Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

October 28, 1861 – Dispatches from Head of Passes

U.S. steamer Richmond, showing a near side-on view. Her sails are partly unfurled, and her smokestack sits mid deck.

Washington, Oct. 25.—Commodore McKean’s dispatches are received at the Navy Department. Capt. Pope of the Richmond, reports the hole made in her by the ram was two feet below the water line and five inches in circumference. At the first alarm, the crew cooly repaired to quarters, and as the ram passed abreast the Richmond, the entire port battery was discharged at her, with what effect, it was impossible to discover in the darkness. A red light was shown as a signal of danger, and the entire squadron was under way in a very few minutes, the Richmond covering the retreat. The Preble went over the bar while the Vincennes and Richmond grounded.

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October 27, 1861 – Iron Breast-plates for Valiant Secessionists

Among the innumerable contraband articles seized by the Louisville inspectors, during the smuggling season, were two or three breast-plates of cast iron, about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, covered with bunches of cotton cord half an inch thick, with which some valiant Secessionists expected, I presume, to protect their carcasses from Minie balls. The other day one of them was put to the test, without a man to stand behind it. It withstood the balls of Colt’s navy pistol, receiving only a deep indentation, and cracking very slightly; but when tried with the Minie musket, at fifty paces, it fractured like a gourd. Mr. Durett, now of Fort Lafayette, made some efforts to get them released from seizure, and it may be one was intended for his protection.

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October 26, 1861 – Details of the Battle at Fredericton

Death of Col. Lowe—Pursuit of the Retreating Rebels.

Pilot Knob, Oct. 22. [Special to the St. Louis Republican.]— From responsible parties who witnessed the light at Fredericton yesterday, we gather the following particulars

Col. Carlin, with parts of the Twenty first, Thirty third, and Thirty-eighth Illinois regiments, Eighth Wisconsin, Col. Bakers Indiana Cavalry, and Major Schofield’s battery, reached Fredericton at 9 o’clock in the morning, and at 1 o’clock P. M, was joined by the Eleventh, Seventeenth, and Twentieth Illinois, and 400 cavalry from Cape Girardeau. They then advanced in pursuit of the rebels under Jeff. Thompson and Col. Lowe, who had left the place 24 hours before, and were reported to be rapidly retreating south, but about a mile distant they discovered the entire force of the enemy drawn up in line of battle, partly posted in the open field and partly in the adjacent woods, with four iron 9 pounders well planted in their front. Major Schofield immediately opened fire, and at the fourth round silenced one of the rebel guns. The engagement then became general, and lasted about two hours, but after the first half hour the rebels left the Hold in disorder and took to the woods, closely followed by both our infantry and cavalry. Before leaving the field the rebel Colonel Lowe was shot in the head and instantly killed.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

October 25, 1861 – The Iron-Clad Steamer at Savannah

A correspondent of the Montgomery Advertiser gives the following interesting particulars of the iron-clad steamer, whose arrival at Savannah with arms and stores for the Confederate Government, has been briefly noticed in the papers. These particulars were obtained from a gentleman who was himself on board of the steamer:

She had the rig of a full rigged brig, and coming into port under sail, with a light head of steam, and her smoke stack down, her appearance, at a short distance, indicating nothing more than an ordinary brig. She has no sign of a port-hole from the outside, and the only indication on the decks that she is designed for a war vessel is the presence of four ring bolts firmly fixed in the decks. She is designed to carry four guns on deck, and, although there are no gun carriages to be seen, yet there are four ten-inch rifled cannon slung in such a way that they could be brought into action, had there been occasion, on very short notice. Her bulwarks, instead of being solid, as usual, were constructed of fancy wire netting. She had on board 18 of the above guns, the Enfield rifles as before mentioned, and large quantities of munitions of war.

He said that they kept the hatchets closed and allowed no one to go between decks; therefore, we can get no description of her arrangements internally at present. She presents a beautiful appearance externally, and when she is fully fitted for action she will, no doubt, prove an ugly customer for the enemy to cope with.

Thus we are progressing, and gaining strength, step by step, to punish the

“Slaves for pillage fighting,
Obdurate vassals fell exploit enacting.
In moody death, and ravishments delighting:
No children’s tears, nor mothers’ groans respecting”

The Athens Post, Athens, TN

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October 22, 1861 – Battle Near Leesburg

Death of Col. Edward D. Baker at the Battle of Ball's Bluff, by Currier and Ives

Yesterday morning five companies of the 15th Massachusetts regiment crossed the river at Edwards’ Ferry, and had advanced to within one mile and a half of Leesburg, when they were met by the 14th Mississippi regiment, and compelled to retreat to the Ferry. At the same lime, another portion of Gen. Stone’s command crossed at Harrison’s Island. During the day, much skirmishing took place, and it is said that the Federal troops advanced to within a mile and a half of Leesburg. At 5 o’clock last evening, however, the Confederates, in large force, attacked the right of the column, which numbered eighteen hundred men, and was commanded by Col. Baker, U. S. Senator from California. Col. Baker fell, and his command sustained a, repulse, and fell back with considerable loss.

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October 19, 1861 – Bold Exploit on the Lower Potomac

Burning a Confederate Schooner in Quantico Creek, by a Detachment of the Potomac Flotilla under Lieutenant Harrell.

Washington, Oct. 12.—The Navy Department this morning received the following despatch:

United States Steamer Union,
Off Aquia Creek, Oct. 11. ’61.

Sir —l have the honor to submit the following report for your information:

Being informed of a large schooner lying in Quanitico or Dumfries’ Creek—knowing also, that a large number of troops were collected at that point, with the view of crossing the Potomac river, as was reported to me, I conceived it to be my duty to destroy the schooner. With this object in view, I took two launches and my boat and pulled in for the vessel at hall past 2 o’clock this morning.