158th Anniversary of the Fall of Fort Fisher This Weekend-- Part 1

From the January 8, 2023, Port City News (Wilmington, North Carolina) "158th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher reenacts Civil War times."

History comes alive this coming weekend with the 158th anniversary of the fall of Fort Fisher.

It is free and open to the public and the theme is "With Artillery, War Is Made" and will be held January 14 from 10 am to 4 pm.  The living history program will focus on the artillery used at Fort Fisher during the Civil War.

There will,be demonstrations of the 32-pounder banded and  rifled seacoast gun, 12-pound Parrott  gun at  10 am, noon, 1:30 and 3 pm.

--Old B-Runner

Now that West Point is divesting itself of any and all things Confederate, I'm thinking that the 150-pdr. Armstrong gun at Trophy Point that was captured at Fort Fisher which was a CONFEDERATE FORT by the way, should be "divested" back to our fort.

USS Passaic-- Part 5: Took a Pounding at Charleston

In addition to the fortifications protecting Charleston Harbor, the channel had been heavily mined and filled with cables and obstructions to prevent passage of enemy ships.

In all, the Confederates had massed more than 300 guns.

It was into this inferno of fire that the Union fleet advanced to attack on April 7, 1863.  In the 45 minutes in which the action lasted, the Confederates fired 3,500 shots and shells and repelled the attack.

The ironclad USS Keokuk was sunk and all the others hit several times.  The object of the attack, Fort Sumter was only slightly damaged.

During the short battle, the Passaic had fired  thirteen shots and hit thirty-four times.  As a result, she was sent to New York for repairs and recommissioned  on July 19, 1863.  Lt. Commander Edward Simpson replaced Captain Drayton in command.

Arriving back in the blockade off Charleston, the Passaic took part in every engagement against the city and its defenses until the end of the war.

--Old B-Runner

USS Passaic-- Part 4: Heavily Fortified Charleston

At this stage of the Civil War, Charleston had become  a comparatively  unimportant  point in the overall strategy of the war.  However, the Federal  government felt  that the reduction of Fort Sumter, where the war started, and the capture of Charleston would be a great moral victory in a struggle that wasn't going so well for the North at this juncture.

Du Pont was ordered to attack the Charleston defenses with a fleet of nine ironclads and five wooden ships.  After the Confederate guns were silenced, an army of 4,000 troops commanded by General Truman Seymour would proceed to attack the city itself.

However, during the two years after the attack on Fort Sumter, the Confederates had turned Charleston into one of the most protected Southern ports.  Forts Moultrie and Sumter had been rebuilt, a strong position named Fort Wagner had been constructed on Morris Island, directly opposite of Sumter.

Battery Bee had been erected on Sullivan's Island and numerous other fortifications had been built along the banks of Charleston's two rivers.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Passaic-- Part 3: Battling Fort McAllister

The Passaic was made the flagship of the small squadron and Captain Percival Drayton in charge of the operation against Fort McAllister.

Drayton was a member of an old and distinguished South Carolina family, but had chosen to remain in the U.S. Navy.  He had faced a brother, Confederate General Thomas F. Drayton earlier in the war at the Battle of Port Royal.

The Passaic led the small Union fleet into action and into position just 1,200 yards from the guns of the fort.  From 8:40 am to 3:30 pm, the Passaic fired 52 projectiles at the fort and was his 34 times.  In his report of the action,  Captain Downes of the monitor USS Nahant, said that all of the fort's guns were concentrated on the Passaic.

The attack was not successful in capturing the fort, but, the Passaic had proved beyond a doubt that monitors were capable of withstanding heavy fire which would have sunk any wooden ship.

--Old B-Runner

Outreach Program Planned for Fort Fisher-- Part 2: A Walk and a Presentation

Fort Fisher Interpreter and Education and Outreach Coordinator  Kaitlin O'Connor will lead tours of the fort Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and  3 p.m..  She will talk about Blacks and Indians who built the fort as well as the contributions of Blacks at the battle itself.

The tour lasts for about half an hour and covers less than half a mile of paved trail.  Tickets are $5 at the door.

In the exhibit hall there will be a tabletop display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with staff to talk about some of the aforementioned topics.

On January 8, she will present "Tis Grand to Know:  People of the Wilmington Campaign" at the  Main Branch of the New Hanover County Library at 3 p.m..  The free presentation will offer a fresh overview of the Wilmington Campaign through an examination of the diverse people caught up in it.

--Old B-Runner

Outreach Series Planned at Fort Fisher-- Part 1

From the December 29, 2022, WECT (Wilmington, N.C.) "Education and outreach series to include guided tours of Fort Fisher, presentation at New Hanover Co. library."

The series is called "Dwell with Gratitude and Pride:  New Perspectives on the Wilmington Campaign."  This will include a tour of Fort Fisher on Saturday, January 7.

The series will feature weekly educational events at various lcations throughout the county and will explore the diverse experiences of people swept into the Union's campaign to capture Wilmington after the fall of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.  Wilmington fell on February 22, 1865.

Black, white,  Asian, Indigenous  and Hispanic people were involved.  Participants can learn about those experiences through guided tours, speakers and costumed interpretation programs according to the North Carolina Department of Natiral and Cultural Resources.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Passaic-- Part 2: In Same Storm That Sank the USS Monitor

This is continuing with my RoadTrippin' Thru History with Edward Simpson who commanded the ship during the fighting at Charleston, S.C., in 1863.

Boiler problems along the way from New York caused a stop at the Washington Navy Yard for repairs.  While there, President Lincoln and his cabinet inspected the ship on December 6, 1862.  On December 29, she sailed from Hampton Roads in the company of the original USS Monitor.

They encountered rough weather off Cape Hatteras and the USS Monitor sank.  The Passaic survived the storm and reached Beaufort, S.C., safely on January 1, 1863.

Her first assignement was to patrol off  Wassau Sound, Georgia, where she captured the schooner Glide, a blockade runner loaded with cotton.

By now, the other Passaic-class monitors had been completed and joined the Passaic at Wassau Sound.  Admiral DuPont decided to test the ability of the monitors agains enemy fortifications and ordered an attack on Fort McAllister, Georgia.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Passaic-- Part 1: 'The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy'

From the Passaic County Historical Society "USS Passaic"  by Alfred P. Cappio.

The monitor USS Paissaic was commanded by Edward Simpson in the 1863 attack on Charleston and Fort Sumter.

The USS Passaic was named after the Passaic River in New Jersey.

"It is doubtful that any other ship in the Union Navy fought in more actions, fired more shells at enemy fortifications, or was hit more often by enemy fire than  the Passaic.  Truly this ship might well be called "The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy."

After the success of the USS Monitor, nine more monitors were ordered from John Ericsson at his Greenpoint (now Brooklyn) shipyard. The first to be completed was the USS Passaic, launched on August  30th and commissioned  at the New York Navy Yard on November 25, 1862.

Two days later, under the command of Captain Percival Drayton, she sailed to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron under  Admiral DuPont at Port Royal, South Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

Edward Simpson, USN-- Part 4: His Career to Retirement

Upon his return to the United States he was promoted to Rear Admiral and next became President of the Advisory Board, which position he gave up in 1885 for that of President of the Board of Inspection.

Simpson was regarded as an authority on all matters pertaining to ordnance and was the author of three books on the subject now used as teaxtbooks at the Naval Academy.

Throughout his career he acted  in an advisory capacity on issues relating to ordnance, and one of his last offices was that of member of advisory boards whch designed the cruisers Boston, Chicago and Atlanta.  

At the time of Simpsin's retirement,  he had served 46 years in the U.S. Navy.  In 1920, the Navy commissioned the destroyer USS Simpson in honor of his service to his country.

--Old B-Runner

RoadTrippin': Edward Simpson-- Part 2: Service Before the Civil War

From Find-A-Grave.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.

His first service was as a midshipman in 1840 aboard the sloop of war USS Decatur which was on patrol off the coast of Brazil.  His next assignment was to the frigate USS Congress in the Mediterranean and Brazil squadrons.

After a year on station, he returned to Annapolis.  In 1846, he was promoted to the rank of midshipman and next served on the USS Vixen during the Mexican War where he was present on the attacks on the forts of Alvarado under Commodore Conner, and at two attacks on Tabasco under Commodore Perry and at the capture of Tampico.  He was also involved with the siege of Vera Cruz.

After them Mexican War, he returned to the Brazil Squadron and a short time later returned to the Naval Academy and was assigned as  an instructor in naval gunnery and infantry tactics.

Prior to the Civil war, he was promoted to  Master, then Lieutenant.

--Old B-Runner

RoadTrippin': Edward Simpson, USN-- Part 3: The Civil War and Afterwards

In 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and in 1863, was in command of the monitor USS Pasaic in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.  He took part in the attacks on Fort Wagner in July and August 1863 and Fort Sumter in August and September 1863.

He was promoted to Commander in 1865 and Captain in 1870.  The next two years were spent in Europe on special duty.  During 1877 he was detaled at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as Captain, and in 1878, having been promoted to Commodore,  he was commanding officer of the New London Naval Station.

In 1881, Simpson took over as Commanding Officer of the League Island Navy Yard and in 1884 was appointed resident of the Gun Foundry Board.  He left the states again and traveled to Europe for several months for advisory purposes.

--Old B-Runner

Still RoadTrippin' Thru History: Admiral Edward Simpson

This all started with an article about a watch given to Alban Stimers by the U.S. president for his work on the USS Monitor and other monitors that is still in possession of his great-granddaughter.  Alban Stimers is buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.  As part of RoadTrippin' I also take a look at others buried there.

Here is another one buried there and with a Civil War connection (even a monitor one).

EDWARD SIMPSON

BIRTH:  3 March 1824, New York City

DEATH:  1 December 1888  (aged 64),   Washington, D.C.

BURIAL:   Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York City.

--Old B-Runner

The Last Christmas at Fort Fisher (1864)-- Part 3: The Christmas Assault

On the afternoon of December 24, 1864, the United States fleet opened fire on Fort Fisher.  The heavy cannonade continued for the next two days.  The booming of the cannons could distintively be heard in Wilmington, about twenty miles away.

Despite the terrific bombardment, Colonel Lamb noted that the greatest penetration into his sand defenses was not more than five feet perpendicularly.

The fleet was all floating in a stately line of battle in three main lines and five ironclads anchored in close to the fort.  There were frigates (some of whom carried as many guns as could be found in the whole fort) Very late in the day on the 26th, the firing ceased and the fleet moved further out to sea.

No serious damage had been done to the fort and the men were in high spirits over the enemy's retreat.  In the evening, they sang "Lorena" and other songs and their stringed instruments played lively airs.

Fisher Lives to Fight Another Day.  --Old B-Runner

The Last Christmas at Fort Fisher (1864)-- Part 2

All drills, inspections aqnd even guard mountings were suspended during the cold and icy weather, especially when the wind blew from the direction of the ocean.  A man hardly dared poke his nose out of the bunkers or tents, except to go for wood and water and to draw his rations.

Every style of camp architecture was to be found within the fort, including hut, hovel, shack and shed plus the underground bunkers inside the high earthworks around the fort itself.

Some of the men tried to bring some of the hilarity and cheerfulness into camp, and then again, some did not.  There were mixed emotions all morning with thoughts of family and home and the downfall of the war effort throughout the South.

--Old B-Runner

The Last Christmas at Fort Fisher (1864)--Part 1: Cheerless

From the December 2022 Federal Point Historic Preservation Society Newsletter.

From a 1973 Wilmington-Starc News article by Bill Reaves.

It was certainly a cheerless Christmas Eve, 133 years ago (now 158 years ago in 2022) inside the high earthen walls of Fort Fisher.  The weather was frightful and the Confederacy was on its knees.

Each Confederate soldier attempted to get some kind of dinner in honor of the holiday, and some were fortunate enough to receive some meager food boxes from Wilmington and surrounding areas.

Some were very unfortunate indeed whose homes were great distances away and they had nothing whatever delectable which would impart some memory of Christmas in the past.

Great genius was necessary to create a holiday dinner out of a pound of fat pork, six crackers and a quart of dried apples.  It was not impossible to see a bit of culinary art burst forth with apple dumplings, with which some sorghum molasses were not to be despised.

--Old B-Runner