The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Anniversary Re-Enactment of Capture of the USS Water Witch-- Part 1

From the June 3rd Columbus (Ga) Ledger-Enquirer.

Last night, the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia, held a program "Two Navies, One Ship, the USS/CSS Water Witch" from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. It will be held again tonight.

The reason for the date is the anniversary of the ship's capture near Savannah, June 3, 1864.

At 8:30, there was a Museum Theatre program featuring four performers representing four real-life people involved in the ship's capture:

JEREMIAH SILLS-- a free black US Navy sailor on the Water Witch.
LT. THOMAS PELOT, CSN-- officer in command of the attack who was killed.
LT. AUSTUN PENDERGRASS, USN-- commander of the Water Witch.
HARRIET DALLAS-- former slave and wife and widow of CSN pilot Moses Dallas

This last character is of interest. Moses Dallas was a black man serving in the Confederate Navy as a pilot, something you would not expect.

If I lived near Columbus, Georgia, I know where I'd be tonight. Tickets are $5 to $6.50, a small price to pay for a forgotten aspect of the war.

More to Come. -- Old B-Runner

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