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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 1/2/14 at 9:19 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 1/2/14 at 9:19 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 3 January 1864
U.S. Major General Stephen Hurlbut was commander of Union forces in Memphis, Tennessee, but that was far from his only area of interest or responsibility. He had a source of information deep within Confederate lines, who reported to him from Mobile, Alabama. This morning, the news was not good. As Hurlbut explained to Union Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, “The 'Tennessee' at Mobile will be ready for sea in 20 days. She is a dangerous craft, Buchanan thinks more so than the 'Merrimack'...” Hurlbut was not exaggerating, either. The Tennessee was the largest ironclad ever built by the Confederacy, 209 feet long and 48 feet in the beam. The “Buchanan” mentioned in the telegram was the ship’s designer, Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan, who had apparently never heard the saying that “...loose lips sink ships.”
The USS Fahkee, with Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee in charge, sighted the steamer Bendigo aground at Lockwoods Folly Inlet, North Carolina. Three boat crews were sent to investigate. After it was discovered that the blockade runner had been partially burned to prevent capture and that there was seven feet of water in the hold, Lee ordered the Bendigo destroyed by combined gunfire from the USS Fort Jackson, Iron Age, Montgomery, Daylight, and Fahkee.
Official Report as follows: Admiral Lee, in the United States gunboat Fah Kee, entered Lockwood's Folly Inlet, about ten miles to the south of Wilmington, North Carolina, hoisted out his boats, and examined the blockade-running steamer Bendigo, which was run ashore by the captain a week previous, to prevent her being captured by the blockaders. While making these examinations, the enemy's sharpshooters appeared and opened fire upon the boats' crews, which was returned by the Fah Kee's guns, when a Rebel battery opened fire and the boats returned to the ship. The Fah Kee continued her fire until the Bendigo was well-riddled, but her battery was light, and in consequence of her draft of water and the shoals inside, had to be at long-range, and consequently not as destructive as was desired. Night coming on, the Admiral returned to the fleet.
A force of Rebels, under General Sam Jones, made a descent upon a body of Union troops stationed near Jonesville, Virginia, belonging to an Illinois regiment, commanded by Major Beers, and eighteen men of Neill's Ohio battery. A desperate resistance was made, continuing from seven A. M. to three P. M., when the Federals surrendered. They lost four killed and twelve wounded.
The British ship Silvanus, while attempting to run the blockade at Doboy Sound, Georgia, was chased ashore by the Federal gunboat Huron.
Twenty shells loaded with Greek fire, were thrown into the city of Charleston, South Carolina, causing a considerable conflagration.
U.S. Major General Stephen Hurlbut was commander of Union forces in Memphis, Tennessee, but that was far from his only area of interest or responsibility. He had a source of information deep within Confederate lines, who reported to him from Mobile, Alabama. This morning, the news was not good. As Hurlbut explained to Union Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, “The 'Tennessee' at Mobile will be ready for sea in 20 days. She is a dangerous craft, Buchanan thinks more so than the 'Merrimack'...” Hurlbut was not exaggerating, either. The Tennessee was the largest ironclad ever built by the Confederacy, 209 feet long and 48 feet in the beam. The “Buchanan” mentioned in the telegram was the ship’s designer, Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan, who had apparently never heard the saying that “...loose lips sink ships.”
The USS Fahkee, with Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee in charge, sighted the steamer Bendigo aground at Lockwoods Folly Inlet, North Carolina. Three boat crews were sent to investigate. After it was discovered that the blockade runner had been partially burned to prevent capture and that there was seven feet of water in the hold, Lee ordered the Bendigo destroyed by combined gunfire from the USS Fort Jackson, Iron Age, Montgomery, Daylight, and Fahkee.
Official Report as follows: Admiral Lee, in the United States gunboat Fah Kee, entered Lockwood's Folly Inlet, about ten miles to the south of Wilmington, North Carolina, hoisted out his boats, and examined the blockade-running steamer Bendigo, which was run ashore by the captain a week previous, to prevent her being captured by the blockaders. While making these examinations, the enemy's sharpshooters appeared and opened fire upon the boats' crews, which was returned by the Fah Kee's guns, when a Rebel battery opened fire and the boats returned to the ship. The Fah Kee continued her fire until the Bendigo was well-riddled, but her battery was light, and in consequence of her draft of water and the shoals inside, had to be at long-range, and consequently not as destructive as was desired. Night coming on, the Admiral returned to the fleet.
A force of Rebels, under General Sam Jones, made a descent upon a body of Union troops stationed near Jonesville, Virginia, belonging to an Illinois regiment, commanded by Major Beers, and eighteen men of Neill's Ohio battery. A desperate resistance was made, continuing from seven A. M. to three P. M., when the Federals surrendered. They lost four killed and twelve wounded.
The British ship Silvanus, while attempting to run the blockade at Doboy Sound, Georgia, was chased ashore by the Federal gunboat Huron.
Twenty shells loaded with Greek fire, were thrown into the city of Charleston, South Carolina, causing a considerable conflagration.
1
Posted on 1/3/14 at 8:23 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Monday, 4 January 1864
The brutal cold front that had started the year continued, and was causing miseries across the Southern States, which were not used to such conditions even in good times of peace and prosperity. After the depredations of almost three years of war and destruction, the suffering was intense. Even in the Army of Northern Virginia, the troops were situated in a bad way. Besides the freezing cold, for which they lacked sufficient blankets and other clothing, they were suffering a severe shortage of food. General Robert E. Lee had been sending increasingly plaintive telegrams to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, pleading for additional rations to be sent. Davis, who was genuinely distraught that he had none to send, became so upset about the situation this morning that he replied with a suggestion that the general simply take it from the countryside. This was appealing to neither man, but the “...emergency justifies impression...” Davis wrote.
Estimating the situation west of the Mississippi, Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith, CSA, wrote to Major General Richard Taylor, CSA: "I still think Red and Washita [Ouachita] Rivers, especially the former, are the true lines of operation for an invading column, and that we may expect an attempt to be made by the enemy in force before the rivers fall...Within eight weeks Rear Admiral David D. Porter was leading such a joint expedition aimed at the penetration of Texas, which would not only further weaken Confederate logistic support from the West, but also would counter the threat of Texas posed by the French ascendancy in Mexico.
The USS Tioga, under Lieutenant Commander Edward Y. McCauley, seized an unnamed schooner near the Bahamas, bound from Nassau to Havana with cargo including salt, coffee, arms, shoes, and liquors.
General David McMurtrie Gregg's Cavalry Division, under the command of Colonel John P. Taylor, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, left the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, on the first instant, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance to Front Royal, taking on their horses three days rations and forage. Owing to the condition of the roads the artillery attached to the division could proceed no farther than Warrenton. The command returned today, having travelled ninety miles during the three days absence, and encountered severe deprivations in consequence of the intensely cold weather; but no enemy was discovered. Owing to the depth of the Shenandoah River, no attempt was made to cross it.
A fight occurred near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in which the Union troops belonging to General Carlton's command, routed the Navajo Indians, killing forty and wounding twenty-five. Forty Sioux Indians surrendered themselves to the Union forces, at Pembina, Dakota Territory.
Rear Admiral David D. Farragut sailed from the navy yard at Brooklyn, New York, in the flagship Hartford to assume command of the East Gulf squadron.
There were joint congressional resolutions of thanks delivered to General Robert E. Lee and the officers and soldiers under his command, by the Confederate Congress.
The brutal cold front that had started the year continued, and was causing miseries across the Southern States, which were not used to such conditions even in good times of peace and prosperity. After the depredations of almost three years of war and destruction, the suffering was intense. Even in the Army of Northern Virginia, the troops were situated in a bad way. Besides the freezing cold, for which they lacked sufficient blankets and other clothing, they were suffering a severe shortage of food. General Robert E. Lee had been sending increasingly plaintive telegrams to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, pleading for additional rations to be sent. Davis, who was genuinely distraught that he had none to send, became so upset about the situation this morning that he replied with a suggestion that the general simply take it from the countryside. This was appealing to neither man, but the “...emergency justifies impression...” Davis wrote.
Estimating the situation west of the Mississippi, Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith, CSA, wrote to Major General Richard Taylor, CSA: "I still think Red and Washita [Ouachita] Rivers, especially the former, are the true lines of operation for an invading column, and that we may expect an attempt to be made by the enemy in force before the rivers fall...Within eight weeks Rear Admiral David D. Porter was leading such a joint expedition aimed at the penetration of Texas, which would not only further weaken Confederate logistic support from the West, but also would counter the threat of Texas posed by the French ascendancy in Mexico.
The USS Tioga, under Lieutenant Commander Edward Y. McCauley, seized an unnamed schooner near the Bahamas, bound from Nassau to Havana with cargo including salt, coffee, arms, shoes, and liquors.
General David McMurtrie Gregg's Cavalry Division, under the command of Colonel John P. Taylor, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, left the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, on the first instant, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance to Front Royal, taking on their horses three days rations and forage. Owing to the condition of the roads the artillery attached to the division could proceed no farther than Warrenton. The command returned today, having travelled ninety miles during the three days absence, and encountered severe deprivations in consequence of the intensely cold weather; but no enemy was discovered. Owing to the depth of the Shenandoah River, no attempt was made to cross it.
A fight occurred near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in which the Union troops belonging to General Carlton's command, routed the Navajo Indians, killing forty and wounding twenty-five. Forty Sioux Indians surrendered themselves to the Union forces, at Pembina, Dakota Territory.
Rear Admiral David D. Farragut sailed from the navy yard at Brooklyn, New York, in the flagship Hartford to assume command of the East Gulf squadron.
There were joint congressional resolutions of thanks delivered to General Robert E. Lee and the officers and soldiers under his command, by the Confederate Congress.
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