From the July 4, 2011, Virginia Daily Pilot.
Fort Wool, originally named Fort Calhoun, is on a man-made island in the middle of Hampton Roads, Virginia, guarding the northern side of the channel in combination with Fort Monroe.
A young officer named Robert E. Lee was stationed there at one time.
The fort was off-limits from 2003 to 2006 after Hurricane Isabel wrecked the pier. Some 20,000 people visited it each year. Today, the Miss Hampton II Harbor Cruises run two trips each day to the fort from downtown Hampton.
Fort Monroe has always been much more famous, especially back in 2011 when the Army was preparing to turn it over to the State of Virginia.
The Army left Fort Wool in 1967 and turned it over to the Virginia. The town of Hampton leases it from the state.
It was built after the War of 1812 as a further deterrent to the British. Construction began in 1819 when crews began dumping tons of granite boulders Four years later, an island rising six feet from the water had been formed. It was one of 41 forts built by the United States for defense of coastal waters.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
A Mighty Good Time at Fort Fisher 30 Years Ago-- Part 2
AUGUST 3RD, 1982
Ran again without Julie. She does not like to get up at 6:30 AM to run. After swimming, I went to Fort Fisher and found still more material to copy.
Ron and Mary believe Gehrig is a poor site manager as he has been there for 17 tears and has done little in the way of improving the exhibits or making anything along the walking tour which would better enable persons to relate to the fort.
AUGUST 4TH, 1982
Ran to Fort Fisher with Julie and then back to Kure Beach. Sat on the pier and walked back to Carolina Beach. Seemed a very long walk back as the beach sand is very slanted and the only flat areas consist of the soft stuff. Both are extremely hard on the feet. Julie says she will not do this again.
I went to the Blockade-Runner where I stayed until Bob picked me up at 4:45.
Still Not Getting My Fisher Fill. --Old B-Runner
Ran again without Julie. She does not like to get up at 6:30 AM to run. After swimming, I went to Fort Fisher and found still more material to copy.
Ron and Mary believe Gehrig is a poor site manager as he has been there for 17 tears and has done little in the way of improving the exhibits or making anything along the walking tour which would better enable persons to relate to the fort.
AUGUST 4TH, 1982
Ran to Fort Fisher with Julie and then back to Kure Beach. Sat on the pier and walked back to Carolina Beach. Seemed a very long walk back as the beach sand is very slanted and the only flat areas consist of the soft stuff. Both are extremely hard on the feet. Julie says she will not do this again.
I went to the Blockade-Runner where I stayed until Bob picked me up at 4:45.
Still Not Getting My Fisher Fill. --Old B-Runner
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: October 30th to Oct. 31st, 1862: A Bounty for the Alabama and Torpedoes
OCTOBER 30TH
That pesky CSS Alabama!! I have been noting the names of the ships the CSS Alabama was capturing and it was becoming a real pain in the side of the Lincoln administration The Navy department would give $500,000 to anyone who captured and delivery of the ship, or $300,000 if it was destroyed, if, of course, Congress authorized the expenditure. In addition, a dozen Navy ships were out looking for it.
USS Daylight captured the schooner Racer between Stump Inlet and New Topsail Inlet, NC, with cargo of salt.
In a little blockading clarification, Rear Admiral Du Pont ordered that foreign ships captured while running the blockade would continue to fly the flag of their country until their cases decided. However, the US flag will be flown at the fore to show it is under U.S. charge.
OCTOBER 31ST
During October, the Confederate Congress formalized a Torpedo Bureau in Richmond under General Gabriel Rains and a Naval Submarine Battery Service under Lt. Hunter Davidson. The purpose was to organize and improve methods of torpedo (mine) warfare that was pioneered by Commander Matthew Fonaine Maury.
Old B-Runner
That pesky CSS Alabama!! I have been noting the names of the ships the CSS Alabama was capturing and it was becoming a real pain in the side of the Lincoln administration The Navy department would give $500,000 to anyone who captured and delivery of the ship, or $300,000 if it was destroyed, if, of course, Congress authorized the expenditure. In addition, a dozen Navy ships were out looking for it.
USS Daylight captured the schooner Racer between Stump Inlet and New Topsail Inlet, NC, with cargo of salt.
In a little blockading clarification, Rear Admiral Du Pont ordered that foreign ships captured while running the blockade would continue to fly the flag of their country until their cases decided. However, the US flag will be flown at the fore to show it is under U.S. charge.
OCTOBER 31ST
During October, the Confederate Congress formalized a Torpedo Bureau in Richmond under General Gabriel Rains and a Naval Submarine Battery Service under Lt. Hunter Davidson. The purpose was to organize and improve methods of torpedo (mine) warfare that was pioneered by Commander Matthew Fonaine Maury.
Old B-Runner
Monday, October 29, 2012
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: October 28th to Oct. 29th,1862: But, Who Would Want to Capture That?
OCTOBER 28TH
Group led by Lt. John Taylor Wood, CSN, boarded, captured and burned the ship Alligator at anchor in the Chesapeake Bay off the mouth of the Rappahannock River with a cargo of guano from Baltimore to London. Something's mighty batty around here. Now who would want to capture a load of ..... .
CSS Alabama captured and burned Lauratta south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
USS Montgomery, Commander Hunter, captured b-r steamer Carolina near Pensacola. Usually I just do blockade-runners off Wilmington, but this was the guy and ship that in trouble for capturing a b-r in Cuban waters that I wrote about last week.
OCTOBER 29TH
Landing party from the USS Ellis, Lt. Cushing, destroyed a large Confederate salt works at New Topsail Inlet, NC. Cushing reported that "it could have furnished all Wilmington with salt."
USS Dan exchanged fire with Confederate troops near Sabine Pass, Texas. It shelled the town on Oct. 30th and landed sailors and burned a mill and several buildings.
CSS Alabama seized the brigantine Baron de Castine south of Nova Scotia. The ship was old and of little value so Semmes reported, "I released her on ransom bond and converted her into a cartel, sending some forty-five prisoners on board of her--the crews of the three last ships burned."
Some Mighty Good Pickins Off Nova Scotia. --Old B-Runner
Group led by Lt. John Taylor Wood, CSN, boarded, captured and burned the ship Alligator at anchor in the Chesapeake Bay off the mouth of the Rappahannock River with a cargo of guano from Baltimore to London. Something's mighty batty around here. Now who would want to capture a load of ..... .
CSS Alabama captured and burned Lauratta south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
USS Montgomery, Commander Hunter, captured b-r steamer Carolina near Pensacola. Usually I just do blockade-runners off Wilmington, but this was the guy and ship that in trouble for capturing a b-r in Cuban waters that I wrote about last week.
OCTOBER 29TH
Landing party from the USS Ellis, Lt. Cushing, destroyed a large Confederate salt works at New Topsail Inlet, NC. Cushing reported that "it could have furnished all Wilmington with salt."
USS Dan exchanged fire with Confederate troops near Sabine Pass, Texas. It shelled the town on Oct. 30th and landed sailors and burned a mill and several buildings.
CSS Alabama seized the brigantine Baron de Castine south of Nova Scotia. The ship was old and of little value so Semmes reported, "I released her on ransom bond and converted her into a cartel, sending some forty-five prisoners on board of her--the crews of the three last ships burned."
Some Mighty Good Pickins Off Nova Scotia. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Cuban Missile Crisis Had a Counterpart in the Civil War-- Part 2
The blockade-runner General Rusk, though in Spanish waters was boarded and captured. Somehow a fire broke out and destroyed the vessel.
Commander Charles S. Hunter of the USS Montgomery thought he had clear orders from Farragut to end the Rusk's blockade-running days and he was extremely proud of his accomplishment. He boasted of it and went on to capture two more runners.
What he didn't know was that the Spanish government was enraged and even went so far as to threaten war if something wasn't done, something the Lincoln administration definitely didn't want at this point. The good commander was court-martialed and Secretary of State Seward was forced to issue a formal apology and pay $300,000.
Hunter was cleared of military misconduct at the court martial, but guilty of violating neutral waters and removed from service.
Oh Well. --Old B-Runner
Commander Charles S. Hunter of the USS Montgomery thought he had clear orders from Farragut to end the Rusk's blockade-running days and he was extremely proud of his accomplishment. He boasted of it and went on to capture two more runners.
What he didn't know was that the Spanish government was enraged and even went so far as to threaten war if something wasn't done, something the Lincoln administration definitely didn't want at this point. The good commander was court-martialed and Secretary of State Seward was forced to issue a formal apology and pay $300,000.
Hunter was cleared of military misconduct at the court martial, but guilty of violating neutral waters and removed from service.
Oh Well. --Old B-Runner
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Mighty Good Time at Fort Fisher 30 Years Ago
From my journal.
JULY 31ST
Saturday. At the cottage. Dad got wiped out by a wave swimming at Carolina Beach and refused to let us get him an ambulance to take him to the hospital. It was that serious. Mom and Dad left for Goldsboro for tomorrow's Hood Reunion. Julie and Tommy arrived and we went to the boardwalk until midnight.
AUGUST 1ST
Sunday. The first-ever reunion of the Prince family with 60 people, catered by Wilber's. Julie, Tommy and I went back to the cottage in Carolina Beach, along with Bob and Cathy.
AUGUST 2ND
Monday. Back to the regular routine of a run, followed by swim in the ocean and then Fort Fisher research. Not a bad way to spend a vacation.
Went to Fort Fisher and copied until my hand felt like it would fall off. I will keep writing as long as I can while I'm here.
I helped Ron Graham prepare some of the talk he was going to give on Fort Fisher during his guided tours. This is a great idea as most people visiting the fort can not conceptualize what it was. They have much easier times with forts like Macon and Pulaski which are masonry and brick.
I'm Glad the Guided Tours Continue To This Day. --Old B-Runner
JULY 31ST
Saturday. At the cottage. Dad got wiped out by a wave swimming at Carolina Beach and refused to let us get him an ambulance to take him to the hospital. It was that serious. Mom and Dad left for Goldsboro for tomorrow's Hood Reunion. Julie and Tommy arrived and we went to the boardwalk until midnight.
AUGUST 1ST
Sunday. The first-ever reunion of the Prince family with 60 people, catered by Wilber's. Julie, Tommy and I went back to the cottage in Carolina Beach, along with Bob and Cathy.
AUGUST 2ND
Monday. Back to the regular routine of a run, followed by swim in the ocean and then Fort Fisher research. Not a bad way to spend a vacation.
Went to Fort Fisher and copied until my hand felt like it would fall off. I will keep writing as long as I can while I'm here.
I helped Ron Graham prepare some of the talk he was going to give on Fort Fisher during his guided tours. This is a great idea as most people visiting the fort can not conceptualize what it was. They have much easier times with forts like Macon and Pulaski which are masonry and brick.
I'm Glad the Guided Tours Continue To This Day. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Don't Want to Lose Fort Gaines
From the June 10, 2011, Mobile (Ala) Press Register editorial "We Can't Lose Fort Gaines: Piece of the Past."
The fort is best-known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay "the last major naval engagement of the Civil War," as the editors called it. That would be true if they were referring to a ship vs. ship fight, but not for ships versus fort, which would be Fort Fisher and Fort Anderson in North Carolina.
Fort Gaines is losing land to erosion at a startling rate due to fierce storms, rising water levels and dredging for the Mobile Ship Canal.
The fort made the National Trust for Historic Places' "Eleven Most-Endangered List." In 2009 it was on the list of the Civil War Preservation Trust's Most Endangered Battlefields.
The original cannons and brickwork are "too precious to be washed into the Gulf of Mexico." The site has already lost 400-feet of shoreline. One possible solution is beach nourishment where clean sand from near Sand Island Lighthouse could be hauled in.
Let's Hope It Is Saved. --Old B-Runner
The fort is best-known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay "the last major naval engagement of the Civil War," as the editors called it. That would be true if they were referring to a ship vs. ship fight, but not for ships versus fort, which would be Fort Fisher and Fort Anderson in North Carolina.
Fort Gaines is losing land to erosion at a startling rate due to fierce storms, rising water levels and dredging for the Mobile Ship Canal.
The fort made the National Trust for Historic Places' "Eleven Most-Endangered List." In 2009 it was on the list of the Civil War Preservation Trust's Most Endangered Battlefields.
The original cannons and brickwork are "too precious to be washed into the Gulf of Mexico." The site has already lost 400-feet of shoreline. One possible solution is beach nourishment where clean sand from near Sand Island Lighthouse could be hauled in.
Let's Hope It Is Saved. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Cuban Missile Crisis Had a Counterpart in the Civil War-- Part 1
From the Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial Blog "Playing with Fire Off the Cuban Coast in Oct. 1862."
This past Monday, October 22nd was an eventful day in the U.S. history. And, it scared me more than any Halloween monster. This was the date in 1962 that President Kennedy went on the TV and said that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from our country. I thought this signalled the end of the world in a nuclear holocaust. I wrote about it in my Cooter's History Thing Blog for that date.
But, 100 years before that, events unfolded that almost led to another war. Of course, the Civil War was underway, but the United States came close to having a war with Spain over something that happened in Cuba.
A lively trade developed during the war consisting of cotton from Matamoras, Mexico, military supplies from Havana, Cuba and Mobile, Alabama.
Union Commander Charles S. Hunter was patrolling off the coast of Cuba and especially on the lookout for the blockade-runner General Rusk, sometimes called the Blanche, that had made the run between the ports six times. On the seventh attempt into Cuba, carrying 569 bales of cotton, the ship had managed to run aground, but its commander wasn't worried as the ship was in Spanish waters and flying the Spanish flag. He thought he was safe.
He Wasn't. --Old B-Runner
This past Monday, October 22nd was an eventful day in the U.S. history. And, it scared me more than any Halloween monster. This was the date in 1962 that President Kennedy went on the TV and said that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from our country. I thought this signalled the end of the world in a nuclear holocaust. I wrote about it in my Cooter's History Thing Blog for that date.
But, 100 years before that, events unfolded that almost led to another war. Of course, the Civil War was underway, but the United States came close to having a war with Spain over something that happened in Cuba.
A lively trade developed during the war consisting of cotton from Matamoras, Mexico, military supplies from Havana, Cuba and Mobile, Alabama.
Union Commander Charles S. Hunter was patrolling off the coast of Cuba and especially on the lookout for the blockade-runner General Rusk, sometimes called the Blanche, that had made the run between the ports six times. On the seventh attempt into Cuba, carrying 569 bales of cotton, the ship had managed to run aground, but its commander wasn't worried as the ship was in Spanish waters and flying the Spanish flag. He thought he was safe.
He Wasn't. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
From the Ranks to Flag Officer: Oscar Walter Farenholt-- Part 2
Oscar Farenholt reentered naval service in February 1863 after recovery from the wound and was assigned to the monitor USS Catskill and was involved in the daily battles around Charleston, SC, in 1863 and also took part in the storming of Fort Sumter.
He was appointed Acting Ensign August 19, 1864, and placed in command of the mortar schooner USS Henry James. in the sounds of North Carolina and as such participated inthe recapture of Plymouth, NC and was at Fort Fisher (I can't find him in any mention of the battle, though). I looked up the USS Henry James and according to Wiki, the ship was always on station along the Gulf Coast.
After the war, he remained in the Navy, rising through the ranks to commander in 1892. During the Spanish-American War, he commanded the USS Monocacy. In 1900 he was promoted to captain and then to rear admiral in 1901, before retiring.
Never Heard of Him. --Old B-Runner
He was appointed Acting Ensign August 19, 1864, and placed in command of the mortar schooner USS Henry James. in the sounds of North Carolina and as such participated inthe recapture of Plymouth, NC and was at Fort Fisher (I can't find him in any mention of the battle, though). I looked up the USS Henry James and according to Wiki, the ship was always on station along the Gulf Coast.
After the war, he remained in the Navy, rising through the ranks to commander in 1892. During the Spanish-American War, he commanded the USS Monocacy. In 1900 he was promoted to captain and then to rear admiral in 1901, before retiring.
Never Heard of Him. --Old B-Runner
From the Ranks to the Flag: Oscar Walter Farenholt-- Part 1
Yesterday I wrote that a howitzer battery from the USS Wabash participated in the Battle of Pocatligo, South Carolina, a battle I had never heard of before. I will be writing about the battle in my Saw the Elephant Civil War Blog since this was mostly a land action. However, one of the Wabash's sailors manning the howitzers was one Oscar Walter Farenholt whom the Navy Chronology said was the first-ever sailor to go from enlisted to flag-rank (admiral). I'd never heard of him before so good old Wiki to the rescue.
Oscar Walter Farenholt (I keep thinking Farenheit for some reason) May 2, 1945-June 30, 1920. Was a naval man in the Civil War and Spanish-American War and the first enlisted man to reach flag rank. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and spoke only German until the age of 8.
Later, he became a merchant sailor before entering US Navy service April 24, 1861. Participated in the Hatteras Inlet, Port Royal and Fort Pulaski battles.
On Oct. 22, 1862, while serving on the USS Wabash, he was severely wounded at the Battle of Pocotaligo in South Carolina and later discharged because of the injury.
More to Come. --Old B-R'er
Oscar Walter Farenholt (I keep thinking Farenheit for some reason) May 2, 1945-June 30, 1920. Was a naval man in the Civil War and Spanish-American War and the first enlisted man to reach flag rank. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and spoke only German until the age of 8.
Later, he became a merchant sailor before entering US Navy service April 24, 1861. Participated in the Hatteras Inlet, Port Royal and Fort Pulaski battles.
On Oct. 22, 1862, while serving on the USS Wabash, he was severely wounded at the Battle of Pocotaligo in South Carolina and later discharged because of the injury.
More to Come. --Old B-R'er
Naval Happening 150 Years Ago: October 23rd to Oct. 27th, 1862-- Everyone Wants Ironclads
OCTOBER 23RD--
CSS Alabama captures and burned American bark Lafayette south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
OCTOBER 24TH--
Sailors on horseback, a landing party from the USS Baron De Kalb, debarked at Hopefield, Arkansas, to engage a Confederate scouting party. The horses had been impressed (Holy Shades of War of 1812). A nine-mile fight ensued, ending with the capture of the Confederates. That had to be a funny looking group of sailors, but since this was a Brown Water action, perhaps the Union sailors were good horsemen.
OCTOBER 25TH--
Rear Admiral Du Pont is still worried about Confederate ironclads under construction from Charleston to Savannah and wants the "Ironsides (New Ironsides) and Passaic...dispatched at an early day."
OCTOBER 26TH--
CSS Alabama captured and burned schooner Crenshaw south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
OCTOBER 27TH--
Rear Admiral Lee wrote to Welles about difficulty of blockading the coast of North Carolina, "Our supremacy in the sounds of NC can...only be maintained by iron clads adapted to the navigation there....The defense of the Sounds is a very important matter...."
"That, My Friend, Is a Horse of a Different Color." --Old B-Runner
CSS Alabama captures and burned American bark Lafayette south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
OCTOBER 24TH--
Sailors on horseback, a landing party from the USS Baron De Kalb, debarked at Hopefield, Arkansas, to engage a Confederate scouting party. The horses had been impressed (Holy Shades of War of 1812). A nine-mile fight ensued, ending with the capture of the Confederates. That had to be a funny looking group of sailors, but since this was a Brown Water action, perhaps the Union sailors were good horsemen.
OCTOBER 25TH--
Rear Admiral Du Pont is still worried about Confederate ironclads under construction from Charleston to Savannah and wants the "Ironsides (New Ironsides) and Passaic...dispatched at an early day."
OCTOBER 26TH--
CSS Alabama captured and burned schooner Crenshaw south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
OCTOBER 27TH--
Rear Admiral Lee wrote to Welles about difficulty of blockading the coast of North Carolina, "Our supremacy in the sounds of NC can...only be maintained by iron clads adapted to the navigation there....The defense of the Sounds is a very important matter...."
"That, My Friend, Is a Horse of a Different Color." --Old B-Runner
Monday, October 22, 2012
North Carolina's Topsail Battery
Earlier today, I wrote about Lt. William Cushing destroying the blockade-runner Adelaide by New Topsail Inlet on this date 150 years ago.
I couldn't find any more information about the Adelaide, but I did find some stuff on a marker that I have seen many times on US-17, south of Hamstead, NC.
It reads:
TOPSAIL BATERY
Confederate breastworks were constructed in this vicinity in 1862 to protect Wilmington from an attack from the north and for coastal defense.
The NC Dept. of Cultural Resources had an essay with more information on it.
The earthworks were constructed in the fall of 1862 to protect Wilmington from an attack coming down the Old New Bern Road (present-day US-17) from New Bern. Its secondary purpose was to protect New Topsail Inlet and Topsail Sound for blockade-runners.
The attack from New Bern never materialized, though Union General J.G. Foster did plan one. Reinforcement troops and artillery were sent to the site in 1864 by Confederate General Whiting.
The Topsail earthworks did see action several times. On Oct. 22, 1862 (today's date 150 years ago) Lt. William B. Cushing destroyed the blockade-runner Adelaide nearby. A week later, Cushing was back and set fire to a large salt works and was fired on from artillery in the battery.
During August 1863, Cushing again tried to enter the inlet but was driven off. That same month, Cushing destroyed the blockade-runner Alexander Cooper and captured several of its men. In Oct. 1864, the same Cushing became even more famous for sinking the ironclad CSS Albemarle.
The remains of the Confederate earthworks are threatened by development. Originally they stretched for over a half mile and at points stood 10 feet high from the bottom of the dig pits to the top. A large section was destroyed in the 1950s by the widening of US-17 (which is five lanes in the area).
That Cushing Was Something Else. --Old B-Runner
I couldn't find any more information about the Adelaide, but I did find some stuff on a marker that I have seen many times on US-17, south of Hamstead, NC.
It reads:
TOPSAIL BATERY
Confederate breastworks were constructed in this vicinity in 1862 to protect Wilmington from an attack from the north and for coastal defense.
The NC Dept. of Cultural Resources had an essay with more information on it.
The earthworks were constructed in the fall of 1862 to protect Wilmington from an attack coming down the Old New Bern Road (present-day US-17) from New Bern. Its secondary purpose was to protect New Topsail Inlet and Topsail Sound for blockade-runners.
The attack from New Bern never materialized, though Union General J.G. Foster did plan one. Reinforcement troops and artillery were sent to the site in 1864 by Confederate General Whiting.
The Topsail earthworks did see action several times. On Oct. 22, 1862 (today's date 150 years ago) Lt. William B. Cushing destroyed the blockade-runner Adelaide nearby. A week later, Cushing was back and set fire to a large salt works and was fired on from artillery in the battery.
During August 1863, Cushing again tried to enter the inlet but was driven off. That same month, Cushing destroyed the blockade-runner Alexander Cooper and captured several of its men. In Oct. 1864, the same Cushing became even more famous for sinking the ironclad CSS Albemarle.
The remains of the Confederate earthworks are threatened by development. Originally they stretched for over a half mile and at points stood 10 feet high from the bottom of the dig pits to the top. A large section was destroyed in the 1950s by the widening of US-17 (which is five lanes in the area).
That Cushing Was Something Else. --Old B-Runner
Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: October 21st to 22nd ,1862
OCTOBER 21ST
USS Louisville escorted Union troops too Beldsoe's Landing and Hamblin's Landing in Arkansas. These towns were burned in reprisal to attacks by Confederate guerrillas on mail steamer Gladiator on Oct. 19th. Warned the people that any more attacks would be dealt with in similar fashion. Kind of a mean retaliation if you ask me.
OCTOBER 22ND
Three 12-pounder boat howitzers from the USS Wabash furnished artillery support for Union troops at the battle of Pocotaligo, SC. I didn't quite understand this, but ordinary seaman Oscar W. Farenholt, the first enlisted man in the Navy to reach flag rank, was severely wounded. This Wabash battery took part in amphibious operations all along the South Atlantic coast.
USS Penobscott, Commander Clitz, captured the British blockade-running brig Robert Bruce off Cape Fear, NC.
Lt. William B Cushing reported that the USS Ellis captured and destroyed blockade-runner Adelaide at New Topsail Inlet, NC, with cargo of turpentine, cotton and tobacco. (Definitely trying to run out.)
************
These actions, while not huge, continued to put pressure on strained Confederate resources throughout the war. Constant attacks along the rivers and coasts, especially in conjunction with the Army, were devastating.
And, then, the blockade continually got more effective. Usually, I just write about blockade-runners captured in the Wilmington area, but the Chronicles has a lot more.
Old B-R'er
USS Louisville escorted Union troops too Beldsoe's Landing and Hamblin's Landing in Arkansas. These towns were burned in reprisal to attacks by Confederate guerrillas on mail steamer Gladiator on Oct. 19th. Warned the people that any more attacks would be dealt with in similar fashion. Kind of a mean retaliation if you ask me.
OCTOBER 22ND
Three 12-pounder boat howitzers from the USS Wabash furnished artillery support for Union troops at the battle of Pocotaligo, SC. I didn't quite understand this, but ordinary seaman Oscar W. Farenholt, the first enlisted man in the Navy to reach flag rank, was severely wounded. This Wabash battery took part in amphibious operations all along the South Atlantic coast.
USS Penobscott, Commander Clitz, captured the British blockade-running brig Robert Bruce off Cape Fear, NC.
Lt. William B Cushing reported that the USS Ellis captured and destroyed blockade-runner Adelaide at New Topsail Inlet, NC, with cargo of turpentine, cotton and tobacco. (Definitely trying to run out.)
************
These actions, while not huge, continued to put pressure on strained Confederate resources throughout the war. Constant attacks along the rivers and coasts, especially in conjunction with the Army, were devastating.
And, then, the blockade continually got more effective. Usually, I just write about blockade-runners captured in the Wilmington area, but the Chronicles has a lot more.
Old B-R'er
So, Maffitt's Channel at Charleston, SC Got Its Name from Who I Thought It Did
I have been writing about the recent archaeological survey in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and came across Maffitt's Channel a lot.
I got to wondering how it got its name, knowing of a famous Confederate commerce raider and blockade-runner captain from North Carolina named John Newland Maffitt. It is not a real common name. And, a sea-faring man would surely know his channels. Perhaps it was named after his father or a relative.
Using good old Wikipedia, I found that the Confederate John Newland Maffitt entered the U.S. Navy in 1832 at the age of 13 as a midshipman and was assigned to the USS Constitution in 1835.
In 1842, he was transferred to the U.S. Coast Survey where he spent 14 years in the hydrographic survey, chiefly in Nantucket, Mass., Wilmington, N.C., Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Georgia. The Charleston channel was named after him, hence Maffitt's Channel.
Just Wanted to Know. --Old B-Runner
I got to wondering how it got its name, knowing of a famous Confederate commerce raider and blockade-runner captain from North Carolina named John Newland Maffitt. It is not a real common name. And, a sea-faring man would surely know his channels. Perhaps it was named after his father or a relative.
Using good old Wikipedia, I found that the Confederate John Newland Maffitt entered the U.S. Navy in 1832 at the age of 13 as a midshipman and was assigned to the USS Constitution in 1835.
In 1842, he was transferred to the U.S. Coast Survey where he spent 14 years in the hydrographic survey, chiefly in Nantucket, Mass., Wilmington, N.C., Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Georgia. The Charleston channel was named after him, hence Maffitt's Channel.
Just Wanted to Know. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Archaeological Survey of Charleston Harbor-- Part 1
Back on Oct. 9th I started this entry and will do some more of it.
FIRST STONE FLEET
The Main Ship Channel and Maffitt Channel were the ones used most by blockade-runners, so it was determined by the Union Navy to obstruct them. Forty-five ex-whaling ships were filled with rocks in New England and sent to Charleston for that purpose. Being old and decrepit, some sank en route and others were diverted elsewhere.
Between Dec. 17th and Dec. 21st, 1861, sixteen were sunk in the Main Ship Channel and another thirteen were sunk Jan. 20-25 in the Maffitt Channel.
Locating large mounds of rocks is key to locating these wrecks today. They were sunk in an organized checkerboard pattern. Underwater archaeologists found 15 such ballast mounds with 14 being packed closely together. They couldn't find the Second Stone Fleet at Maffitt's Channel.
They did find four wrecks with large stones, but they think they were flat-bottom boats used to construct the Charleston Harbor jetties from 1878 to 1896.
More to Come Monday. --Old B-R'er
FIRST STONE FLEET
The Main Ship Channel and Maffitt Channel were the ones used most by blockade-runners, so it was determined by the Union Navy to obstruct them. Forty-five ex-whaling ships were filled with rocks in New England and sent to Charleston for that purpose. Being old and decrepit, some sank en route and others were diverted elsewhere.
Between Dec. 17th and Dec. 21st, 1861, sixteen were sunk in the Main Ship Channel and another thirteen were sunk Jan. 20-25 in the Maffitt Channel.
Locating large mounds of rocks is key to locating these wrecks today. They were sunk in an organized checkerboard pattern. Underwater archaeologists found 15 such ballast mounds with 14 being packed closely together. They couldn't find the Second Stone Fleet at Maffitt's Channel.
They did find four wrecks with large stones, but they think they were flat-bottom boats used to construct the Charleston Harbor jetties from 1878 to 1896.
More to Come Monday. --Old B-R'er
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