MCCWRT Discussion Group Aug. 22, 2020-- Part 2: Answers to Yesterday's Questions

 These were the answers to the questions about Union General Benjamin Butler that I posted yesterday.

1.   Franklin

2.  Massachusetts

3.  Democrat

4.  Baltimore, Maryland

5.  Battle of Big Bethel

6.  Hatteras

7.  Contraband of War

8.  New Orleans

The discussion group did very well.  Lots of "A"s.

--Old Secesh

The Burning of the SS General Lyon-- Part 4: The Fire Spreads

By 10 a.m. Friday morning, off Cape Hatteras, the storm had reached hurricane proportions and high seas were running.  The Gen. Lyon was tossed about.  Some sixty miles off land the fire alarm was given. and a few minutes later, fire was seen at the rear of the pilot house..

The passengers were mostly below decks suffering from seasickness.  Efforts to put out the flames with fire pumps were unable to keep up with the rapidly growing fire.  Making matters worse was the fact that the hatches were all closed to keep water from cascading in from the heavy seas.

Alarmed by the smoke, passengers began making their way to the deck but were driven back by the flames.

Meanwhile, the SS Gen. Sedgwick, commanded by Captain Starkey, arrived on the scene and a schooner also hove to the stricken ship.  The storm was too violent to attempt rescue, but the flames were spreading.

--Old Secesh

The General Lyon Disaster

From Wikipedia.

We are coming up on the 150th anniversary of this tragic sinking off North Carolina's Cape Hatteras.  The Army Transport steamer was loaded with Union soldiers and evidently some former prisoners as in the case of James O'Rorke who was listed in one source as being from Andersonville prison camp.

One recently discharged Illinois regiment, the 56th Illinois,  lost all but five of its 205 members.  Deaths are put at 500, making it one of the worst U.S. maritime disasters.

Another ship returning former Union prisoners is a little more famous, the SS Sultana,  It sank a few weeks later in the Mississippi River resulting in even more deaths.

Just imagine yourself looking forward to returning home and reuniting with family and loved ones and being this close, having survived the harsh conditions of war, and then dying.

Of course, these two disasters were quickly overshadowed by Lee's surrender and Lincoln's assassination.

--Old Secesh

150th Anniversary of the Chicamacomico Races-- Part 2

From the October 5th Civil War Daily gazette.

Saturday, October 5, 1861--

Upon finding that the North Carolina troops had not landed, the Confederates began withdrawing northward. A New York regiment from Fort Hatteras came out and started to chase the Georgians, making up the five miles between them quickly. And then we had a repeat of the previous day's action, only in reverse.

The USS Monticello followed along the beach, shelling the retreating Confederates.

To lighten their loads, many Georgians took off their shoes, socks and pants. Only two were wounded in the retreat and they made it to the Confederate ships and withdrew back to Roanoke.

I'm not sure why the Confederates took off their pants, but sure hope they had shorts on.

It Could Have Been a Real Mooning Experience. --Old B-R'er

150th Anniversary of the Chicamacomico Races-- Part 1

With a name like that, I just had to write about it, especially since I had never heard of it before.

From the Civil War Daily Gazette, October 4th and 5th. A great site of interest as they do the war on a day-to-day basis.

Essentially, this was a foot race up and down North Carolina's Outer Banks from Chicamacomico (by Rodanthe) to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. First, the Rebels chased the Yankees, then, the shoe was on the other foot, hence the name races. They covered about thirty miles each way.

This took place after the fall of the Confederate forts at Hatteras Inlet.

Confederate Colonel A.E, Wright on Roanoke Island learned that a regiment of Indiana soldiers had landed near Chicamacomico, 35 miles north of Union-held Fort Hatteras. They were in an exposed position, so the colonel planned to land Georgia troops north of them and then North Carolina ones south and capture the whole group. Then, from there, an attack on Fort Hatteras was in order.

His two regiments were loaded onto the Confederate "Mosquito Fleet" and taken to Chicamacomico. When the Federals spotted the Georgians coming, instead of fighting, they skedaddled south.

Then, it was off to the races with first the Indianans, then the Georgians, with the "Mosquito Fleet" following along the sound side maintaining fire and looking for a spot to land the North Carolina troops.

They failed to land the troops when they ran aground. By midnight, the Union troops had made it to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, about 30 miles from where they had started. Both sides camped for the night.

Day Two Next. --Old B-Runner

Irene Messes with the Civil War

The recent arrival of Hurricane Irene along the North Carolina coast forced the cancellation of several war-related activities.

The Fort Fisher State Historic Site was closed Friday and Saturday.

The Flags Over Hatteras conference was also cancelled.

As was a living history program at Bentonville State Historic Site.

Better to Be Safe Than You-Know-What. --Old B-R'er

It's a Naval Thing

From This Day in Naval History.


AUGUST 25th

1843-- The steam frigate USS Mississippi arrives in Gibraltar after completing the first trans-Atlantic crossing by a US steam-powered ship. Steamers played a big role in the war.


AUGUST 26th

1839-- The brig USS Washington seizes the slaver Amistad near Montauk Point, New York. Quite a few US naval vessels were involved in stopping the illegal African slave trade before the war.

1861-- Union amphibious force lands near Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. The first of many land-sea operations during the war, the largest of which was at Fort Fisher.

1865-- The Civil War ends with the following Naval strength: 58,500 men and 600 ships.


AUGUST 29th

1861-- The US Navy captures the forts guarding Hatteras Inlet, NC.

Sure Helped Union Morale After the First Battle of Bull Run. --Old B-Runner

Cape Hatteras Commemoration-- Part2

There will also be a Civil War Conference which is scheduled from Thursday August 25th through Saturday August 27th and features some big names in Civil War history: James M. McPherson, Ed Bearss and Craig L. Symonds.

Attendance to this is open to the public but registration is limited to 250 on a first-come basis. registration is $175 and includes the speakers, three dinners, a monument dedication and much more.

A living history program is scheduled for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse grounds on Saturday.

For more information www.flagsoverhatteras.com.

I'd just about pay the $175 to see Ed Bearss. I understand he is quite an experience.

Since August 25th is my 38th wedding anniversary, I doubt that Liz would let me go, anyway.

It's a War Thing. --Old B-R'er

Cape Hatteras Commemoration-- Part 1

From the Summer Hallowed Ground Magazine of the CWPT.

The Friends of The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has formed a "Flags Over Hatteras" committee which has organized two events to commemorate the events at Hatteras Inlet 150 years ago.

The BLUE GRAY REUNION is by invitation only to descendants of military personnel who participated in the action at Hatteras Inlet August 28-29, the capture of the USS Fanny on October 1, 1861, (I wrote about this ship earlier this month) and the Chicamacomico Races of August-October 1861.

Activities will include sharing ancestor information, memoirs, journals, photos, relics and artifacts. Speakers and era music will be provided, but registration is required.

I think they should have this open to anyone.

Then, There's a Civil War Conference. --Old B-Runner