The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Battle of Wassaw Sound-- Part 2

With the Atlanta grounded and unable to use its guns, the fight did not take long to be over.

The USS Weehawken advanced and held its fire until 300 yards. It hit the Atlanta five times with its 350 pound shot and punched a hole in the casemate. The pilot house and port shutter were crushed severely wounding the pilot and several helmsmen.

Webb was forced to surrender his ship after only a few minutes.

The monitor Nahant did not fire a shot. Casualties aboard the Confederate ironclad were 1 killed and 11 wounded. Eleven officers and 124 men surrendered and were put on the USS Cimarron and USS Oleander.

The Atlanta was condemned in prize court September 1863. The US Navy bought it, repaired the ship and commissioned it the USS Atlanta February 2, 1864.

It spent most of its US career stationed on the James River, Virginia. It was sold at auction in 1869.

The Weehawken's commander, John Rodgers, became a national hero and was promoted to commander. He later became a Rear Admiral.

The Weehawken sank while at anchor in a gale off Charleston, SC, December 6, 1863 with a loss of 4 officers and 27 men. The Nahant was sold in 1904.

The CSS Isondiga was burned to prevent capture in 1864. The CSS Resolute was captured and taken into US naval service.

I Didn't Know the Fight Was Called the Battle of Wassaw Sound. --B-R'er

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