The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Joseph Fry, CSN and CSS Maurepas

After the fall of Island No. 10, the CSS Maurepas, under Lt. Fry was sunk in the White River near St. Charles, Arkansas, June 16th. to obstruct it, The battery was placed ashore.

He was attacked by two ironclads and five gunboats and after a two hour battle, drove them off and destroyed the USS Mound City.

Then 1,500 troops attacked and captured him after he was severely wounded.

From Louisiana Military History.

The CSS Maurepas was built as the side-wheeler, wooden-hulled packet ship Grosse Tete in New Albany, Indiana, in 1858.

In 1861, it was purchased by the Confederate Navy and operated in the lower Mississippi under the command of Flag Officer G. N. Hillins, CSN. From March 12 to April 7, 1862, it was at Island No. 10 and then steamed up the White River with the CSS Pontchartrain. On June 16th, it was sunk along with the stern-wheeler Mary Patterson and the small packet Eliza G.

The Maurepas was 399 tons, 180 ft long, 34 foot beam, 7 foot draft and mounted 5 to 7 guns.

I also came across a mention of Joseph Fry where it mentioned that he commanded the CSS Ivy, which in October 1861 made an attack on Union vessels off the Head of Passes of the Mississippi River. No damage was done, but the long range of the Ivy's guns bothered US Naval officers.

The CSS Ivy is listed as a sidewheel river steamer burned in 1863.

A Little-Known battle. --Old B-Runner

No comments: