Evidently, there were two of these vessels, both made in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The first was launched a year after the second one.
The first J.A. Cotton was launched in 1861 and was clad at least partially in iron and mounted one 32-pdr sb and one 9-pdr rifle. It was destroyed by the USS Estrella January 14, 1863.
The second CSS J.A. Cotton was launched in 1860 for the New Orleans, Coast and La Fourche Transportation, Co. and named the Mary T (hence the name Marytie that I saw in one report). It was seized by the Confederate army in early 1963 and fitted with cotton bales for protection. Armament on board consisted of two 24-pdrs, two 12-pdrs, and one howitzer. It survived the engagement at Butte La Rose and surrendered at the end of the war.
The Battle to End All Battles. --Blockade-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Butte de-la-Rose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Butte de-la-Rose. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
USS Estrella
One of the ships at the Battle of Butte La Rose, or Fort Burton or Butte a-la Rose, or whatever it's called, was the USS Estrella, a 438 ton steamer mounting one 30-pdr rifled gun, two 32-pdr guns, and two 24-pdr howitzers.
It was perfectly-suited for chasing blockade-runners or pounding shore installations. It was built in England and reportedly captured running the blockade. The Army used it before it was transferred to the Navy in late 1862. It participated in the engagement that ended with the first CSS J. A. Cotton being destroyed January 14, 1863. She engaged the second CSS J.A Cotton at Fort Burton in April 20, 1863.
It served as the flagship of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron for the first four months of 1865.
It was perfectly-suited for chasing blockade-runners or pounding shore installations. It was built in England and reportedly captured running the blockade. The Army used it before it was transferred to the Navy in late 1862. It participated in the engagement that ended with the first CSS J. A. Cotton being destroyed January 14, 1863. She engaged the second CSS J.A Cotton at Fort Burton in April 20, 1863.
It served as the flagship of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron for the first four months of 1865.
Will the Butte-a-la Rose Story Ever End?
Well, I came across even more Butte- a -la Rose information. I have gone from "Huh?" to probably America's foremost expert on the subject, or, "Have I?"
I came across two maps drawn by Union forces after the battle of what they called Fort Butte La Rose. They were done by J. G. Ohmann, sub-assistant to the US Coast Survey. One shows the fort itself, and the other showed vegetation, drainage, houses, fences, roads leading from the fort, positions of US steamers Clifton, Arizona, Calhoun, and Estrella, as well as those of the Confederate transport Anna and gunboat Marytie.
The fort appears to have mounted three cannons, was facing northeast to the Atchafalaya River and with a creek behind it. There was also a pond in the center of it. I read that 60 men and lots of supplies were captured when the fort surrendered.
I would think these maps, which appear to be quite precise should be enough of a source to help locate the remains of the fort.
I also found an 1863 Harper's Weekly sketch by H. Holtz showing the engagement at Butte La Rose in http://americancivilwar.com. It shows the US steamers Estrella, Calhoun, Arizona, and Clifton engaging the CSS J.A. Cotton 20 April 1863.
This also has a nice view of the Confederate fort saying that it was captured later that day.
And the Story Goes On and On. And, I'm Not Finished Yet. --B-Runner
I came across two maps drawn by Union forces after the battle of what they called Fort Butte La Rose. They were done by J. G. Ohmann, sub-assistant to the US Coast Survey. One shows the fort itself, and the other showed vegetation, drainage, houses, fences, roads leading from the fort, positions of US steamers Clifton, Arizona, Calhoun, and Estrella, as well as those of the Confederate transport Anna and gunboat Marytie.
The fort appears to have mounted three cannons, was facing northeast to the Atchafalaya River and with a creek behind it. There was also a pond in the center of it. I read that 60 men and lots of supplies were captured when the fort surrendered.
I would think these maps, which appear to be quite precise should be enough of a source to help locate the remains of the fort.
I also found an 1863 Harper's Weekly sketch by H. Holtz showing the engagement at Butte La Rose in http://americancivilwar.com. It shows the US steamers Estrella, Calhoun, Arizona, and Clifton engaging the CSS J.A. Cotton 20 April 1863.
This also has a nice view of the Confederate fort saying that it was captured later that day.
And the Story Goes On and On. And, I'm Not Finished Yet. --B-Runner
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