February 21, 1863 – One of the Heroic Women
A naval command should be bestowed on the heroine of this achievement. Among the American vessels captured by the pirate Retribution, was the American brigantine J. P. Ellicott of Bucksport,…
Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War
February 19, 1863 – News From St. Louis
St. Louis, Feb. 18, 1863.
The great iron-clad gunboat Neosho was launched to-day at 4 o’clock. She is designed on the Monitor plan.
Gen. Davidson’s division has been joined to the army of the frontier, and not attacked, as the telegraph blunderingly said lately.
Posted inBlack History US Civil War
February 18, 1863 – News From Port Royal
From South Carolina.—A Port Royal letter of the 3d February, says most of Gen. Foster's fleet has arrived here in good condition. The "First South Carolina Negro Regiment" arrived from…
Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War
February 17, 1863 – News of the Florida
By the arrival of the Creole we have the following intelligence from-Havana:
The Confederate gunboat Florida was coaling at Havana on the 20th ult. She departed the next day, the Bio Bio hence for New York, via Havana, leaving at the same time, but did not molest the latter, owing, it is said, to a pledge given the Captain General to that effect. The San Jacinto pursued the Florida immediately upon her leaving port, but she eluded her pursuer. A number of other U. S. war vessels subsequently went in search of the Florida, and succeeded in compelling her to take refuge in Kingston, Jamaica, where she was lying at last accounts. Among the vessels destroyed by the Florida was a bark from New Orleans (name unknown) with a cargo of sugar and molasses for a northern port. The purser of the Creole favors us with the following:
Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War
February 16, 1863 – Rebel Trade at Nassau
A correspondent of the New York Times, writing from Nassau January 31st, says that there were at that time about forty sailing vessels and steamers of a large class in…
Posted inUS Civil War
February 15, 1863 – The Fight At Donelson
Mr. Slatter: I had the sad pleasure yesterday of reading a letter from a reliable member of Col. Starnes' 3d Tennessee Cavalry, detailing some of the casualties to our boys…
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February 13, 1863 – Incident After The Battle Of Fredericksburg
Col. Root of the 94th New York Regiment, relates the following incident, which transpired after the battle of Fredericksburg : During Monday afternoon I revisited the scene of Saturday’s charge,…
Posted inUS Civil War
February 12, 1863 – Organization of Black Regiments in Arkansas
Gen. Curtis has organized one black regiment in Arkansas, and is making good progress with another. Private letters from the fleet of Rear Admiral Porter state that he is filling…
Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War
February 11, 1863 – Engagement of the Monitor Montauk
An account of the second engagement of the Ericsson Monitor Montauk with the Confederate batteries at the mouth of the Ogechee river, states that the iron clad fired in the…
Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War
The Affair Off Charleston
The Official Dispatches
Washington. Feb. 9. —A bearer of official dispatches from the fleet off Charleston has arrived here. The following is from rear admiral Dupont concerning the rebel attack on our squadron off that port:—
Admiral Dupont’s report.
Flag Ship Wabash, Port Royal, Feb. 2.
Sir : I have to report that about 4 o’clock on the morning of Jan. 31st, during the obscurity of a thick haze, two iron-clad gunboats came out of Charleston by the main ship channel unperceived by the squadron, and commenced a raid upon the blockading fleet. Most of the latter were of the light class of purchased vessels; two of the heaviest men-of-war, the Powhattan and the Canandaigua, being at this port coaling and repairing.
The Mercedita was the first vessel attacked. Her officers and crew had been particularly watchful during the night to look out for suspected vessels, and at 3 o’clock had shipped her cable and overhauled a troop steamer running for the channel by mistake. She had returned to her anchorage, and Capt Stellwagen had gone to his room for a short time, leaving Lieut. Commander Abbott on deck, when one of the iron-clads suddenly appeared. Her approach was concealed by the haze and mist of the atmosphere. The vessel was immediately hailed, and an order given to fire, but the iron-clad being close aboard and lying low in the water, no guns could be brought to bear upon her.