NOVEMBER 9TH, 1861: Gunboats of Flag Officer Du Pont's fleet took possession of Beaufort, South Carolina, and by blocking the mouth of the Broad River, cut off this communication link between Charleston and Savannah.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
155 Years Ago, November 8, 1861: The Trent Affair
NOVEMBER 8TH, 1861: The USS San Jacinto, Captain Wilkes, stopped the British mail steamer Trent in Old Bahama Channel and removed Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell.
The action sparked a serious international incident.
--Old B-R'er
The action sparked a serious international incident.
--Old B-R'er
155 Years Ago, November 8, 1861: Action in Texas and Virginia
NOVEMBER 8TH, 1861: Boat expedition under Lieutenant James E. Jouet, from the USS Santee surprised and captured Confederate crew of schooner Royal Yacht, and burned the vessel at Galveston.
** The USS Rescue, Lieutenant Gwin, shelled a Confederate battery at Urbana Creek, Virginia, and captured a large schooner.
--Old B-Runner
** The USS Rescue, Lieutenant Gwin, shelled a Confederate battery at Urbana Creek, Virginia, and captured a large schooner.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, November 7, 2016
155 Years Ago, November 7, 1861: USS Tyler and Lexington Aide U.S. Grant at the Battle of Belmont
NOVEMBER 7TH, 1861: The USS Tyler, Commander Walke, and USS Lexington, Commander Stembel, supported 3000 Union troops under General Grant at the Battle of Belmont, Missouri, and engaged Confederate batteries along the Mississippi River.
The arrival of Confederate reinforcements compelled Grant to withdraw under pressure. Grape, canister and shell from the gunboats scattered the Confederates, enabling Union troops to re-embark on their transports.
Grant, with characteristic restraint, reported that the gunboats' service was "most efficient" having "protected our transports throughout."
--Old B-R'er
The arrival of Confederate reinforcements compelled Grant to withdraw under pressure. Grape, canister and shell from the gunboats scattered the Confederates, enabling Union troops to re-embark on their transports.
Grant, with characteristic restraint, reported that the gunboats' service was "most efficient" having "protected our transports throughout."
--Old B-R'er
155 Years Ago, November 7, 1861: Union Navy Captures Port Royal Sound
NOVEMBER 7, 1861: Naval forces under Flag Officer Du Pont captured Port Royal Sound, South Carolina. While Du Pont's ships steamed in boldly, the naval gunners poured a withering fire into the defending Forts Walker and Beauregard with extreme accuracy.
The Confederate defenders abandoned the forts and the small Confederate naval squadron under Commodore Tattnall could offer only harassing resistance but did rescue troops by ferrying them to the mainland from Hilton Head.
Marines and sailors were landed to occupy the forts until turned over to Army troops under General T. W. Sherman.
Careful planning and skillful execution had given Du Pont a great victory and the Union Navy an important base of operations.
The Confederates were compelled to withdraw coastal defenses inland out of reach of naval gunfire. Du Pont wrote: "It is not my temper to rejoice over fallen foes, but this must be a gloomy night in Charleston."
This Was a Huge Success for the Union. They Now Had the Base to Conduct Operations Against Both Charleston and Savannah. --Old B-Runner
The Confederate defenders abandoned the forts and the small Confederate naval squadron under Commodore Tattnall could offer only harassing resistance but did rescue troops by ferrying them to the mainland from Hilton Head.
Marines and sailors were landed to occupy the forts until turned over to Army troops under General T. W. Sherman.
Careful planning and skillful execution had given Du Pont a great victory and the Union Navy an important base of operations.
The Confederates were compelled to withdraw coastal defenses inland out of reach of naval gunfire. Du Pont wrote: "It is not my temper to rejoice over fallen foes, but this must be a gloomy night in Charleston."
This Was a Huge Success for the Union. They Now Had the Base to Conduct Operations Against Both Charleston and Savannah. --Old B-Runner
Friday, November 4, 2016
155 Years Ago, November 6, 1861: Capturing Blockade Runners
NOVEMBER 6, 1861: The USS Rescue, Lt. William Gwin, captured and burned the schooner Ada which was hard aground in Corrotoman Creek, Virginia.
** Captain Purviance, commander of the USS St. Lawrence, reported the capture of British schooner Fanny Lee, running the blockade at Darien, Georgia, with a cargo of rice and tobacco.
--Old B-Runner
** Captain Purviance, commander of the USS St. Lawrence, reported the capture of British schooner Fanny Lee, running the blockade at Darien, Georgia, with a cargo of rice and tobacco.
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago, November 5, 1861: Engagement at Port Royal
NOVEMBER 5TH, 1861: The USS Ottawa, Pembina, Seneca and Pawnee engaged and dispersed a small Confederate squadron under Commodore Tatnall in Port Royal Sound and fired on Fort Beauregard and Fort Walker.
--Old B-Runner
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago, November 4, 1861: Sounding the Sound
NOVEMBER 4, 1861: Coast Survey ship Vixen entered Port Royal Sound to sound the channel. She was escorted by the USS Ottawa and the USS Seneca.
Confederate naval squadron under Commodore Tattnall attacked the Union ships.
--Old B-Runner
Confederate naval squadron under Commodore Tattnall attacked the Union ships.
--Old B-Runner
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Maine Sailor Died Down South on a River: William L. Heard
From the October 24, 2016, BDN Portland (Maine) "This Civil War sailor from Portland died on a river down south" by Troy R. Bennett.
William Heard was promoted to the rank of ensign in the Union Navy on January 31, 1863 while he was serving with the Mississippi Squadron.
In the spring of 1864, his ship, the USS Covington, a 126-foot, 224 ton sidewheel gunboat converted from a passenger steamer and fitted with metal siding (making it a tinclad) and mounting 8 guns, was ordered to escort a troop transport down the Red River from Alexandria, Louisiana. The USS Signal also accompanied it.
Twenty-five miles out of Alexandria, near Dunn's Bayou, the three Union ships came under heavy fire from Confederate artillery and troops massed along the shoreline. The fight lasted all day.
The Union transport and the Signal were captured. The Covington was set afire by its crew. Most escaped upriver back to Alexandria.
But William L. Heard was not so lucky. He was killed in this retreat.
His body was brought back home and buried next to his brother George (who had died earlier in the war). Their bodies are at Western Cemetery.
--Old B-Runner
William Heard was promoted to the rank of ensign in the Union Navy on January 31, 1863 while he was serving with the Mississippi Squadron.
In the spring of 1864, his ship, the USS Covington, a 126-foot, 224 ton sidewheel gunboat converted from a passenger steamer and fitted with metal siding (making it a tinclad) and mounting 8 guns, was ordered to escort a troop transport down the Red River from Alexandria, Louisiana. The USS Signal also accompanied it.
Twenty-five miles out of Alexandria, near Dunn's Bayou, the three Union ships came under heavy fire from Confederate artillery and troops massed along the shoreline. The fight lasted all day.
The Union transport and the Signal were captured. The Covington was set afire by its crew. Most escaped upriver back to Alexandria.
But William L. Heard was not so lucky. He was killed in this retreat.
His body was brought back home and buried next to his brother George (who had died earlier in the war). Their bodies are at Western Cemetery.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
"Gallway's Streets Are Full of Confederates"
From the October 6, 2016, Gallway Advertiser (Ireland).
The Gallway Line from 1858 to 1864 made 55 round trips to Boston and New York City.
William Boxwell West, U.S. Vice Consul, said, "Gallway's streets were full of Confederates." he inspected the clipper ship Hiawatha and noted that there was "no mode of ventilation" if it was to be a passenger ship as advertised.
The Hiawatha's owner, John B. Purdon intended it to be a blockade runner.
It sailed to new York City, disembarked 132 emigrants and a load of scrap iron. It then sailed to Nassau where it was chartered as a blockade runner under the command of John Ballantyne and made a number of successful runs through the blockade, even more remarkable considering it was a sailing ship.
Vice Consul West also kept tabs on the mysterious ship that ended up being the CSS Alabama during its construction.
--Old B-R'er
The Gallway Line from 1858 to 1864 made 55 round trips to Boston and New York City.
William Boxwell West, U.S. Vice Consul, said, "Gallway's streets were full of Confederates." he inspected the clipper ship Hiawatha and noted that there was "no mode of ventilation" if it was to be a passenger ship as advertised.
The Hiawatha's owner, John B. Purdon intended it to be a blockade runner.
It sailed to new York City, disembarked 132 emigrants and a load of scrap iron. It then sailed to Nassau where it was chartered as a blockade runner under the command of John Ballantyne and made a number of successful runs through the blockade, even more remarkable considering it was a sailing ship.
Vice Consul West also kept tabs on the mysterious ship that ended up being the CSS Alabama during its construction.
--Old B-R'er
155 Years Ago, November 2, 1861: U.S. Marines Rescued by USS Sabine
NOVEMBER 2, 1861: The USS Sabine, Captain Cadwalader Ringgold, rescued Major John Reynolds and a battalion of U.S. Marines under his command from the U.S. transport Governor, unit of the Port Royal Sound Expedition. The Governor was sinking.
--Old B-Runner
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
And, Speaking of the USS Monitor: Greenpoint Trail Marker Stolen
From the October 6, 2016, Brooklyn Daily Eagle "Greenpoint's USS Monitor Trail marker stolen."
This was reported by the Greenpoint Monitor Museum in Brooklyn. The marker was unveiled May 29, 2015, in big ceremony.
It gave information on the Monitor's inventor and designer John Ericsson, its designer, Thomas Fitch Rowland and the men who worked on it.
Now, who would steal a marker?
--Old B-R'er
This was reported by the Greenpoint Monitor Museum in Brooklyn. The marker was unveiled May 29, 2015, in big ceremony.
It gave information on the Monitor's inventor and designer John Ericsson, its designer, Thomas Fitch Rowland and the men who worked on it.
Now, who would steal a marker?
--Old B-R'er
USS Monitor's Worthington Pumps Designated a Mechanical Engineering Landmark
From the September 20, 2016, Inside Business (Hampton Roads, Virginia)
The Worthington Direct-Acting Simplex Pumps designed by 19th century engineering pioneer Henry R. Worthington have been designated a historical mechanical engineering landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
he was a co-founder of the group which has over 140,000 members around the world.
These pumps were recovered from the Monitor's wreck when the turret was.
--Old B-Runner
The Worthington Direct-Acting Simplex Pumps designed by 19th century engineering pioneer Henry R. Worthington have been designated a historical mechanical engineering landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
he was a co-founder of the group which has over 140,000 members around the world.
These pumps were recovered from the Monitor's wreck when the turret was.
--Old B-Runner
USS Monitor Receives Grant
From the September 29, 2016, Daily Press (Virginia) "Mariners Museum receives grant for USS Monitor" by Jonathan Black.
A grant of $27,000 was received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services was given to the Mariners Museum's USS Monitor. It was one of three Virginia museums and 206 across the United States to receive grants.
The museum will buy, install and operate a new electlytic reduction computer monitoring system, which will support conservation of the revolving turret.
--Old B-Runner
A grant of $27,000 was received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services was given to the Mariners Museum's USS Monitor. It was one of three Virginia museums and 206 across the United States to receive grants.
The museum will buy, install and operate a new electlytic reduction computer monitoring system, which will support conservation of the revolving turret.
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago, November 1, 1861: Port Royal Expedition Struck By Major Storm
NOVEMBER 1ST, 1861: Violent storm struck the Port Royal Sound Expedition off the Carolina coast, widely scattering naval vessels, transports and supply ships and jeopardizing the success of this major undertaking.
However, the damage to the fleet was less than one could have expected. All of the ships had been furnished with secret instructions to be opened at sea only in case of separation from the fleet.
--Old B-Runer
However, the damage to the fleet was less than one could have expected. All of the ships had been furnished with secret instructions to be opened at sea only in case of separation from the fleet.
--Old B-Runer
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