From the April 11, 2016, WSOC TV, Charlotte, N.C.
The North Carolina State Department of Natural and Cultural Resources said that the Charlotte Fire Department had arranged to bring in a sophisticated 3D SOAR device to confirm the shipwreck's identity. It will be used by divers next Wednesday.
The shipwreck is thought to be that of the blockade-runner Agnes E. Fry, sunk off the Wilmington coast in December 1864.
--Old B-R'er
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
155 Years Ago: Blockade of Key West Set and Blockade Runners Captured
MAY 8TH, 1861: USS Mississippi, Flag Officer Mervine, set blockade at Key West. (Since Key West never was Confederate, I am not sure why the blockade of it would have to be set.)
** USS Resolute, Acting Master W. Budd, having captured schooner Somerset at Breton's Bay, towed her close to the Virginia shore and burned her.
MAY 9TH, 1861: USS Massachusetts, Commander Melancton Smith captured British blockade-runner Perthshire with cargo of cotton near Pensacola.
MAY 10TH, 1861: The USS Union, Commander J.R. Goldsborough, captured the brig Hallie Jackson off Savannah with cargo of molasses.
--Old B-Runner
** USS Resolute, Acting Master W. Budd, having captured schooner Somerset at Breton's Bay, towed her close to the Virginia shore and burned her.
MAY 9TH, 1861: USS Massachusetts, Commander Melancton Smith captured British blockade-runner Perthshire with cargo of cotton near Pensacola.
MAY 10TH, 1861: The USS Union, Commander J.R. Goldsborough, captured the brig Hallie Jackson off Savannah with cargo of molasses.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Kinston's CSS Neuse Interpretive Center-- Part 6: Ran Aground Before First Action
By April 22, 1864, now with four additional gunports more than the CSS Albemarle with ten, was ordered into action at New Bern. But, a half mile downriver, low water grounded the vessel on a sandbar.
Attempts were made to refloat the ship, but it wasn't until mid-May with rising water, that the Neuse was freed and returned to Kinston.
In February 1865, Sherman and his troops entered North Carolina and the Neuse went back into action, but not for long.
The CSS Neuse Interpretive Center is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The last guided tour is at 4 p.m.. admission is $5 for adults and $5 for seniors.
I visited it several years ago, shortly after they moved into their new place and look forward to going back to it this summer.
--Old B-R'er
Attempts were made to refloat the ship, but it wasn't until mid-May with rising water, that the Neuse was freed and returned to Kinston.
In February 1865, Sherman and his troops entered North Carolina and the Neuse went back into action, but not for long.
The CSS Neuse Interpretive Center is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The last guided tour is at 4 p.m.. admission is $5 for adults and $5 for seniors.
I visited it several years ago, shortly after they moved into their new place and look forward to going back to it this summer.
--Old B-R'er
Kinston's CSS Neuse Interpretive Center-- Part 5: Sister Ship of the CSS Albemarle
The forerunner of the CSS Neuse was the CSS Virginia. Her sister ship was the CSS Albemarle which was also built in a cornfield along and inland river, like the Neuse. The Albemarle was built on the Roanoke River and both had the same plan of construction.
However, the CSS Virginia and CSS Albemarle both saw a lot more action than the Neuse.
On December 16, 1862, the Union army attacked the Neuse while it was under construction and thought they had destroyed it. But, by mid-March, the finished hull of the ship was floated down the Neuse River to Kinston where work was completed. But delays compounded because of lack of competent shipbuilders and iron plating.
--Old B-Runner
However, the CSS Virginia and CSS Albemarle both saw a lot more action than the Neuse.
On December 16, 1862, the Union army attacked the Neuse while it was under construction and thought they had destroyed it. But, by mid-March, the finished hull of the ship was floated down the Neuse River to Kinston where work was completed. But delays compounded because of lack of competent shipbuilders and iron plating.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, June 6, 2016
Kinston's CSS Neuse Interpretive Center-- Part 4: Much On Display
There is also a 12-foot Brooke Rifle cannon replica built to scale. These were the cannons on the Neuse. It has a functioning carriage, there is a barracks used by troops garrisoned in Kinston and a reconstruction of part of the ironclad's deck.
Display cases and wall plaques offer stories of the crew, including its captain, Joseph Price and 2nd Lt. Richard Bacot who wrote the earlier account of the ship's final minutes as a Confederate warship.
Photos recount the herculean efforts to free the hull from the Neuse River mud and the lengthy process requiring archaeologists, historians, volunteers and state assistance to accomplish it.
--Old B-R'er
Display cases and wall plaques offer stories of the crew, including its captain, Joseph Price and 2nd Lt. Richard Bacot who wrote the earlier account of the ship's final minutes as a Confederate warship.
Photos recount the herculean efforts to free the hull from the Neuse River mud and the lengthy process requiring archaeologists, historians, volunteers and state assistance to accomplish it.
--Old B-R'er
Kinston's CSS Neuse Interpretive Center-- Part 3: A Bottle of Worcestershire Sauce
The hull and ghost skeleton can be viewed from ground level and upstairs. There is also a full-size cut-out model of the ship and a video presentation.
Nearby the center is a full-size replica outside on Heritage Street.
They have artifacts salvaged from the ship after it was brought up on display like coal rakes used on the boiler, cannon balls, shells, a belt buckle, wrenches, files, shovels, sockets, a stove, ship's bell and an intach bottle of Lea and Perrin's worcestershire sauce. In addition, there is a rare English-made cuff button from an officer's coat and another with a CSN emblem.
--Old B-Runner
Nearby the center is a full-size replica outside on Heritage Street.
They have artifacts salvaged from the ship after it was brought up on display like coal rakes used on the boiler, cannon balls, shells, a belt buckle, wrenches, files, shovels, sockets, a stove, ship's bell and an intach bottle of Lea and Perrin's worcestershire sauce. In addition, there is a rare English-made cuff button from an officer's coat and another with a CSN emblem.
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Kinston's CSS Neuse Interpretive Center-- Part 2: Ghost Skeleton
After the war, machinery, iron plating and weapons were removed and the hull remained at the bottom of the river until it was brought up in 1963 for the Centennial of the Civil War.
Then, it spent many years sitting outside under an open roof battling floods and deterioration. Its remains now are the centerpiece of the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center in downtown Kinston at 100 North Queen Street.
The Center was dedicated in 2005 and is operated by North Carolina Historic Sites.
That hull takes up 31,000 square feet in an open two-story portion of the 40,000 square-feet building. A 158-foot long, 34-foot wide metal skeleton has been built above the hull to show the vessel's outline to give visitors an idea of the ship's size and scope. (Many think of it as just a mass of wood.)
--Old B-Runner
Then, it spent many years sitting outside under an open roof battling floods and deterioration. Its remains now are the centerpiece of the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center in downtown Kinston at 100 North Queen Street.
The Center was dedicated in 2005 and is operated by North Carolina Historic Sites.
That hull takes up 31,000 square feet in an open two-story portion of the 40,000 square-feet building. A 158-foot long, 34-foot wide metal skeleton has been built above the hull to show the vessel's outline to give visitors an idea of the ship's size and scope. (Many think of it as just a mass of wood.)
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago: Ships Captured Running the Blockade
MAY 5TH, 1861: The USS Niagara, Captain McKean, captured schooner Aid at Mobil.
** Flag Officer Perdergast reported the capture of bark General Green by USS Quaker City, Commander Overton Carr, at Capes of the Chesapeake.
--Old B-Runner
** Flag Officer Perdergast reported the capture of bark General Green by USS Quaker City, Commander Overton Carr, at Capes of the Chesapeake.
--Old B-Runner
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Kinston's CSS Neuse Interpretive Center-- Part 1: "We Removed Our Powder & Stores & Burnt the Vessel"
From the May 19, 2016, Examiner "Kinston Discoveries 2016: CSS Neuse Interpretive Center recounts ironclad's fate" by Kathy Newbern and J.S. Fletcher.
The CSS Neuse Interpretive Center is located at 100 N. Queen Street in downtown Kinston, North Carolina.
What is left of the wreck of the CSS Neuse is now housed in the center after being under water for almost 100 years and then out in the open air for over another 50 years.
A young officer aboard the CSS Neuse wrote of the ship's tragic end: All the troops had withdrawn from Kinston & the Yankees 18,000 strong came upon us & not having any prospect of being relieved before our provisions ran out & being in a narrow river where we could not work the ship under fire, after shelling the Yankee cavalry for a little while, we removed our powder & stores & burnt the vessel."
--Old B-Runner
The CSS Neuse Interpretive Center is located at 100 N. Queen Street in downtown Kinston, North Carolina.
What is left of the wreck of the CSS Neuse is now housed in the center after being under water for almost 100 years and then out in the open air for over another 50 years.
A young officer aboard the CSS Neuse wrote of the ship's tragic end: All the troops had withdrawn from Kinston & the Yankees 18,000 strong came upon us & not having any prospect of being relieved before our provisions ran out & being in a narrow river where we could not work the ship under fire, after shelling the Yankee cavalry for a little while, we removed our powder & stores & burnt the vessel."
--Old B-Runner
Ramping Up to Save the USS Monitor's Turret-- Part 5: $100 Donation
So far they have raised only $1 million of the $20 million needed to complete their work.
The tours will be given from May 9 to July 1, and will be by appointment only and will cost a $100 tax deductible donation to the USS Monitor Center.
Tours are limited to 15 people and you must wear water-proof boots at least 8-inches high to enter the turret.
I just keep thinking about how neat it would be to enter that historic turret, and perhaps even touch it. Talk about interacting with history.
Sloshing Through the Water. --Old B-Runner
The tours will be given from May 9 to July 1, and will be by appointment only and will cost a $100 tax deductible donation to the USS Monitor Center.
Tours are limited to 15 people and you must wear water-proof boots at least 8-inches high to enter the turret.
I just keep thinking about how neat it would be to enter that historic turret, and perhaps even touch it. Talk about interacting with history.
Sloshing Through the Water. --Old B-Runner
Ramping Up to Save the USS Monitor's Turret-- Part 4: Sign Me Up for a Tour
A new conservation campaign funded by a year-long effort has raised more than $1 million through grants, pledges, partnership agreements and cash contributions including a %$500,000 gift from the descendants of Monitor Captain John L. Worden and an annual $250,000 curatorial stipend from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which operates the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
Also, there will be a series of private guided tours for donors through the center's conservation lab and done when the conservators are not working.
--Old B-Runner
Also, there will be a series of private guided tours for donors through the center's conservation lab and done when the conservators are not working.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Ramping Up to Save the USS Monitor's Turret-- Part 3: Looking for Dents
Since the turret recovery/conservation project started in 2002, some 760 objects have been found.
A five person team using chisels, hammers and small pneumatic tools will be removing scale-like layers of marine concretion. Several times a day, the turret walls will be wet down with purified water. Each Friday, the tank will be refilled with water to protect it over the weekend and then it will be drained again on Monday.
Once finished, the turret's newly exposed interior and exterior walls will be scanned through a 3-D photogrammerty process, to record the progress of the electrolytic reduction and descaling treatment.
In doing this, conservators hope to be able to gather information on Confederate shot, bolt and shells which hit the turret during its battle with the CSS Virginia in March 1862 and the confrontation with Drewry's Bluff two months later on the James River.
--Old B-Runner
A five person team using chisels, hammers and small pneumatic tools will be removing scale-like layers of marine concretion. Several times a day, the turret walls will be wet down with purified water. Each Friday, the tank will be refilled with water to protect it over the weekend and then it will be drained again on Monday.
Once finished, the turret's newly exposed interior and exterior walls will be scanned through a 3-D photogrammerty process, to record the progress of the electrolytic reduction and descaling treatment.
In doing this, conservators hope to be able to gather information on Confederate shot, bolt and shells which hit the turret during its battle with the CSS Virginia in March 1862 and the confrontation with Drewry's Bluff two months later on the James River.
--Old B-Runner
Fort Fisher Extends Summer Hours
From the May 25, 2016, WECT 6 NBC, Wilmington, N.C..
Fort Fisher State Historic Site has extended its hours to include Sunday afternoon. It will remain closed, however, on Mondays and holidays. Hours are now 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
To honor Memorial Day and the U.S. military, special presentation will be given Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. by Assistant Site Manager John Mosely where he will explain the fort's role in World War II. It is free and will be given in the visitors center.
I remember a few years ago greatly anticipating a visit to Fort Fisher on a Monday, only to find it closed.
Wasn't a Happy Camper. --Old B-Runner
Fort Fisher State Historic Site has extended its hours to include Sunday afternoon. It will remain closed, however, on Mondays and holidays. Hours are now 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
To honor Memorial Day and the U.S. military, special presentation will be given Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. by Assistant Site Manager John Mosely where he will explain the fort's role in World War II. It is free and will be given in the visitors center.
I remember a few years ago greatly anticipating a visit to Fort Fisher on a Monday, only to find it closed.
Wasn't a Happy Camper. --Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago: Privateer Savannah Captured
JUNE 1ST, 1861: USS Union, Commander J.R. Goldsborough, captured Confederate schooner F.W. Johnson with cargo of railroad iron off the coast of North Carolina.
JUNE 3RD, 1861: Confederate privateer Savannah, Captain Baker, captured American brig Joseph with cargo of sugar; the Savannah was then captured by USS Perry, Lt. Parrott.
JUNE 5TH, 1861: Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane, Captain Faunce, USRM, engaged Confederate battery at Pig Point, Hampton Roads.
--Old B-R'er
JUNE 3RD, 1861: Confederate privateer Savannah, Captain Baker, captured American brig Joseph with cargo of sugar; the Savannah was then captured by USS Perry, Lt. Parrott.
JUNE 5TH, 1861: Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane, Captain Faunce, USRM, engaged Confederate battery at Pig Point, Hampton Roads.
--Old B-R'er
155 Years Ago: About the Blockade
JUNE 1ST, 1861: The USS Union, Commander J.R. Goldsborough, captured Confederate schooner F.W. Johnson with cargo of railroad iron off the coast of North Carolina.
** Captain Du Pont wrote: "I do not like the tone of things in England ... Lord Derby and Granville, etc., talk of two thousand miles of coast to blockade! They seem to forget so far as their rights and international interests are concerned we have only to blockade the ports of entry -- from the Chesapeake to Galveston-- any ... venture into any other harbors or inlets of any kind is liable to capture as a smuggler.
"It is the intention of the Government, I presume, to connect the shore between blockaded ports by light draft cruisers to prevent the ingress of arms and contraband, and the egress of privateers-- but that is our business as a war measure -- an effective blockade means the covering of the ports of entry -- and this will be easily done in my judgement...."
--Old B-Runner
** Captain Du Pont wrote: "I do not like the tone of things in England ... Lord Derby and Granville, etc., talk of two thousand miles of coast to blockade! They seem to forget so far as their rights and international interests are concerned we have only to blockade the ports of entry -- from the Chesapeake to Galveston-- any ... venture into any other harbors or inlets of any kind is liable to capture as a smuggler.
"It is the intention of the Government, I presume, to connect the shore between blockaded ports by light draft cruisers to prevent the ingress of arms and contraband, and the egress of privateers-- but that is our business as a war measure -- an effective blockade means the covering of the ports of entry -- and this will be easily done in my judgement...."
--Old B-Runner
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