1
From the Nov. 5, 2015, Liverpool (U.K.) Echo "Last Flag Down: the final surrender in the American Civil War happened on the River Mersey.
"The CSS Shenandoah arrived 150 years ago when the flag of the Confederacy was lowered for the last time.
The ship's commander, James Waddell and its crew were all paroled by the British government as all claimed to be American even though 70% of them were British citizens, including several from Liverpool.
James Wells, 71, came from Richmond, Virginia along with thirty other Americans to recreate the lowering of the flag. They are members of a Confederate organization (SCV I imagine). Wells has been visiting Liverpool since 2004.
For te past four years he has been endeavoring to recreate this event.
--Old B-Runner
"The CSS Shenandoah arrived 150 years ago when the flag of the Confederacy was lowered for the last time.
The ship's commander, James Waddell and its crew were all paroled by the British government as all claimed to be American even though 70% of them were British citizens, including several from Liverpool.
James Wells, 71, came from Richmond, Virginia along with thirty other Americans to recreate the lowering of the flag. They are members of a Confederate organization (SCV I imagine). Wells has been visiting Liverpool since 2004.
For te past four years he has been endeavoring to recreate this event.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, November 13, 2015
Britain's 290 Foundation
From their site.
On Nov. 7th, I wrote about the 290 Association and its president Ian Dewar as being involved in the ceremony to commemorate the lowering of the Shenandoah's flag. I'd never heard of them before so did some research.
290 FOUNDATION (BVI) INC.
Their introduction reads in part: "...a charitable enterprise embarked on a voyage of discovery to commemorate those oft-forgotten seamen who served in the navies of the American Civil War. The foundation borrows its title from Hull #290, a vessel built to the highest standards of British shipbuilding at the John Laird's Shipyard at Birkenhead in the River Mersey. 'Hull #290' would later become known worldwide as the CSS Alabama."
Over 2,600 seamen from great Britain and her empire served on both sides.
Judging from their logo, I'd have to say these gentlemen are more on the Confederate side. They have a very informative website with lots of information.
--Old B-R'er
On Nov. 7th, I wrote about the 290 Association and its president Ian Dewar as being involved in the ceremony to commemorate the lowering of the Shenandoah's flag. I'd never heard of them before so did some research.
290 FOUNDATION (BVI) INC.
Their introduction reads in part: "...a charitable enterprise embarked on a voyage of discovery to commemorate those oft-forgotten seamen who served in the navies of the American Civil War. The foundation borrows its title from Hull #290, a vessel built to the highest standards of British shipbuilding at the John Laird's Shipyard at Birkenhead in the River Mersey. 'Hull #290' would later become known worldwide as the CSS Alabama."
Over 2,600 seamen from great Britain and her empire served on both sides.
Judging from their logo, I'd have to say these gentlemen are more on the Confederate side. They have a very informative website with lots of information.
--Old B-R'er
The CSS Shenandoah's Ensign
From Wikipedia.
This was the only Confederate flag to circumnavigate the world (even the Alabama didn't do that). It was the last Confederate flag to be lowered.
And, last week it was once again on display on the 150th anniversary of its "Last Flag Down."
It has been in the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, since 1907.
Lt. Dabney (Minor) Scales, CSN, gave the flag to his cousin, Eliza Hull Maury, for safekeeping. She was the daughter of Richard Launcelot Maury, oldest son of Matthew Fontaine Maury.
Col. Robert Launcelot Maury, CSA, Eliza's brother, brought the flag from England in 1873 and donated it to the museum in 1904.
It measures 88 by 136 inches and is the so-called "Stainless Banner," the Confederacy's Second National Banner.
--Old B-Runner
This was the only Confederate flag to circumnavigate the world (even the Alabama didn't do that). It was the last Confederate flag to be lowered.
And, last week it was once again on display on the 150th anniversary of its "Last Flag Down."
It has been in the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, since 1907.
Lt. Dabney (Minor) Scales, CSN, gave the flag to his cousin, Eliza Hull Maury, for safekeeping. She was the daughter of Richard Launcelot Maury, oldest son of Matthew Fontaine Maury.
Col. Robert Launcelot Maury, CSA, Eliza's brother, brought the flag from England in 1873 and donated it to the museum in 1904.
It measures 88 by 136 inches and is the so-called "Stainless Banner," the Confederacy's Second National Banner.
--Old B-Runner
Thursday, November 12, 2015
In Honor of Veterans-- Part 3: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is in the northwestern area of what was once the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, approximately 50 miles south of Chicago (and on Route 66).
Congressman George Sangmeister, a veteran of the Korean War from Will County, was instrumental in the acquisition of 982 acres of the former Joliet Arsenal and its redevelopment as the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1988 to 1995.
The Congressman chose the Lincoln national Cemetery for his final resting place and was interned October 2007.
The cemetery's beautiful acreage includes a memorial walk that commemorates soldiers of the 20th century wars on 11 memorials. An 18-foot granite obelisk, crowned by a bronze eagle with outstretched wings commemorates the 2,403 Americans who died in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It was donated by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
--Old B-R'er
Congressman George Sangmeister, a veteran of the Korean War from Will County, was instrumental in the acquisition of 982 acres of the former Joliet Arsenal and its redevelopment as the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1988 to 1995.
The Congressman chose the Lincoln national Cemetery for his final resting place and was interned October 2007.
The cemetery's beautiful acreage includes a memorial walk that commemorates soldiers of the 20th century wars on 11 memorials. An 18-foot granite obelisk, crowned by a bronze eagle with outstretched wings commemorates the 2,403 Americans who died in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It was donated by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
--Old B-R'er
In Honor of Veterans Day-- Part 2: Growth of the National Cemetery System
Through the years with succeeding wars, more national cemeteries were needed and were created.
In 1994, the VA conducted a future burial needs assessment that ranked the most according to veteran population. Based on that report, seven national cemeteries were built between 1992 and 2001. One of those was the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, created in October 1999, making it the 117th national cemetery within the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
In total, 17 new millennium cemeteries were constructed between 1997 and 2010, making it the fifth-most significant period of growth for America's national cemeteries and was the largest expansion period for the system in total acreage since the Civil War.
Since 1862, more than 3.8 million burials have taken place in national cemeteries. The existing 131 national cemeteries. The existing 131 national cemeteries. 33 soldiers and government lots, and Confederate lots (yes, Confederates are buried in the national cemeteries) including Arlington National Cemetery, contain more than 20,000 acres. The Confederates are considered to be American soldiers just as those who fought for the Union.
--Old B-Runner
In 1994, the VA conducted a future burial needs assessment that ranked the most according to veteran population. Based on that report, seven national cemeteries were built between 1992 and 2001. One of those was the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, created in October 1999, making it the 117th national cemetery within the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
In total, 17 new millennium cemeteries were constructed between 1997 and 2010, making it the fifth-most significant period of growth for America's national cemeteries and was the largest expansion period for the system in total acreage since the Civil War.
Since 1862, more than 3.8 million burials have taken place in national cemeteries. The existing 131 national cemeteries. The existing 131 national cemeteries. 33 soldiers and government lots, and Confederate lots (yes, Confederates are buried in the national cemeteries) including Arlington National Cemetery, contain more than 20,000 acres. The Confederates are considered to be American soldiers just as those who fought for the Union.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
In Honor of Veterans Day-- Part 1: Lincoln and the National Cemeteries-- Camp Butler
From the Nov. 6, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Rest in peace: Abraham Lincoln National cemetery serves veterans and their families."
According to the U.S. Department of veterans Affairs, the National Cemetery Administration began because of the mounting deaths during the Civil War. Congress empowered President Abraham Lincoln "to purchase cemetery grounds and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country."
This was the first U.S. legislation to establish and put into motion the concept of a national cemetery to honor the fallen.
There were 14 national cemeteries established in 1862, one of which was Camp Butler National Cemetery located in Sangamon County near Springfield, Illinois. It occupies a portion of Camp Butler (not named for Union General Benjamin Butler), the second-largest Union military training camp in Illinois during the war.
In addition to the Union soldiers, there are also Confederate soldiers buried there who died while prisoners of the North. Other wars represented among the burials are the Spanish-American War, the two World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
In 1997, Camp Butler National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
--Old B-R'er
According to the U.S. Department of veterans Affairs, the National Cemetery Administration began because of the mounting deaths during the Civil War. Congress empowered President Abraham Lincoln "to purchase cemetery grounds and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country."
This was the first U.S. legislation to establish and put into motion the concept of a national cemetery to honor the fallen.
There were 14 national cemeteries established in 1862, one of which was Camp Butler National Cemetery located in Sangamon County near Springfield, Illinois. It occupies a portion of Camp Butler (not named for Union General Benjamin Butler), the second-largest Union military training camp in Illinois during the war.
In addition to the Union soldiers, there are also Confederate soldiers buried there who died while prisoners of the North. Other wars represented among the burials are the Spanish-American War, the two World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
In 1997, Camp Butler National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
--Old B-R'er
The CSS Shenandoah's Battle Ensign On Display Nov. 6:: "Last Flag Down"
From the Nov. 4, 2015, Washington Post "Flag from CSS Shenandoah, furled Nov. 6, 1865, on display again 150 years later" by Linda Wheeler.
It is the only Confederate flag to circumnavigate the earth and flew over the ship as it captured and mostly sank 38 Union vessels.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 6th, the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, now part of the American Civil War Museum, will display the 7.3-by-11.3-foot flag, known as the "Stainless Banner", the Second National Flag of the Confederacy.
The Shenandoah was purchased in Liverpool in 1864. It was a square-rigged clipper steamship built originally for the China tea trade.
Its commander was Lt. James Iredell Waddell of North Carolina, who had been in the U.S. Navy for twenty ears before the war. The ship was cit off from communications for its Pacific raid on the Union whaling fleet in 1865, and it wasn't until August 3, 1865 that Waddell received irrefutable proof that the war was over (by way of newspapers from another ship).
Knowing that his ship was without a country, Waddell had the guns stowed away and his ship repainted to resemble a merchant vessel and made his way on a long voyage back to Liverpool to surrender.
The flag was brought back to the United States in 1873 and donated to the Museum of the Confederacy in 1907.
The exhibition of the flag will last only for one day and there will be a talk on it given at Brown Bag Lunch on Nov. 20, 2015, at noon.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
The Surrender of the CSS Shenandoah-- Part 4: "The Anglo-Rebel Pirate Captain"
For a number of years she sailed out of this far off Muslim island kingdom where in 1963, the USS Manley sped from a Southeast African visit to rescue Americans threatened by a Communist infiltrated revolution that destroyed the Muscat monarchy long sustained by British law and order.
The Shenandoah's career ended in 1879 when she ripped her bottom out on an uncharted reef in the Indian Ocean.
Waddell chose to remain in England (wonder why?) rather than return to his homeland where Secretaries Welles and Stanton were publicly calling him the "Anglo-Rebel Pirate Captain." He finally returned to the United States in 1875 and was employed as a master by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
--Old B-R'er
The Shenandoah's career ended in 1879 when she ripped her bottom out on an uncharted reef in the Indian Ocean.
Waddell chose to remain in England (wonder why?) rather than return to his homeland where Secretaries Welles and Stanton were publicly calling him the "Anglo-Rebel Pirate Captain." He finally returned to the United States in 1875 and was employed as a master by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
--Old B-R'er
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