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re: 150 years ago this day...
Posted on 1/8/14 at 9:01 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Posted on 1/8/14 at 9:01 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Saturday, 9 January 1864
There was little hostile action on any front today (with the exception of a very tiny skirmish at the equally tiny Terman’s Ferry, Kentucky) but the rumors were vast and numerous. They were also mostly naval: in Washington, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles received a disturbing telegram from Admiral C.H. Bell in California. According to Bell, he had himself just received word that the Confederates were constructing a large new raider in an unexpected place, Vancouver, British Columbia. Welles’ agents had largely blocked Southern attempts to get ships in Europe, but had overlooked the Canadian option. In Richmond, Jefferson Davis was sending notice to commanders in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia that Admiral David G. Farragut was preparing to attack Mobile.
Reflecting the increased Union concern over Confederate torpedoes, President Abraham Lincoln granted an interview to one Captain Lavender, a New England mariner, to discuss a device for discovering and removing underwater obstructions. Though many ideas for rendering Confederate torpedoes ineffective were advanced, none solved the problem, and torpedoes sank an increasing number of Union ships.
Mr. James O. Putnam, U.S. Consul at Le Havre , France, notified Captain John Winslow of the USS Kearsarge "...that it was the purpose of the commanders of the Georgia, the Florida, and Rappahannock, to rendezvous at some convenient and opportune point, for the purpose of attacking the Kearsarge after she has left Brest." This attack never took place; six months later it was Kearsarge which met another Confederate raider, Alabama, off Cherbourg.
Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell, commanding the Pacific Squadron, advised Secretary Welles of the report that a Confederate privateer was outfitting at Victoria, Vancouver Island: "I would also respectfully suggest the expediency of having at all times a small steamer, under the direction of the [Mare Island] navy yard, ready to be dispatched at a few hours' notice whenever a similar occasion arises. The want of a vessel so prepared may be of incalculable injury to the mercantile interests of our western coast.
Today the noted guerrilla McCown and three of his men were captured by the Forrester New York cavalry regiment, reconnoitering in the direction of Sperryville, Virginia.
A fight took place in Mobile Bay, between the Confederates in Fort Morgan and the Federal gunboats stationed on the blockade. On the discovery, this morning, of a steamer ashore under the guns of the Fort, all the gunboats of the fleet got under way; and, while some repaired to the flagship for instructions, the Octorara steamed in and opened fire on the Rebel craft, which speedily drew a reply from the Fort. The rest of the fleet soon steamed in and took up their positions, when the fire became quite spirited. The Southern steamer was struck several times, and abandoned; but she lay so near the Fort, it was impossible to get her out. Finding the efforts to set her on fire were fruitless, the fleet withdrew, after firing two hours.
A squad of Confederate cavalry entered Cleveland, Tennessee, and conscripted every man able to perform service.
There was little hostile action on any front today (with the exception of a very tiny skirmish at the equally tiny Terman’s Ferry, Kentucky) but the rumors were vast and numerous. They were also mostly naval: in Washington, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles received a disturbing telegram from Admiral C.H. Bell in California. According to Bell, he had himself just received word that the Confederates were constructing a large new raider in an unexpected place, Vancouver, British Columbia. Welles’ agents had largely blocked Southern attempts to get ships in Europe, but had overlooked the Canadian option. In Richmond, Jefferson Davis was sending notice to commanders in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia that Admiral David G. Farragut was preparing to attack Mobile.
Reflecting the increased Union concern over Confederate torpedoes, President Abraham Lincoln granted an interview to one Captain Lavender, a New England mariner, to discuss a device for discovering and removing underwater obstructions. Though many ideas for rendering Confederate torpedoes ineffective were advanced, none solved the problem, and torpedoes sank an increasing number of Union ships.
Mr. James O. Putnam, U.S. Consul at Le Havre , France, notified Captain John Winslow of the USS Kearsarge "...that it was the purpose of the commanders of the Georgia, the Florida, and Rappahannock, to rendezvous at some convenient and opportune point, for the purpose of attacking the Kearsarge after she has left Brest." This attack never took place; six months later it was Kearsarge which met another Confederate raider, Alabama, off Cherbourg.
Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell, commanding the Pacific Squadron, advised Secretary Welles of the report that a Confederate privateer was outfitting at Victoria, Vancouver Island: "I would also respectfully suggest the expediency of having at all times a small steamer, under the direction of the [Mare Island] navy yard, ready to be dispatched at a few hours' notice whenever a similar occasion arises. The want of a vessel so prepared may be of incalculable injury to the mercantile interests of our western coast.
Today the noted guerrilla McCown and three of his men were captured by the Forrester New York cavalry regiment, reconnoitering in the direction of Sperryville, Virginia.
A fight took place in Mobile Bay, between the Confederates in Fort Morgan and the Federal gunboats stationed on the blockade. On the discovery, this morning, of a steamer ashore under the guns of the Fort, all the gunboats of the fleet got under way; and, while some repaired to the flagship for instructions, the Octorara steamed in and opened fire on the Rebel craft, which speedily drew a reply from the Fort. The rest of the fleet soon steamed in and took up their positions, when the fire became quite spirited. The Southern steamer was struck several times, and abandoned; but she lay so near the Fort, it was impossible to get her out. Finding the efforts to set her on fire were fruitless, the fleet withdrew, after firing two hours.
A squad of Confederate cavalry entered Cleveland, Tennessee, and conscripted every man able to perform service.
1
Posted on 1/9/14 at 8:22 pm to BadLeroyDawg
Sunday, 10 January 1864
Lockwoods Folly Inlet proved well-named (at least the "folly" part) for the ill-fated USS Iron Age. The ship of the blockade ran aground on an unnoticed sand bar off the South Carolina coast. It was destroyed by artillery fire from shore batteries. The blockade as a whole, though, was tighter than ever, and an ever growing number of ships were being captured.
Another report: While helping to salvage the hulk of grounded and partially burned blockade runner Bendigo near Lockwood's Folly Inlet, South Carolina, the USS Iron Age, under Lieutenant Commander Edward E. Stone, herself grounded. Efforts to get her off were futile, and, as Confederates positioned a battery within range, the ship was ordered destroyed to prevent her capture. Reporting on the loss of the small screw steamer and on blockade duty in general, Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee noted: "This service is one of great hardship and exposure; it has been conducted with slight loss to us, and much loss to the Rebels and their allies, who have lost twenty-two vessels in six months, while our loss has only been two vessels on the Wilmington blockade during the war."
Boat crews from the USS Roebuck, under Acting Master John Sherrill, captured the blockade running Confederate sloop Maria Louise with a cargo of cotton off Jupiter Inlet, Florida.
General J. C. Sullivan sent the following to headquarters:
Major Cole's camp at Loudon Heights, Virginia, was attacked this morning. He fought gallantly and drove the attacking party off. I send you his report:
I have the honor to report that my camp was attacked this morning at about four o'clock, by Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his command.
After a brisk fight of about one hour, they were repulsed and driven from the camp. Our loss is two men killed and thirteen wounded. Among the latter is Captain Vernon, seriously, and Lieutenant Rivers, slightly.
There are some missing, but it is impossible to give the exact number at present. The Confederates left four dead in the camp--one captain, and one a lieutenant.
They left three prisoners in our hands, two of them wounded, and one a lieutenant.
The United States bark Roebuck captured the Confederate sloop Marie Louise while attempting to run out of Jupiter Inlet, Florida. She was of about eight tons register, and laden with three thousand pounds of Sea Island cotton.
Eighteen shells were thrown into the city of Charleston, South Carolina, from the Federal defenses around that city.
Lockwoods Folly Inlet proved well-named (at least the "folly" part) for the ill-fated USS Iron Age. The ship of the blockade ran aground on an unnoticed sand bar off the South Carolina coast. It was destroyed by artillery fire from shore batteries. The blockade as a whole, though, was tighter than ever, and an ever growing number of ships were being captured.
Another report: While helping to salvage the hulk of grounded and partially burned blockade runner Bendigo near Lockwood's Folly Inlet, South Carolina, the USS Iron Age, under Lieutenant Commander Edward E. Stone, herself grounded. Efforts to get her off were futile, and, as Confederates positioned a battery within range, the ship was ordered destroyed to prevent her capture. Reporting on the loss of the small screw steamer and on blockade duty in general, Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee noted: "This service is one of great hardship and exposure; it has been conducted with slight loss to us, and much loss to the Rebels and their allies, who have lost twenty-two vessels in six months, while our loss has only been two vessels on the Wilmington blockade during the war."
Boat crews from the USS Roebuck, under Acting Master John Sherrill, captured the blockade running Confederate sloop Maria Louise with a cargo of cotton off Jupiter Inlet, Florida.
General J. C. Sullivan sent the following to headquarters:
Major Cole's camp at Loudon Heights, Virginia, was attacked this morning. He fought gallantly and drove the attacking party off. I send you his report:
I have the honor to report that my camp was attacked this morning at about four o'clock, by Lieutenant Colonel John Singleton Mosby and his command.
After a brisk fight of about one hour, they were repulsed and driven from the camp. Our loss is two men killed and thirteen wounded. Among the latter is Captain Vernon, seriously, and Lieutenant Rivers, slightly.
There are some missing, but it is impossible to give the exact number at present. The Confederates left four dead in the camp--one captain, and one a lieutenant.
They left three prisoners in our hands, two of them wounded, and one a lieutenant.
The United States bark Roebuck captured the Confederate sloop Marie Louise while attempting to run out of Jupiter Inlet, Florida. She was of about eight tons register, and laden with three thousand pounds of Sea Island cotton.
Eighteen shells were thrown into the city of Charleston, South Carolina, from the Federal defenses around that city.
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