Steamer General Grant Arrives at Galena 150 Years Ago

From the August 21, 2013, Galena (Ill) Gazette.

The Galena Gazette reported on August 29, 1863, that "The fine steamer General Grant arrived at our levee this afternoon. It is down from St. Paul and bound for St. Louis."

According to Way's Packet Dictionary, the General Grant was a sternwheeler built in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, in 1863. It would have gotten its name from the big western theater hero.

It later made a trip to Vicksburg and brought back 250 bales of cotton to Louisville. It was the first commercial steamboat arrival from Vicksburg since the war broke out.

--Old B-Runner

Confederate Torpedo Boat Torch Attacks the USS New Ironsides-- Part 2

No doubt this attack in part came about because of the $100,000 bounty promised anyone sinking the ship by the blockade-running firm of John Fraser & Company. Being commanded by a pilot probably meant that the ship was not a Confederate Navy ship.

The Torch failed to respond to its helm correctly and the New Ironsides started to swing about her anchor slowly with the tide, resulting in the Torch coming alongside the Union ship. Carlin could not start his engine and for some minutes carried on a conversation wit the Union officer of the deck, who finally became alarmed and opened fire.

Let's see, an unidentified ship comes alongside your ship in the middle of the night and that does make you wonder? Seems to me to be grounds for a court martial.

However, the Union ship's guns could not be depressed enough and, fortunately for Carlin, the Torch's engine finally kicked on and he hurriedly left the scene and made his way back to Charleston. Two shots splashed into the water 20 feet from the Torch.

And There Was Carlin Without His $100,000. --Old B-Runner

Confederate Torpedo Boat Torch Attacks the New Ironsides-- Part 1

AUGUST 21, 1863

The Confederate torpedo boat Torch, a former blockade-runner, made a night attempt to sink the USS New Ironsides in a channel near Morris Island, SC. The small steamer, which was constructed from the hull of an unfinished gunboat, sailed low in the water, was painted gray and burned anthracite (smokeless) coal to avoid detection.

The Torch took on much water and her engines faulty during its approach to the New Ironsides. When but 40 yards away, the Torch's commander, pilot James Carlin pointed his ship at his target and cut his engines before the attack.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: August 19, 1863-- Attack On a Confederate Signal Station in Florida

AUGUST 19TH:

Boat expedition from the USS Norwich and USS E.B. Hale destroy a Confederate signal station near Jacksonville, Florida. The Norwich's commander wrote that he understood Confederates would be sending a lot of troops to protect the signal station in the future.

Having to defend so many points against Union attack, which could come anytime, anywhere with such complete control of the sea, tied down many troops that could have been used in land battles.

--Old B-Runner

The CSS Oconee Founders in Heavy Seas

AUGUST 18TH

The CSS Oconee foundered in heavy seas (same date as the Hebe being chased ashore during a gale in NC) near St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia after running the blockade out of Savannah the night before. She was carrying a cargo of cotton "on navy account."

All hands were saved, but two days a later, a boat with 4 officers and 11 men was captured by the USS Madgie.

The Union commander of the Madgie stated that "it was probably her [Oconee's] intention to obtain iron on her return trip, in order to ironclad the new rams being built in Savannah."

--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago: August 18, 1863-- Destruction of the Blockade-Runner Hebe

AUGUST 18TH

USS Niphon chased the steamer Hebe, carrying drugs, clothing, coffee and provisions, ashore north of Fort Fisher, guarding Wilmington, NC. The ship's crew abandoned it. The Niphon, because of a gale, decided to destroy it rather than attempt to get it off.

Three boat crews sent to board it, were captured by Confederates ashore when their boats were either stove in or capsized in the heavy seas.

The USS Shokokon, Lt. Cushing, assisted in the destruction of the Hebe. The ship was riddled with shot and, according to Rear Admiral Lee, "She was as thoroughly burned as the water in her would allow."

 --Old B-Runner

USS Crocus: Shortest Navy Career?

From Wikipedia

In the last post, I mentioned this ship sinking and had never heard of it before so you know what that means. I did not find out much about it for obvious reasons as it turned out.

Commissioned 31 July 1863 and sank 17 August 1863, possibly one of the shortest U.S. Navy careers ever. A whole 17 days in the Union Navy. I'd sure never heard of it.

The ship cleared New York City August 14th and ran aground by Bodie Island (northern-most portion of the Outer Banks) on August 17th (as mentioned in the previous post) and was totally wrecked.

The ship was 79 feet long and mounted two cannons.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: August 17, 1863: Ironclad Attack on Charleston Renews

AUGUST 17TH

Seven ironclads and eight gunboats renew their attack on Charleston. The naval battery ashore on Morris Island contributed another 300 shells. Much fire was concentrated on Fort Sumter.

**  USS Crocus ran aground at night and was wrecked at Bodie's Island, North Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

C.P.Williams, Mortar Schooner

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I mentioned the C.P. Williams intercepting some Confederate torpedoes on August 17th intended for the USS Pawnee.

The C.P. Williams was a 103 foot long mortar schooner manned by a crew of 35 and mounting one 13-inch mortar and two 32-pdrs. Acquired by the U.S. Navy in September 1861 and commissioned January 21, 1862, it was assigned to the Mississippi Mortar Flotilla and took part in the engagements at Forts Jackson and St. Philip below New Orleans and Vicksburg. It later blockaded Berwick Bay by the Atchafalaya River.

Then, it was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and took part in the bomnardments of Fort McAllister in Georgia and was at the torpedo attack on the USS Pawnee in the Stono River, as reported in the last blog entry, in August 1863.

It spent the rest of its time patrolling rivers and sounds, covering landing parties and engaging detachments of Confederate cavalry.

It was decommissioned June 27, 1865, and sold August 10th.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: August 16th, 1863:Pawnee Bounce, Porter Thinking Mobile

AUGUST 16TH:

The USS Pawnee escaped undamaged when a floating Confederate torpedo (mine) exploded under her stern, destroying a launch, shortly after midnight at Stono Inlet, SC. Four hours later, another torpedo exploded within 30 yards of the ship.

In all, four devices exploded close by and two others were picked up by the mortar schooner C.P. Williams. The Pawnee also captured a boat capable of holding ten torpedoes. I would guess the crew didn't get much sleep that night.

Rear Admiral Porter writes Asst. Secretary of Navy Fox, regarding an attack on Mobile. He said the only way to capture the city would be a "perfect combination of Army and Navy...." Farragut would end up leading the attack, however.

In my War of 1812 research, I came across Farragut being on the USS Essex under the command of his step father, David Porter, father of Civil War's David Dixon Porter, who wrote the letter to Fox.

---Old B-Runner

The Hunley Arrives and a Bounty on Union Ships

AUGUST 15TH:

The submarine Hunley arrives at Charleston after being transported over the rails from Mobile. The next day, General Jordan ordered that "every assistance be rendered in equipping the submarine with torpedoes noting that General Beauregard regarded the Hunley as the most formidable engine of war for the defense of Charleston at his disposition & accordingly is anxious to have it ready for service...."

In addition, Jordan advised Mr. B.A. Whitney that a reward of $100,000 would be paid by John Fraser and Company (owners of blockade-runners) for the destruction of the USS New Ironsides and "a similar sum for the destruction of the wooden frigate Wabash, and the sum of fifty thousand for every Monitor sunk."

Wonder Why John Fraser Would Want These Ships Destroyed? --Old B-R'er

CSS Tuscaloosa-- Part 2: Not So Successful and a Victim of Neutrality

On July 31. the Tuscaloosa captured its first and evidently only, American ship, the Santee and bonded it for $150,000. On August 8th, the ship was at Simons Bay, South Africa, before leaving on a 90-day cruise, putting into St. Catherine's, Brazil, on Nov. 19, 1863, for supplies, but was refused and told to leave.

The Tuscaloosa returned to Simons Bay on Dec. 26th and was seized the next day by the British government saying it had violated neutrality. It was ordered that the ship remain until its original owners claimed it.

Low and his men then left the ship which was not reclaimed until 1864. After the war it was turned over to the U.S. Navy.

They Can't All Be Alabamas or Floridas. --Old B-Runner

Timely Blockade Intelligence; They're Running

AUGUST 14TH

On this date Rear Admiral Bailey advised Lt. Cmdr McCauley of the USS Fort Henry "that the steamers Alabama and Nita sailed from Havana on the 12th, with a view of running the blockade, probably at Mobile, but possibly between Tampa Bay and St. Marks [Florida]; also that the steamers Montgomery (formerly Habanero), the Isabel, the Fannie, the Warrior, and the Little Lily were nearly ready to sail, with like intent....the Isabel, which sailed on the 7th, has undoubtedly gone either to Bayport, the Waccasassa, or the Suwanee River. You will therefore keep a sharp lookout for any of these vessels...."

And that they did. Within a month, four of the seven were captured. Admiral Bailey was commander of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron at the time.

--Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago: August 13-14th, 1863-- Operation on the White River in Arkansas

AUGUST 13-14

Even though the Mississippi River was under Union control, there were still Confederates on the tributaries. 

A naval force under Lt. Bache (I wonder if he was related to the head of the Coast Survey A.D. Bache) consisting of the USS Lexington, Cricket and Marmora proceeded up the White River in Arkansas and at Des Arc destroyed a large warehouse and the telegraph line for a half mile.

They also captured two Confederate steamboats loaded with cotton and destroyed General Marmaduke's pontoon bridge.

It was not a huge operation, but one of many continual thrusts that kept the South always on the defense. It might not even have been reported in northern papers.

--Old B-Runner

CSS Tuscaloosa-- Part 1: A Former U.S. Merchant Ship Captured By the CSS Alabama

From Wikipedia. Back on August 13th, I mentioned that the CSS Tuscaloosa had captured the Santee on July 31st, 1863. I'd never heard of this ship.

The CSS Tuscaloosa was originally the bark Conrad and captured by the CSS Alabama on June 20, 1863 en route from Buenas Aires to New York with a cargo of wool and goat skins. Semmes found it fast and well-adapted for a cruiser and on June21, renamed the ship the Tuscaloosa.

He placed two brass rifled 12-pounder cannons on board and Lt. J. Low and 15 men on it for a three-month cruise toward the Cape of Good Hope.

More to Come. --Old B-R'er