The Leeds Iron Foundry in New Orleans-- Part 2: Two Confederate Ironclads

After Louisiana's secession from the Union in January 1861,  the foundry manufactured arms for the Confederate Army.  They also had the contract to build two ironclads:  the Louisiana and the Mississippi for the Confederate Navy.

The ships were not finished when New Orleans fell to Union forces in 1862.  The Mississippi had not been built and the CSS Louisiana was towed down the river and used as a floating battery during Farragut's passing the forts.

New Orleans was seized in April 1862.

The building that remains of the company was designed by James Gallier in 1852 and is typical commercial construction.  The Gothic Street elevation is  of stuccoed brick ornamented with cast iron columns and window frames.  The building is located at the head of Diamond Street neutral ground (St. Mary's Park), giving it some prominence.

It currently houses the fascinating Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group Today: The Navy at Vicksburg, the Canal

Grant's campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, will be the topic today of the McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table's discussion group meeting at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois, at 10 a.m..  I will write more about it in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog today.

But one aspect of the campaign involved some 3,000 troops and something they did with water in an attempt to bypass the Confederate batteries guarding the town.  That was the construction of a canal, which is now called Williams' Canal and Grant's Canal, as both Union generals were involved with its construction at different times.

This took place June 27 to July 24, 1962.

During the summer of 1862, Farragut's fleet bombarded Vicksburg's defenses with little success.  It was decided to build a canal to accomplish a bypass.  Three thousand Union troops under Brigadier General Thomas Williams were put to work on it.

They suffered hugely from disease and eventually called the effort off.

Then, in January 1863, Grant took another shot at building that canal, but that too failed.

--Old Secesh

Congress Gives Thanks-- Part 3: Union Naval Officers

Congress also gave its thanks to these Union naval officers:

**  Admiral David G. Farragut

**  Admiral David D. Porter

**  John L. Worden, who commanded the USS Monitor in its epic battle with the CSS Virginia.

**  Captain John A. Winslow, commanded the USS Kearsarge in its battle with the CSS Alabama.

--Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group Meets Saturday

The Discussion Group of the MCCWRT meets tomorrow, Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Panera Bread Company in Crustal Lake, Illinois, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The discussion topic is "Bad Generals" so it will be of interest.  I am thinking possibly Union Gen. Fitz John Porter who was accused of disobeying orders and cowardice.

He was from a naval family.  His father was David Porter, War of 1812 hero, and brother of Admiral David Dixon Porter and Commodore William D. Porter and his foster brother was David Farragut.

Although his court martial seemed to have a whole lot of political intrigue.

--Old Secesh

One Civil War Marine's Story: James Burke

From the New York Genweb-- Civil War Profiles.

James Burke was a Marine who was born in Limerick, Ireland, July 4, 1836 and became a drillmaster in the English Army. He served in the Crimean War before immigrating to the United States.

When the Civil War started, he enlisted in the USMC and served under Col. John Reynolds, commander of the Marine Barracks, Brooklyn Navy Yard. One week later, he was appointed drillmaster of the battalion. During the course if the war, he participated in several engagements.

At the close of the war, he was master-at-arms for Admiral Farragut and went on a two-year cruise with the admiral aboard the frigate USS Franklin and met the kings and queens of most European countries.

he then served as Recorder of the Navy under Admiral Goldsborough at the Navy Headquarters in Washington, DC. later, he served 51 years as Chief Clerk inthe general Lighthouse Depot under Admirals Schley, Evans and Dewey.

He also founded the Col. Shaw GAR Post on Staten Island.

Burke died at age 92 in 1928.

Quite a Career and Life. --Old B-Runner

Farragut Was Born Here or Here or Here

The September 17th Knox News.com reports that the search is on for the site of the cabin where noted Civil War Admiral David Glasgow "Damn the Torpedoes" Farragut was born.

A development is planned for the five acres at Stony Point on Fort Loudon Lake near Knoxville, Tennessee. It was delayed back in July for an archaeological survey with an aim of marking the exact spot where the cabin stood.

Farragut was born in 1801 and lived until 1806 when his father moved the family to New Orleans after receiving a naval commission. His father operated a ferry at the site. The young Farragut entered the US Navy as a midshipman at age 9, fought in the War of 1812 and commanded a ship at age 12.

The Bonny Kate Chapter of the DAR marked the cabin's approximate site with a stone monument in 1900.

David was born as James, but changed his first name to David in honor of family friend David Dixon Porter.

Let's Hope They Find It. Quite a Naval Officer. --Old B-R'er