Of course, Woodhull is a great name for a a sailor before the coming of iron and steel.
But, there is some confusion as to dates in his life other than his death.
Fond-A-Grave had his birth as unknown. One source had him born in 1832 and his son Maxwell Van Zandt Woodhull in 1834. Not likely. I saw a picture of him and he was fairly old when it was taken (probably about the time of the Civil War).
Fold 3 had him born April 2, 1813. The marker on the Arlington National Cemetery flagpole says he was 1832-1863. An account of his death that I read put his age at fifty.
I'd have to say he was born in 1813 and entered naval service in 1832. Death was February 19, 1863.
Setting the Record Straight. --Old B-R'er
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Commander Maxwell Woodhull-- Part 1: Commander of USS Cimarron
Back on August 1st, I wrote about an engagement July 31-August 1, 1862, on the James River in Virginia between Confederate batteries and the USS Cimarron, commanded by Maxwell Woodhull.
On August 7, I wrote about the USS Cimarron. I now have come across some interesting information on Commander Woodhull.
From Find-A-Grave.
Birth: Unknown Death February 19, 1863. (So, within seven months of the engagement, Maxwell Woodhull was dead.) The Find-A-Grave site continues: "Died the victim of an accidental gun discharge.
"There is a memorial flag staff honoring him at Arlington National Cemetery. It reads: "In Memory of Maxwell Woodhull, Commander USN 1832-1863 and His Son Maxwell Vanzandt Woodhull Brevet Brig. Gen. USA 1834-1921."
Fold 3 has his birth as April 2, 1813, in New York City and death February 21, 1863 and that he is buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C..
--Old B-Runner
On August 7, I wrote about the USS Cimarron. I now have come across some interesting information on Commander Woodhull.
From Find-A-Grave.
Birth: Unknown Death February 19, 1863. (So, within seven months of the engagement, Maxwell Woodhull was dead.) The Find-A-Grave site continues: "Died the victim of an accidental gun discharge.
"There is a memorial flag staff honoring him at Arlington National Cemetery. It reads: "In Memory of Maxwell Woodhull, Commander USN 1832-1863 and His Son Maxwell Vanzandt Woodhull Brevet Brig. Gen. USA 1834-1921."
Fold 3 has his birth as April 2, 1813, in New York City and death February 21, 1863 and that he is buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C..
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Black Woman Stationed On a U.S. Navy Vessel
From the the July 27, 2017, Southern Illinoisan "Museum meeting features historic interpreter, who will portray African-American woman stationed on U.S. Navy vessel."
The Southern Illinois Association of Museums (SIAM) will meet August 5, 2017, at the Jefferson County Historical Village and Museum.
Marlene Rivero will portray Ann Stokes, believed to have been the first black woman to serve aboard a U.S. Navy ship.
Ann Stokes was a slave who became a volunteer nurse on the first Union Naval hospital ship, the USS Red Rover, stationed off Mound City, Illinois.
SIAM is a consortium of museums in the lower 28 Illinois counties. The Jefferson County Historical Village and Museum is in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
I definitely will do more research on this woman.
An Interesting Story. --Old B-R'er
The Southern Illinois Association of Museums (SIAM) will meet August 5, 2017, at the Jefferson County Historical Village and Museum.
Marlene Rivero will portray Ann Stokes, believed to have been the first black woman to serve aboard a U.S. Navy ship.
Ann Stokes was a slave who became a volunteer nurse on the first Union Naval hospital ship, the USS Red Rover, stationed off Mound City, Illinois.
SIAM is a consortium of museums in the lower 28 Illinois counties. The Jefferson County Historical Village and Museum is in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
I definitely will do more research on this woman.
An Interesting Story. --Old B-R'er
August 8, 1862: Credit to Bulloch in England
AUGUST 8TH, 1862: Confederate Secretary of Navy Mallory wrote Commander Bulloch in London: "I am pleased to learn that the credit of my department stands well in England, and sensible of the great importance of maintaining it, I am endeavoring to place funds to your credit, which the scarcity and very high rate of exchange render difficult.
"We have just paid 200 and 210 per cent for $80, 072.2.9, which amount is now in the hands of John Fraser & Co. of Charleston, with orders to place the same to your credit in England."
The tightening blockade constantly constricted the Southern economy.
200 and 210 per cent? Did anyone ever hear of usury laws? How do I get in on this deal! Wait, too late.
Of course, Bulloch was to use the money to buy commerce raiders.
--Old B-Runner
"We have just paid 200 and 210 per cent for $80, 072.2.9, which amount is now in the hands of John Fraser & Co. of Charleston, with orders to place the same to your credit in England."
The tightening blockade constantly constricted the Southern economy.
200 and 210 per cent? Did anyone ever hear of usury laws? How do I get in on this deal! Wait, too late.
Of course, Bulloch was to use the money to buy commerce raiders.
--Old B-Runner
Monday, August 7, 2017
Writing About Fort Fisher in My RoadDog's RoadLog Blog
I have been writing about Fort Fisher in my RoadDog's RoadLog blog the last couple months.
Go to My Bloglist to the right of this entry to get to that blog.
You can find the accounts under N.C. Jan. 2017 headlines or just hit that label and see them all.
Fort Fisher is my most favorite Civil War site, or any historical site for that matter and a big reason why I became a teacher so I could teach history.
To say this place had a big impact on my life is a huge understatement.
--Old B-Runner
Go to My Bloglist to the right of this entry to get to that blog.
You can find the accounts under N.C. Jan. 2017 headlines or just hit that label and see them all.
Fort Fisher is my most favorite Civil War site, or any historical site for that matter and a big reason why I became a teacher so I could teach history.
To say this place had a big impact on my life is a huge understatement.
--Old B-Runner
USS Cimarron-- Part 2: Operated S.C., Georgia and Florida
The USS Cimarron was 205-feet long, 35-foot beam and armed with one 100-pdr rifle and six 24-pdr. howitzers. Its first commander was Commander Maxwell Woodhull.
It operated in the James River immediately after commissioning from 11 July to 4 September 1862 and saw action supporting Army operations. It engaged Confederates at Harrison's Landing 28 July, Fort Powhatan 31 July and Swan Point Battery 4 August. This is in disagreement with what I wrote about from the Civil War Naval Chronology back on August 1.
Then the Cimarron was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and operated in the coastal and inland waters of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida for the rest of the war.
It engaged Confederate batteries on the St. Johns River, Florida 17 September 1862 and in October was at the Battle of St. Johns Bluff.
During the course of its service, it captured three blockade runners and fired on Confederate troops ashore.
It was part of the attack on Fort Wagner on August 17, 20 and 21, 1863.
During January-February 1864 she operated in the Stono River in South Carolina.
--Old B-R'er
It operated in the James River immediately after commissioning from 11 July to 4 September 1862 and saw action supporting Army operations. It engaged Confederates at Harrison's Landing 28 July, Fort Powhatan 31 July and Swan Point Battery 4 August. This is in disagreement with what I wrote about from the Civil War Naval Chronology back on August 1.
Then the Cimarron was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and operated in the coastal and inland waters of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida for the rest of the war.
It engaged Confederate batteries on the St. Johns River, Florida 17 September 1862 and in October was at the Battle of St. Johns Bluff.
During the course of its service, it captured three blockade runners and fired on Confederate troops ashore.
It was part of the attack on Fort Wagner on August 17, 20 and 21, 1863.
During January-February 1864 she operated in the Stono River in South Carolina.
--Old B-R'er
The USS Cimarron-- Part 1: Armed for River and Blockade Duties
On August 1, I wrote about an engagement July 31-August 1, at Coggins' Point on the James River, Virginia, between a Confederate batteries which sank two Union transports before being engaged with the USS Cimarron in a fierce fight.
I'd never heard of the USS Cimarron, so had to look it up.
From good old Wikipedia.
The original name of the ship was the Cimerone. It was a double-ended steam gunboat, 860 tons, with a battery of six howitzers for river operations and a 100-pdr. rifle cannon for blockade duty.
It was commissioned 5 July 1862, and saw action very soon after that. She was decommissioned 7 August 1865 and sold in November 1865.
--Old B-Runner
I'd never heard of the USS Cimarron, so had to look it up.
From good old Wikipedia.
The original name of the ship was the Cimerone. It was a double-ended steam gunboat, 860 tons, with a battery of six howitzers for river operations and a 100-pdr. rifle cannon for blockade duty.
It was commissioned 5 July 1862, and saw action very soon after that. She was decommissioned 7 August 1865 and sold in November 1865.
--Old B-Runner
Saturday, August 5, 2017
North Carolina's Junior Reserves-- Part 5: Saw Action Late in the War
The Junior Reserves saw combat near the end of the war They helped defeat the Union attack on Fort Fisher on December 25, 1864, and also saw combat at the Battle of Kinston (Wyse Fork). March 18 to 21, they were at the Battle of Bentonville.
They sometimes performed with near unbelievable courage, but there were other times they weren't so stellar.
--Old B-Runner
They sometimes performed with near unbelievable courage, but there were other times they weren't so stellar.
--Old B-Runner
North Carolina's Junior Reserves-- Part 4: Walter Clark
Walter Clark was a young University of North Carolina graduate and was just 17 (17-year-old college grad?) when he was elected major of the 6th Battalion N.C. Jr. Reserves in May 1864. When it consolidated with another battalion to form the First Regiment N.C. Junior Reserves in June, he was elected major of that unit as well.
After the war he became a judge. In 1901, he edited the series of books "Histories of Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65."
While the young soldiers were in the military these young soldiers experienced the tedium of camp life, drills and guard duty, just like the older regiments They had long marches, faced bad weather and many died from disease.
--Old B-R'er
After the war he became a judge. In 1901, he edited the series of books "Histories of Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65."
While the young soldiers were in the military these young soldiers experienced the tedium of camp life, drills and guard duty, just like the older regiments They had long marches, faced bad weather and many died from disease.
--Old B-R'er
Fort Fisher's Beat the Heat Series Continues: USO and Welcoming Sherman
The Fort Fisher 2017 "Beat the Heat" summer lecture series continues for three more weeks.
Lectures are given at the Fort fisher Visitors Center's E. Gehrig Spencer Theater at 2 p.m..
TODAY AUGUST 5
Topic: "The USO: 75 Years of Helping Our Military."
Speaker: John W. Falkenbury, President of the USO of North Carolina. During World War II there were several USOs in Wilmington.
AUGUST 12
Topic: "Welcoming Sherman: Wilmington and the Cape Fear".
Speaker: Wayne Sokolosky. Historian and Author.
AUGUST 19
Topic: "Redcoats on the River: The Revolution in the Lower Cape Fear."
Speaker: Bert Dunkerly, NPS Park Ranger, Historian and Author.
Again, sure wish I could be there for these.
Just Too Far Away. --Old B-Runner
Lectures are given at the Fort fisher Visitors Center's E. Gehrig Spencer Theater at 2 p.m..
TODAY AUGUST 5
Topic: "The USO: 75 Years of Helping Our Military."
Speaker: John W. Falkenbury, President of the USO of North Carolina. During World War II there were several USOs in Wilmington.
AUGUST 12
Topic: "Welcoming Sherman: Wilmington and the Cape Fear".
Speaker: Wayne Sokolosky. Historian and Author.
AUGUST 19
Topic: "Redcoats on the River: The Revolution in the Lower Cape Fear."
Speaker: Bert Dunkerly, NPS Park Ranger, Historian and Author.
Again, sure wish I could be there for these.
Just Too Far Away. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, August 3, 2017
North Carolina Junior Reserves-- Part 3: An Estimated 4,400 Served
The Junior reserves were originally organized into eight battalions of 3-4 companies each. Over the next several months all but one battalion were consolidated into three regiments consisting of the standard ten companies each.
Gaps in the state records make it difficult to determine how many were in the Junior Reserves. But surviving records indicate at least 4,000 youths and postwar records show another 400.
Older men often acted as the leadership of the Junior Reserves.
--Old B-R'er
Gaps in the state records make it difficult to determine how many were in the Junior Reserves. But surviving records indicate at least 4,000 youths and postwar records show another 400.
Older men often acted as the leadership of the Junior Reserves.
--Old B-R'er
North Carolina's Junior Reserves-- Part 2: Supposed to Serve Only In Their State
The 17-year-old boys went to the Junior Reserves and the 45-50 -year-old men went to the Senior Reserves. Those not joining these reserves were drafted into regular combat units. When a member of the Junior Reserves turned 18, he was expected to transfer to a combat unit.
The Junior and Senior Reserves guarded key military sites like bridges, railway depots and prisons in the states from which they were organized (apparently, other Confederate attacks had Junior and Senior reserves). This released soldiers who were previously assigned these duties to combat duties.
The Reserves were not supposed to leave their home state, but that was suspended in the dire days as the war waned in late 1864. The North Carolina Junior reserves briefly went to Virginia on two occasions.
--Old B-Runner
The Junior and Senior Reserves guarded key military sites like bridges, railway depots and prisons in the states from which they were organized (apparently, other Confederate attacks had Junior and Senior reserves). This released soldiers who were previously assigned these duties to combat duties.
The Reserves were not supposed to leave their home state, but that was suspended in the dire days as the war waned in late 1864. The North Carolina Junior reserves briefly went to Virginia on two occasions.
--Old B-Runner
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
North Carolina's Junior Reserves-- Part 1: Confederate Conscription
From the NCpedia.
This past Friday I wrote about there being a N.C. Junior Reserves encampment at Fort Fisher over the weekend. There were members of this unit of 17-year-olds at the First Battle of Fort Fisher.
In 1862, the Confederate Congress passed a conscription act to establish the draft for all males ages 18-35. Later that year, the age was raised to 45, but, as in the North, there were exemptions for a variety of reasons or the men would be assigned to work in industries deemed essential to the war effort. A third conscription law passed in early 1864 brought many of the previously exempted men into combat units.
One provision of this third law was that it required 17-year-old boys and 45 to 50-year-old men to join up and serve in units of their own age group.
The boys became part of the Junior Reserves and the men became the Senior Reserves.
--Old B-Runner
This past Friday I wrote about there being a N.C. Junior Reserves encampment at Fort Fisher over the weekend. There were members of this unit of 17-year-olds at the First Battle of Fort Fisher.
In 1862, the Confederate Congress passed a conscription act to establish the draft for all males ages 18-35. Later that year, the age was raised to 45, but, as in the North, there were exemptions for a variety of reasons or the men would be assigned to work in industries deemed essential to the war effort. A third conscription law passed in early 1864 brought many of the previously exempted men into combat units.
One provision of this third law was that it required 17-year-old boys and 45 to 50-year-old men to join up and serve in units of their own age group.
The boys became part of the Junior Reserves and the men became the Senior Reserves.
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
July 31-August 1: Engagement on the James River and An Example of Heroism
JULY 31ST-AUGUST 1ST, 1862: Confederate batteries at Coggins' Point, Virginia, took Union forces under fire on the James River between Harrison's Landing and Shirley, Virginia, sinking two Army transports. The USS Cimarron, Commander Woodhull, immediately opened counter fire on the battery.
Praising Gunner's Mate John Merrett who, although extremely ill and awaiting transfer to a hospital, bravely manned his station in the main magazine, Commander Woodhull wrote: "Merrett is an old man-of-warsman; his discipline, courage, and patriotism would not brook inaction when his ship was in actual battle. His conduct, I humbly think, was a great example to all lovers of the country and its cause ... it is the act of a fine speciman of the old Navy tar."
This mutual respect between the naval officer and the long service enlisted man enabled the Navy to maintain its tone throughout the Civil War despite the rapid expansion.
Praising Gunner's Mate John Merrett who, although extremely ill and awaiting transfer to a hospital, bravely manned his station in the main magazine, Commander Woodhull wrote: "Merrett is an old man-of-warsman; his discipline, courage, and patriotism would not brook inaction when his ship was in actual battle. His conduct, I humbly think, was a great example to all lovers of the country and its cause ... it is the act of a fine speciman of the old Navy tar."
This mutual respect between the naval officer and the long service enlisted man enabled the Navy to maintain its tone throughout the Civil War despite the rapid expansion.
Sword Belonging to Commander of Black Civil War Unit Found
From the July 23,2017, Washington Post by Mark Pratt, AP.
Robert Gould Shaw, who like all officers in black units, was white. After he was killed at Fort Wagner he was stripped of his clothing and belongings by Confederate soldiers. His sword was recovered about two years later from a Confederate officer and returned to his parents.
(So, here, the sword was either recovered by a Confederate officer and returned to Shaw's parents or found in the possession of a Confederate officer, confiscated and returned to his parents.)
The sword's serial number matches the records of its maker, English swordsmith Henry Wilkinson.
It is tarnished and has some rust on the blade. There is also some wear on the handle even though Shaw had acquired it only a month before his death and used in battle just twice.
The blemishes on the sword are likely the result of a Confederate officer using this highly valuable sword for the rest of the war.
It is a very superior sword.
--Old B-Runner
Robert Gould Shaw, who like all officers in black units, was white. After he was killed at Fort Wagner he was stripped of his clothing and belongings by Confederate soldiers. His sword was recovered about two years later from a Confederate officer and returned to his parents.
(So, here, the sword was either recovered by a Confederate officer and returned to Shaw's parents or found in the possession of a Confederate officer, confiscated and returned to his parents.)
The sword's serial number matches the records of its maker, English swordsmith Henry Wilkinson.
It is tarnished and has some rust on the blade. There is also some wear on the handle even though Shaw had acquired it only a month before his death and used in battle just twice.
The blemishes on the sword are likely the result of a Confederate officer using this highly valuable sword for the rest of the war.
It is a very superior sword.
--Old B-Runner
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