USS Dawn-- Part 2: Potomac Flotilla and South Atlantic Blockading Squadron

The Dawn was assigned to duty with the Potomac Flotilla and sailed from New York May 11 and  took station at the mouth of the York River until September 24.  During that time, she captured three ships with contraband goods and passengers.  After repairs at the Washington Navy Yard,  she was sent to the Rappahannock River.

From  7 February to 27 April 1862 she had a new boiler installed at New York City, then stood out for Port Royal, South Carolina, for service in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  

Arriving on station  14 May, she patrolled  the coastal and inland waters of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, frequently exchanging fire with enemy shore batteries and joining in  the attacks on Fort McAllister of 27 January- 1 February 1863.

She also  assisted in the capture of several blockade runners, inclusing the Confederate privateer Nashville with a valuable cargo of cotton.

--Old B-Runner

USS Dawn

From Wikipedia.

This is David Franklin's ship whom I have been writing about earlier this month.

It was a steam operated  vessel acquired by the Union Navy.  It was built in 1857 by Samuel Sneden of New York City; chartered on 26 April 1861 and purchased 12 October 1861.  Outfitted in  New York Navy Yard and commissioned on 9 May 1861.  Commander W. Chandler was in command.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length:   154 feet

Beam:  28 feet

Draft:  12 feet

Speed:  8 knots

Complement:  60

Armament:  two 32-pounder guns

--Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Hosting a World War II Living History Event Saturday, Oct. 15

Fort Fisher, of course, a major Civil War battlefield, also played an important role some 80 years later during World War II when it was used as an anti-aircraft gun training camp.  The use of planes to tow the targets resulted in the destruction of several mounds along the land face (behind the current visitors center).

For more information on the event, go to my October 13 Tattooed on Your Soul: World War II blog.  Just click on the spot in the My Blogs section to the right of this to take you there.

--Old Anti-Aircraft Guy

Black Navy Veteran David Franklin Gets Gravestone 100 Years Later-- Part 4

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was the nation's firts veteran's organization.  It was dissolved after the last member died in the 1950s.  Loran Bures belongs to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), the successor of the GAR.

Bures worked with Oakwood Hills owner  Corey Gaffney to confirm that Franklin was buried there and missing his tombstone.

The SUVCW  is considered by the Veterans Administration as being Franklin's legal next of kin and therefore, Bures was able to apply for a government headstone.  This is at no cost to the SUVCW or Bures.

Marking David Franklin's grave is also personal to Bures because his great-great grandfather, another Civil War veteran, is buried  just steps from Franklin's grave.     Both men were members of the Custer Post of the GAR in tacoma.

Thank You Mr. Bures and Mr. Gaffney.  --Old B-Runner

Black Navy Veteran David Franklin Finally Gets His Gravestone-- Part 3

Of interest, records show that David Franklin enlisted in the hospital corps of the 2nd Regiment of the Washington National Guard Infantry in 1906.  (Quite an elderly age to be doing that.)

According to census records, Franklin died March 16, 1920, at age 79 at home on South 4th Street.

His death certificate shows that he was a widower, but no other records have been found that he had a wife or children.  They are still looking for family descendants.

The discovery of  Franklin came about when Bures was trying to identify every single Union veteran buried in Pierce County.  He was aided by a 1939  survey conducted by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a Depression-era New Deal agency aimed at employing people for government projects.

WPA workers created  biographical cards for all war veterans of Pierce County.  The original cards are stored in the Tacoma  Public Library.  About 75% of the 2,000 cards are of Civil War veterans.

--Old B-Runner

Black Navy Veteran Finally Gets Tombstone, David Franklin-- Part 2: Service on the USS Dawn

Not much is known about David Frankin's early life except that he was born free in New York in 1840.  He enlisted in the Union Navy on Nocvember 13, 1863 at age 23.

The young  sailor was assigned to the USS Dawn as an officers' steward and cook.  The steamer Dawn  was 154-feet long and  had a crew of 63 with 3 officers.  Seventeen percent of the crew were Blacks.  It was a part of te North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and spent most of its time on the James River.

On May 24, 1864, about 2,500 Confederates attacked the Union supply depot at Wilson's Wharf, Virginia.  They were repulsed by two black regiments totalling 1,100 men, with the help of the USS Dawn's guns.  The Confederates lost 200 men and Union just 40.

Franklin was discharged from Union service on March 31, 1865.

What happened to him after the war is lost to hostory until he appears on the roster as a member of a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) camp in Tacoma, Washington.  An 1899 Tacoma city directory lists him as a  broiler at Donnelly Cafe, which was attched to the Hotel Donnelly.

--Old B-Runner

Black Civil War Naval Veteran Finally Gets Headstone in Tacoma, Washington-- Part 1: David Franklin

From the October 6, 2022, Stars and Stripes  by Craig Sailor, The News Tribune.

For the past century, a row of military graves in Tacoma's (Washington) Oakwood Hill Cemetery has had a conspicuous gap.  Only a patch of grass marked the final resting place of  David Franklin, Tacoma's only black naval veteran from the Civil War.

That changes this Saturday when a years-long effort speared by a Civil War historian will finally bring Franklin the white marble tombstone that was forgotten in 1920.

Historian Loran Bures' quest for that tombstone began in 2017 when he was researching Pierce County's Civil War veterans and found documents listing David Franklin and his burial at Oakwood Hill.  But when he visited the cemetery, he was unable to find his grave.

Using cemetery records, he founjd that the gap in that neat row of military graves was indeed Franklin's last resting place.

"As any veteran of the United States they should receive their proper burial honors," said Bures.  "That's what we're trying to rectify after 102 years."

So Proud of Mr. Bures for His Accomplishment.  --Old B-Runner

Cape Romain, South Carolina

The USS George Mangham was ordered to patril off Cape Romain.

Cape Romain, South Carolina, is located about half way between Charleston and Georgetown.  It is now part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, extending 22 miles along the state's coast.  The headquarters  and visitor center is located about 30 minutes by car from Charleston on US-17.

It is the site of two surviving lighthouses, the oldest one was the one John Collins was ordered to inspect.  Bulls Island is a part of it.

As they say, it hosts a plethora of wildlife.

Plethora?  --Old B-Runner

Some More on John Collins: Blockading Cape Romain, S.C.

From Official Records Navy (ORN).

On August 1, 1862, the mortar ships were at Hampton Roads and John Collins was listed as in command of the USS George Mangham.  So, evidently, he was back.

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On April 2, 1864, the USS George Mangham, now part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, was ordered to proceed to Cape Romain, S.C., and blockade the main channel which ran by the lighthouse.

In addition, the ship was to anchor as near to the lighthouse as possible and to reconnoiter the island if the opportunity offered.

The commander of the Mangham at the time was none other than John Collins Jr.

--Old B-Runner

John Collins, Acting Master, USN-- Part 3: Enter John M. Richard(son)

I came across an article in the 2014  Quarterly Bulletin of the Boulder Genealogical Society about the naval service of John Marshall Richard(son), who also served on the USS George Mangham for part of the war.

He was appointed Acting Master's Mate and ordered to David D. Porter's mortar flotolla for the attacks on Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

On December 31, 1861, he was ordered to join the crew of the USS George Mangham.

This was while the ship was under the command of John Collins, Jr., but, on April 8, 1862, Lt. Commander Walter W. Queen of the schooner USS T. A. Ward and told that he was relieved of command of the Mangham and was to turn over all papers relating therefor to the executive officer of the ship, John M. Richards.

In the last post I said it was my belief that Collins had remained in command of the USS George Mangham for the whole war.

Shows what I know and don't.

--Olf Clueless

John Collins, Acting Master, USN-- Part 2

From "The Capture of New Orleans" by Chester G. Hearn.

On April 18, the USS George Mangham, under Acting Master John Collins, Jr., received a shot in her port bow that passed through the galley and lodged in the mortar bed.  But, the ship continued to operate its mortar.

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From the ORN: South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  Operation at Bull's Bay February 19, 1865.

The George Mangham took part at at one point the field artillery of the landed forces was under command of John Collins.

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From the U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900.

JOHN COLLINS

Acting Master  21 December 1861.  Honorably discharged 19 September 1865.  Evidently he commanded the George Mangham for the duration of the war.

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Evidently, John Collins commanded the USS George Mangham his whole Civil War naval career.

--Old B-Runner

John Collins, Jr., Acting Master, USN

John Collins commanded the USS George Mangham when it was commissioned.  

From the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers for 1863.

I found a list of USN officers and for the Mangham, it had him in command and Acting Master's Mates Erick Gabrielson and James McDonald.

From the Official Records Navy, John Collins reported to Rear Admiral Dahlgren on December 30, 1863, that at 4 am that morning, they had picked up a boat with 13 contrabands on it at Murrill's Inlet (his spelling), S.C..  They gave important information  about the local area and saltworks.

They also said that there was a schooner in the inlet loaded with turpentine waiting to run out.  And, there are four companes of soldiers, principally cavalry, engaged  in protecting the saltworks and patrolling the beach.

--Old B-Runner

There Is a Book "Defending South Carolina's Coast' by Rick Simmons

I came across a book written about the Fort Randall, Fort Ward area by Rick Simmons titled "Defending  South Carolina's Coast:  The Civil War from Georgetown to Little River."  It is an Arcadia book and Simmons, an area native, relates the often overlooked stories of the Upper South Carolina Coast during the war.  (Obviously a whole lot has been written about the Charleston area.)

As a base of operations for  more than three thousand  troops early in the war and the site of more than a dozen forts, almost every inch of  the coast was effected by  and hotly contested during the Civil War.

From the skirmishes at Fort Randall in Little River to repeated Union naval bombardments of Murrells Inlet to the unrealized  potential of the massive  fortifications at Battery White and the sinking of the USS Harvest Moon in Winyah Bay, the region's colorful Civil War history is unfolded here at last.

This book would also contain information about John Collins,the USS George Mangham and USS Fernanandina which I have been writing about a lot lately.

I Just Might Have to Get Me a Copy.  --Old B-Runner

USS George Mangham-- Part 4: Looking for Raiders, Potomas Flotilla and SABS

The George Mangham was then assigned to the Potomac Flotilla 22 December; and until  10 July 1863, she suppressed blockade runners, capturing four prizes in the  lower Potomac River.  She was then taken to the Washington Navy Yard and fitted out for cruising in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Authorities in Washington, D.C., were  greatly concerned about attacks of Confederate raiders and the George Mangham was assigned to protect American merchant ships and fishing craft.  Leaving Washington  5 August, she cruised off the Magdalen Islands and Prince Edward Island; without detecting any Confederate ships.

She departed  Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, 5 November for New York Navy Yard.  After repairs, she  sailed 5 December to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron for blockade duty off  Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina.

While engaged in this work, on 7 January 1864, she moved close to shore and destroyed the beached blockade runner Dare which had been driven ashore by larger Union blockaders.

She then sailed to Charleston, S.C.,  and continued blockade service  of the South Carolina coast in the area of  Cape Romain, St. Helena Sound, and Bull's Bay for the remainder of the year.

Returning to  Port Royal, South Carolina,  5 January 1865, the Mangham was assigned temporarily to Key West, Florida, in March.

She returned to New York Navy Yard  9 August; decommissioned  9 September; and was sold at public office to D. T. Trendy 27 September 1865.

--Old B-Runner

USS George Mangham-- Part 3: At Vicksburg and Back East

The USS George Mangham departed from the Mississippi River on 27 April 1862 and spent the next month cruising off Pensacola, Florida.  Commander David Porter again assembled his mortar fleet at Pensacola and sailed 3 June to support the Union movement up the Mississippi River, arriving off Vicksburg, Mississippi,  20 June.

She assisted in the passage of the batteries there.  Supported strongly by the mortar bombardment, Farragut  steamed past the formidable  Confederate works  28 June to join with Commodore Chales H. Davis further up the river.

The Mangham then returned downriver, engaging Confederate artillery on the riverbanks from time to time.  After passing Grand Gulf, Mississippi, she arrived at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 12 July.

From there, she proceeded to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she moored 30 July.  Remaining at Hampton Roads until 29 August, the George Mangham first proceeded to to Baltimore, Maryland, then served as a guard ship on the Potomac River at Piney Point, Maryland.

--Old B-Runner