Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

June 14, 1862 – Destruction of the Merrimac

Com. Tatnall reports as follows to the Rebel Secretary of War :

“We observed from the Merrimac that the flag was not flying on Sewell’s Point Battery, and that it appeared to have been abandoned. I dispatched Lieut. J. P. Jones, the Flag Lieutenant, to Craney Island, where the Confederate flag was still flying, and he there learned that a large force of the enemy had landed on Bay shore, and were marching rapidly on Norfolk ; that Sewell’s Point Battery was abandoned, and our troops were retreating. I then despatched the same officer to Norfolk, to confer with Gen. Huger and Captain Lee. He found the Navy Yard in flames, and all the other officers had left by railroad—that the enemy was within a half a mile of the city, and that the Mayor was treating for its surrender.

On returning to the ship he found that Craney Island and all the other batteries on the river had been abandoned.

It was now seven o’clock in the evening, and this unexpected confirmation rendered prompt measures necessary for the safety of the Virginia.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

June 4, 1862 – An Incident of the Battle of the Forts

Captain Boggs, of the Varuna, tells a story of a brave boy who was on board his vessel during the bombardment of the forts on the Mississippi river. The lad, who answers to the name of Oscar, is but thirteen years of age, but he has an old head on his shoulders, and is alert and energetic. During the hottest of the fire he was busily engaged in passing ammunition to the gunners, and narrowly escaped death when one of the terrific broadsides of the Varuna‘s rebel antagonist was poured in. Covered with dirt and begrimed with powder, he was met by Capt. Boggs, who asked “where he was going in such a hurry?” “To get a passing-box, sir; the other was smashed by a ball!” And so, throughout the fight, the brave lad held his place and did his duty.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

April 26, 1862 – Latest from Fortress Monroe

Fortress Monroe, April 22.—A small row-boat arrived here this morning, from Norfolk, containing three men, a woman, and two children, refugees.

They report that the Merrimac is still at the Gosport navy yard. Workmen were engaged in placing iron shields over her port-holes. It was supposed that the improvements would soon be completed, and the Merrimac be out again in two or three days. She was aground on the last day she came out, as was generally supposed here.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

April 5, 1862 – Rebel Steamer Burnt

Cairo, April 4th, 1862.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Navy :

This morning the Benton, Cincinnati and Pittsburg, with three mortar boats, opened and continued for more then an hour a fire on the rebels heavy floating battery at Island No. 10, when the latter, having received several shells from the rifles and mortars, cut loose from her moorings and drifted two or three miles down the river, The shells were thrown from the flotilla into different parts of the Island and into rebel batteries lining the Tennessee shore. The return fire produced no effect on the squadron. No more men than were actually necessary to man the batteries were visible.

(Signed) L. H. FOOTE, Flag Officer.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

March 24, 1862 – The Monitor and the lost Frigates

A Fortress Monroe dispatch to the Philadelphia Inquirer says :

“It is not improper to state, while the eyes of the whole North are upon the Monitor, that her officers and crew are aware of the responsibility resting upon them, and that the greatest vigilance is constantly exercised. The round iron tower floats in such a position as to command the exit from Elizabeth river, and from a slender tube at one end of the ‘Yankee Cheese Box’ a jet of steam issues continually. The crew pace the iron clad deck, almost on a level with the surface of the water, and the glance of the watch sweeps the shores of Virginia from the unromantic ‘Pig Point’ to the rebel batteries at Craney island.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

March 17, 1862 – Sailing of Com Foote’s Gunboat and Mortar Fleet Down the Mississippi River

Hickman, KY, March 15—The powerful naval expedition, composed of the gunboats Benton, Louisville, Cincinnati, Carondelet and Conestoga, under Commodore Foote, left Cairo at 7 o’clock this morning. At Columbus they were joined by the gunboats Pittsburg, St. Louis and Mound City, making a total of eight gunboats, and were overtaken by eight mortar boats In tow of four steamers, with transports and ordnance boats. The fleet arrived here at 4 1/2 o’clock this afternoon. Mounted pickets of the enemy were in sight on the bluff on our arrival, and two companies of the 27th Illinois were sent after them, but they escaped.