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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 10/6/13 at 6:04 am to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 10/6/13 at 6:04 am to BadLeroyDawg
Tuesday, 6 October 1863
The USS Cayuga, on blockade duty off the Calcasieu River in Louisiana had a busy day today. First prey was the steamer Pushmataha. When Lt. Commander Dana ordered her to heave to, she attempted to flee instead, and Dana chased her until she ran up on shore. The crew fled after setting her afire. When a party from Cayuga went aboard they put out the fire and started inspecting the cargo, which consisted of rum, red wine and gunpowder. A keg of the latter turned out to have a burning fuse set in it, which Ordinary Seaman Thomas Morton yanked out and threw overboard, along with the keg. After relieving the Pushmataha of the liquid part of her cargo the rest of the powder was used to blow the ship up. Another catch, a schooner, was also chased ashore but her crew succeeded in destroying her before the Dana’s men could capture her.
The USS Beauregard, under Acting Master Burgess, captured the sloop Last Trial at Key West, Florida, with a cargo of salt.
The USS Virginia, Lieutenant C. H. Brown in charhe, seized the British blockade runner Jenny off the coast of Texas a with cargo of cotton.
General Blunt and his escort were attacked at Baxter's Springs, near Fort Scott, Missouri, and nearly all of them were left dead upon the field.
General Mitchell, with a body of Federal troops, overtook a small group of partisan Rebels below Shelbyville, Tennessee, and attacked them with great spirit, putting them to a complete rout. They did not stop for their wounded, and left over one hundred dead upon the field.
An attempt was made yesterday to blow up the United States iron-plated frigate Ironsides in Charleston Harbor, by means of a torpedo. The instrument of destruction was suspended from the bow of a small cigar-shaped steamer, the CSS David, which was driven against the Ironsides at full speed. A tremendous explosion followed, which blew a hole in the Ironsides. Lieutenant William T. Glassell, the commander of the Confederate steamer, was taken prisoner, having been thrown overboard by the force of the explosion. On board the Ironsides, Ensign Charles Howard was wounded by a musket-shot fired by Glassett, as his steamer was approaching the frigate, and died this morning.
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The USS Cayuga, on blockade duty off the Calcasieu River in Louisiana had a busy day today. First prey was the steamer Pushmataha. When Lt. Commander Dana ordered her to heave to, she attempted to flee instead, and Dana chased her until she ran up on shore. The crew fled after setting her afire. When a party from Cayuga went aboard they put out the fire and started inspecting the cargo, which consisted of rum, red wine and gunpowder. A keg of the latter turned out to have a burning fuse set in it, which Ordinary Seaman Thomas Morton yanked out and threw overboard, along with the keg. After relieving the Pushmataha of the liquid part of her cargo the rest of the powder was used to blow the ship up. Another catch, a schooner, was also chased ashore but her crew succeeded in destroying her before the Dana’s men could capture her.
The USS Beauregard, under Acting Master Burgess, captured the sloop Last Trial at Key West, Florida, with a cargo of salt.
The USS Virginia, Lieutenant C. H. Brown in charhe, seized the British blockade runner Jenny off the coast of Texas a with cargo of cotton.
General Blunt and his escort were attacked at Baxter's Springs, near Fort Scott, Missouri, and nearly all of them were left dead upon the field.
General Mitchell, with a body of Federal troops, overtook a small group of partisan Rebels below Shelbyville, Tennessee, and attacked them with great spirit, putting them to a complete rout. They did not stop for their wounded, and left over one hundred dead upon the field.
An attempt was made yesterday to blow up the United States iron-plated frigate Ironsides in Charleston Harbor, by means of a torpedo. The instrument of destruction was suspended from the bow of a small cigar-shaped steamer, the CSS David, which was driven against the Ironsides at full speed. A tremendous explosion followed, which blew a hole in the Ironsides. Lieutenant William T. Glassell, the commander of the Confederate steamer, was taken prisoner, having been thrown overboard by the force of the explosion. On board the Ironsides, Ensign Charles Howard was wounded by a musket-shot fired by Glassett, as his steamer was approaching the frigate, and died this morning.
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1
Posted on 10/7/13 at 4:15 am to BadLeroyDawg
Wednesday, 7 October 1863
Acting Chief Engineer Thomas Doughty engaged in a curious naval action today. His ship, the USS Osage, docked on the west bank of the Mississippi River. From there, Doughty led a landing party through the brush and vines and swamps overland to the Red River, a hotbed of Confederate shipping both military and civilian. They got to their destination, the steamer Argus, tied up to the bank of the river. Her crew not looking for a naval attack from the landward side, they were promptly captured along with their boat. It was the Union sea-men’s turn to be surprised when another Confederate ship, the steamer Robert Fulton came chugging down the stream. Doughty calmly ordered the vessel to “come to,” andb having no reason not to, she did and was just as promptly captured. The Argus was burned on the spot. They tried to sail the Fulton to rejoin the Union fleet on the Mississippi, but she got stuck on a bar and was also burned. Doughty, his men and their nine prisoners returned to the Osage without a casualty.
Another report: An expedition under Acting Chief Engineer Thomas Doughty from USS Osage captured and burned the steamers Robert Fulton and Argus in the Red River. Acting Lieutenant Couthouy, commanding the Osage, had ordered the operation upon learning that a Confederate steamer was tied up to the river bank. The naval force travelled overland from the Mississippi to the Red "after great labor in getting through entanglements of the bushes and other undergrowth . . . ." Doughty succeeded in capturing Argus shortly before Robert Fulton was sighted steaming downriver. He ordered her to come to. "She did so," he reported, "and I found myself in possession of 9 prisoners and two steamboats." Doughty burned Argus immediately and then destroyed Robert Fulton when he was unable to get her over the bar at the mouth of the Red River. "This is a great loss to the rebels at this moment," Rear Admiral Porter wrote, "as it cuts off their means of operating across that part of Atchafalaya where they lately came over to attack Morganza. This capture will deter others from coming down the Red River." One of the prisoners was an aid to the Confederate General Taylor, who had been sent up expressly for the last steamer.
A boat crew from USS Cayuga, Lieutenant Commander Dana, boarded and destroyed blockade runner Pushmataha which had been chased ashore and abandoned off Calcasieu River, Louisiana. Pushmataha carried a cargo of a ram, claret, and gunpowder, and had been set on fire by her crew. "One of a number of kegs of powder had been opened," reported Dana, "and a match, which was inserted in the hole, was on fire; this was taken out and, with the keg, thrown overboard by Thomas Morton, ordinary seaman..." an unsung act of heroism. Dana chased ashore another schooner carrying gunpowder which was blown up before she could be boarded.
Colonel Harrison's force of West Tennessee cavalry were attacked at Como, Mississippi, by Confederate partisan guerrillas, under Colonels Faulkner and Wilson, and was forced to hastily retreat after an engagement of two hours, with a loss of thirty-seven men. The Confederates reported great loss as well, Colonel Wilson being among the killed.
A fight took place at Farmington, Tenn., between the Union forces under General Crook and the Rebels commanded by General Wharton.
Chat
Acting Chief Engineer Thomas Doughty engaged in a curious naval action today. His ship, the USS Osage, docked on the west bank of the Mississippi River. From there, Doughty led a landing party through the brush and vines and swamps overland to the Red River, a hotbed of Confederate shipping both military and civilian. They got to their destination, the steamer Argus, tied up to the bank of the river. Her crew not looking for a naval attack from the landward side, they were promptly captured along with their boat. It was the Union sea-men’s turn to be surprised when another Confederate ship, the steamer Robert Fulton came chugging down the stream. Doughty calmly ordered the vessel to “come to,” andb having no reason not to, she did and was just as promptly captured. The Argus was burned on the spot. They tried to sail the Fulton to rejoin the Union fleet on the Mississippi, but she got stuck on a bar and was also burned. Doughty, his men and their nine prisoners returned to the Osage without a casualty.
Another report: An expedition under Acting Chief Engineer Thomas Doughty from USS Osage captured and burned the steamers Robert Fulton and Argus in the Red River. Acting Lieutenant Couthouy, commanding the Osage, had ordered the operation upon learning that a Confederate steamer was tied up to the river bank. The naval force travelled overland from the Mississippi to the Red "after great labor in getting through entanglements of the bushes and other undergrowth . . . ." Doughty succeeded in capturing Argus shortly before Robert Fulton was sighted steaming downriver. He ordered her to come to. "She did so," he reported, "and I found myself in possession of 9 prisoners and two steamboats." Doughty burned Argus immediately and then destroyed Robert Fulton when he was unable to get her over the bar at the mouth of the Red River. "This is a great loss to the rebels at this moment," Rear Admiral Porter wrote, "as it cuts off their means of operating across that part of Atchafalaya where they lately came over to attack Morganza. This capture will deter others from coming down the Red River." One of the prisoners was an aid to the Confederate General Taylor, who had been sent up expressly for the last steamer.
A boat crew from USS Cayuga, Lieutenant Commander Dana, boarded and destroyed blockade runner Pushmataha which had been chased ashore and abandoned off Calcasieu River, Louisiana. Pushmataha carried a cargo of a ram, claret, and gunpowder, and had been set on fire by her crew. "One of a number of kegs of powder had been opened," reported Dana, "and a match, which was inserted in the hole, was on fire; this was taken out and, with the keg, thrown overboard by Thomas Morton, ordinary seaman..." an unsung act of heroism. Dana chased ashore another schooner carrying gunpowder which was blown up before she could be boarded.
Colonel Harrison's force of West Tennessee cavalry were attacked at Como, Mississippi, by Confederate partisan guerrillas, under Colonels Faulkner and Wilson, and was forced to hastily retreat after an engagement of two hours, with a loss of thirty-seven men. The Confederates reported great loss as well, Colonel Wilson being among the killed.
A fight took place at Farmington, Tenn., between the Union forces under General Crook and the Rebels commanded by General Wharton.
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