The Charlotte, N.C. Fire Department has volunteered its services to examine the shipwreck. Very experienced special operations divers will bring their 3-D sonar which is ideal for use in poor water conditions.
The divers will go to the bottom, set up a tripod which will send out sound waves and use high-speed computers to convert the information.
The archaeologists wonder what kind of cargo was left on the ship when it ran aground. They know that very little was taken off as the crew abandoned ship very quickly. Plus, with the second and final attack on Fort Fisher just a few weeks ago, it is doubtful that the Confederates were able to salvage much and Union naval forces would be too busy preparing for the attack. Plus, the war was nearly over at the time.
The fort's commander, Col. William Lamb wrote in a letter asking specifically about the whereabouts of the wreck of the Agnes E. Fry. Today's archaeologists want to know why he was so interested.
Perhaps They Will Find Out. --Old B-R'er
Thursday, June 23, 2016
155 Years Ago:USS Merrimack Begins Reconstruction as Ironclad CSS Virginia
JUNE 23RD, 1861: The Confederate Navy began reconstruction of the ex-USS Merrimack as the ironclad CSS Virginia in Norfolk, Virginia.
** USS Massachusetts, Commander M. Smith, captured Mexican schooner Brilliant with cargo of flour, and Confederate schooners Trois Freres, Olive Branch, Fanny and Basile in the Gulf of Mexico.
A Busy Day for the USS Massachusetts. Lots of Prize Money. Old B-Runner
** USS Massachusetts, Commander M. Smith, captured Mexican schooner Brilliant with cargo of flour, and Confederate schooners Trois Freres, Olive Branch, Fanny and Basile in the Gulf of Mexico.
A Busy Day for the USS Massachusetts. Lots of Prize Money. Old B-Runner
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Long-Lost Blockade-Runner Agnes E. Fry Found-- Part 3
Continued from June 10, 2016.
When the wreck was first found, divers went down but the water was actually black with tannins from trees upriver. "Imagine sticking your face in a cup of black coffee and opening your eyes," said archaeologist Billy Ray Morris.
With this upcoming sonar scan which uses sector scan sonar, images will be 3-D.
Also, people are offering their services as word of the discovery gets out. The great-great granddaughter of the Agnes E. Fry's chief engineer says she has a journal written by him describing the night the ship went aground.
--Old B-Runner
When the wreck was first found, divers went down but the water was actually black with tannins from trees upriver. "Imagine sticking your face in a cup of black coffee and opening your eyes," said archaeologist Billy Ray Morris.
With this upcoming sonar scan which uses sector scan sonar, images will be 3-D.
Also, people are offering their services as word of the discovery gets out. The great-great granddaughter of the Agnes E. Fry's chief engineer says she has a journal written by him describing the night the ship went aground.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
A Magazine to Check Out: Civil War Navy Magazine
I came across this in the Civil War Talk site.
Being a diet-in-the-wool Civil War Navy nut. this is definitely a magazine of interest for me. They are on Volume 3 Issue 3 and printed four times a year.
This issue had stories about the CSS Georgia recovery, the USS Roanoke and Semmes of the Alabama.
Definitely one to look into.
--Old B-Runner
Being a diet-in-the-wool Civil War Navy nut. this is definitely a magazine of interest for me. They are on Volume 3 Issue 3 and printed four times a year.
This issue had stories about the CSS Georgia recovery, the USS Roanoke and Semmes of the Alabama.
Definitely one to look into.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, June 20, 2016
Carolina Beach Town Hall (NC) Gets Historic Fort Fisher Exhibits-- Part 2
Continued from June 10, 2016.
The Friends of Fort Fisher were determined to get the exhibits back, but all of these dioramas were inserts, which means they had to be in cabinets.
The cost was between $8,000 and $10,000 and four cases were delivered to the town hall and one to the National Guard Training Facility.
The displays officially opens Tuesday night, June 14th, right before the town council meeting.
Some of the exhibits:
A blockade-runner running the blockade, building Fort Fisher, Hebe incident when the blockade-runner Hebe ran aground and the Whitworth Flying Battery was used and, the capture of Fort Fisher.
--Old Secesh
The Friends of Fort Fisher were determined to get the exhibits back, but all of these dioramas were inserts, which means they had to be in cabinets.
The cost was between $8,000 and $10,000 and four cases were delivered to the town hall and one to the National Guard Training Facility.
The displays officially opens Tuesday night, June 14th, right before the town council meeting.
Some of the exhibits:
A blockade-runner running the blockade, building Fort Fisher, Hebe incident when the blockade-runner Hebe ran aground and the Whitworth Flying Battery was used and, the capture of Fort Fisher.
--Old Secesh
Saturday, June 18, 2016
155 Years Ago: Confederate Ships Seized
JUNE 17TH, 1861: The USS Massachusetts, Commander M. Smith, captured schooner Achilles, near Ship Island, Mississippi.
JUNE 18TH, 1861: The USS Union, Commander J.R. Goldsborough, captured Confederate blockade runner Amelia at Charleston with cargo of contraband from Liverpool.
--Old B-Runner
JUNE 18TH, 1861: The USS Union, Commander J.R. Goldsborough, captured Confederate blockade runner Amelia at Charleston with cargo of contraband from Liverpool.
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago: USS Massachusetts Captures Blockade Runner
JUNE 19TH, 1861: USS Massachusetts, Commander M. Smith, captured blockade running brig Nahum Stetson off Pass a L'Outre, Louisiana.
--Old B-Runner
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago: CSS Teaser Ordered to Assist in Defense of James River
JUNE 18TH, 1861: Major General Robert E. Lee wrote Lt. Robert Randolph Carter, CSN, commander of the CSS Teaser: "It is desired that the C.S. steam tender Teaser shall unite with the batteries at Jamestown Island in the defense of the James River, and be employed in obtaining intelligence of the movement of hostile vessels and the landing of troops either side of the river...
"It is suggested that you establish a system of signals as a means of communication with the troops, and take every precaution not to jeopardize the safety of your boat by proceeding too far beyond the protection of the guns of the batteries..."
--Old B-Runner
"It is suggested that you establish a system of signals as a means of communication with the troops, and take every precaution not to jeopardize the safety of your boat by proceeding too far beyond the protection of the guns of the batteries..."
--Old B-Runner
Friday, June 17, 2016
155 Years Ago: Lee Writes to Virginia's Governor About Defense-- Part 2
Lee, showing his understanding of the serious threat posed by Union naval operations on the rivers, reported that: "six batteries have been erected on the Elizabeth River, to guard the approaches to Norfolk and the Navy Yard...to prevent ascent of the Nansemond River and the occupation of the railroad from Norfolk to Richmond, three batteries have been constructed...
"Sites for batteries on the Potomac have also been selected, and arrangements were in progress for their construction, but the entire command of that river being in possession of the U.S. Government, a larger force is required for their security than could be devoted to that purpose.
"The batteries at Aquia Creek have only been prepared... On the Rappahannock River a 4-gun battery... has been erected."
Naval Knowledge. --Old B-Runner
"Sites for batteries on the Potomac have also been selected, and arrangements were in progress for their construction, but the entire command of that river being in possession of the U.S. Government, a larger force is required for their security than could be devoted to that purpose.
"The batteries at Aquia Creek have only been prepared... On the Rappahannock River a 4-gun battery... has been erected."
Naval Knowledge. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
155 Years Ago: The War Heats Up
JUNE 13TH, 1861: The USS Mississippi, Flag Officer Mervine, captured schooner Forest King at Key West.
JUNE 14TH, 1861: American schooner Christiana Keen, grounded and was burned by Confederates near Upper Machodoc Creek, Virginia.
--Old B-Runner
JUNE 14TH, 1861: American schooner Christiana Keen, grounded and was burned by Confederates near Upper Machodoc Creek, Virginia.
--Old B-Runner
Sunday, June 12, 2016
155 Years Ago: Lee Writes Virginia Governor About Defense Preparations-- Part 1
JUNE 15TH, 1861: Major General Robert E. Lee wrote Virginia Governor John Fletcher regarding preparations for the defense of the state: "The frigate United States has been prepared for a school ship, provided with a deck battery of nineteen guns, 32-pounders and 9-inch Columbiads, for harbor defense.
"The frigate Merrimack has been raised and is in drydock, and arrangements are made for raising the Germantown and Plymouth."
--Old B-Runner
"The frigate Merrimack has been raised and is in drydock, and arrangements are made for raising the Germantown and Plymouth."
--Old B-Runner
Friday, June 10, 2016
Carolina Beach (NC) Town Hall Gets Historic Fort Fisher Exhibits New Life-- Part 1
From the June 9, 2016, WWAY 3 ABC (Wilmington, NC) by Taylor Yakowenko.
Four exhibits will be unveiled next week at the Carolina Beach Town Hall on US-421. The Friends of Fort Fisher were instrumental in getting these exhibits. They were originally a part of the collection of the long-closed Blockade Runner Museum in Carolina Beach, according to Friends of Fort Fisher executive director Paul Laird.
The diorama inserts had been in storage in the basement of the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington for over 30 years and not accessible to the public.
I remember seeing these exhibits often as the Blockade Runner Museum was a major hang out for me back when I was growing up. As a matter of fact, the Carolina Beach Town Hall is located in the building that used to be the Blockade Runner Museum, so, in effect, the exhibits are returning to their former home.
I Know Where I'm Going This August. --Old B-Runner
Four exhibits will be unveiled next week at the Carolina Beach Town Hall on US-421. The Friends of Fort Fisher were instrumental in getting these exhibits. They were originally a part of the collection of the long-closed Blockade Runner Museum in Carolina Beach, according to Friends of Fort Fisher executive director Paul Laird.
The diorama inserts had been in storage in the basement of the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington for over 30 years and not accessible to the public.
I remember seeing these exhibits often as the Blockade Runner Museum was a major hang out for me back when I was growing up. As a matter of fact, the Carolina Beach Town Hall is located in the building that used to be the Blockade Runner Museum, so, in effect, the exhibits are returning to their former home.
I Know Where I'm Going This August. --Old B-Runner
Long-Lost Blockade-Runner Agnes E. Fry Found, Probably-- Part 2: Smokeless Coal and Non-Splashing Paddlewheels
The archaeologists ran a survey out in the area with a magnetometer (like an underwater metal detector) being towed behind the boat and that is when they found the wreck.
A lot of research has been done on the Agnes E. Fry which seems to be the likely name of the shipwreck as the three other blockade-runners known to have been sunk in the area, only the Fry was longer than 200 feet and this one is 225 feet long. The paddle wheels and engine is missing.
The Fry's engine was one of the topline engines available in 1864 and burned smokeless high grade coal when attempting to run the blockade to avoid detection by Union ships seeing the smoke from the smokestack. The paddlewheels, one on each side, had paddle wheel blades especially designed to prevent splashing, another way Union ships would detect blockade-runners.
Old B-R'er
A lot of research has been done on the Agnes E. Fry which seems to be the likely name of the shipwreck as the three other blockade-runners known to have been sunk in the area, only the Fry was longer than 200 feet and this one is 225 feet long. The paddle wheels and engine is missing.
The Fry's engine was one of the topline engines available in 1864 and burned smokeless high grade coal when attempting to run the blockade to avoid detection by Union ships seeing the smoke from the smokestack. The paddlewheels, one on each side, had paddle wheel blades especially designed to prevent splashing, another way Union ships would detect blockade-runners.
Old B-R'er
155 Years Ago: Brooke Ordered to Design the New Ironclad CSS Virginia
JUNE 10TH, 1861: Lieutenant John Mercer Brooke, CSN, ordered to design the new ironclad CSS Virginia (ex--USS Merrimack).
John Brooke was an American sailor, engineer, scientist and educator. He was instrumental in the development of the of the Transatlantic Cable and was a noted marine and military innovator.
--Old B-Runner
John Brooke was an American sailor, engineer, scientist and educator. He was instrumental in the development of the of the Transatlantic Cable and was a noted marine and military innovator.
--Old B-Runner
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Long -Lost Blockade-Runner Agnes E. Fry, Found, Probably-- Part 1
Fro the April 12, 2016, Wired "Sonar May Have Turned Up a Long-Lost Civil War Ship, the Agnes E. Fry" by Sarah Zhang.
Archaeologist Billy Ray Morris says its "99% sure "that they have found the wreck of the Agnes E, Fry."
The remaining 1% will be worked out next week when divers visit the wreck with sonar machines to map the shipwreck in 3D detail.
Finding the wreck is part of the larger effort to map Civil War wrecks in the Cape Fear area of North Carolina. Archaeologist from the state of North Carolina and Gordon Watts, director of the Institute for International Maritime Research recently found the previously mapped wreck more exposed than ever due to dredging of the Cape Fear River.
There were three blockade-runner wrecks documented near the Old Inlet of the Cape Fear River.
--Old B-Runner
Archaeologist Billy Ray Morris says its "99% sure "that they have found the wreck of the Agnes E, Fry."
The remaining 1% will be worked out next week when divers visit the wreck with sonar machines to map the shipwreck in 3D detail.
Finding the wreck is part of the larger effort to map Civil War wrecks in the Cape Fear area of North Carolina. Archaeologist from the state of North Carolina and Gordon Watts, director of the Institute for International Maritime Research recently found the previously mapped wreck more exposed than ever due to dredging of the Cape Fear River.
There were three blockade-runner wrecks documented near the Old Inlet of the Cape Fear River.
--Old B-Runner
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