The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Confederate States Marine Corps

While on the subject of the USMC, what about those Marines in gray?

I did a little research and found out that it was established by the Confederate Congress on March 16, 1861. A total of 46 officers and 944 enlisted men were authorized, but that total was never reached.

Commandant was Col. Lloyd J. Beall who was a former Army paymaster with no Marine experience.

Naturally, the CSMC was modeled after the USMC, but with a few exceptions. The uniforms were based on those of the British Royal Marines.

They were stationed at Mobile, Savannah, Charleston, and Wilmington among other places. They also manned batteries at Fort Fisher, Pensacola, Hilton Head, and Drewry's Bluff. Confederate Marines also participated in the captures of the USS Water Witch and USS Underwriter.

A fifty-man CSMC unit was at Fort Fisher and fought by bayonet from gun to gun until "all were killed or captured." They were with the CSN detachment at Battery Buchanan.

Oo-Rah!! Confederate States Marine Corps. --B-Runner

No comments: