Fort Wool During World War II-- Part 7

Again, anti-submarine nets were stretched across the harbor between Fort Wool and Fort Monroe.

Battery 229 with two 6-inch shielded guns on long range  carriages was constructed on a rebuilt Battery Horatio Gates from March 1943 to January 1944.  The work was completed and the shielded  carriages were installed; however, the gun tubes were not installed.

On 30 September 1943, the installation was  completed on an SCR-296A radar to provide fire control for Battery 229, which of course, was never needed.

The previous six-inch guns were scrapped in 1942-1943.  Battery Lee's  four 3-inch guns were transferred to Fort Story (across the bay by Virginia Beach), two each in 1942 and 1943.

In 1946, Battery Hindman's pair of three-inch guns were transferred to Fort Monroe as a saluting battery.

--Old Secesh

Fort Wool's Endicott Batteries and World War I-- Part 6

ENDICOTT BATTERIES

In 1885, the Endicott board met and determined that the coastal defenses of the U.S. needed to be updated.  As a result, all but a small part of Fort Wool's  western end of the fort were demolished to make room for what eventually became five batteries.  

As funding became available they were constructed starting in 1905  Fort Wool's armament was of relatively smaller-caliber, rapid-firing guns because Fort Monroe  had the bigger guns.  The three-inch guns were primarily emplaced to protect underwater mine fields from minesweepers.  Some of the mines, still called torpedoes at the time were stored at Fort Wool.

WORLD WAR I

In 1917 and 1918, all but two of the six-inch guns at Fort Wool  were removed to potentially be sent to the Western front in Europe.  The remaining guns were shifted to Battery Gates.

During both wars, submarine nets  were stretched across the harbor from Fort Monroe to Fort Wool.

--Old Secesh

Fort Wool in Chesapeake Bay-- Part 4: Name Change and the Sawyer Gun

The fort was originally named after John C. Calhoun, President Monroe's Secretary of War, who was a southern secessionist.  That wouldn't do once the Civil War started and the North renamed it Fort Wool in 1862, after Major General John  Ellis Wool, a War of 1812 , Mexican War hero and now Civil War officer as commander of Fort Monroe.

The fort received its first guns now.  Initially there were 10 guns mounted.  These guns were fired at Confederate positions across Chesapeake Bay and at Confederate ships.

A long-range experimental  cannon, the Sawyer gun, was installed at Fort Calhoun in mid-1861.  The weapon was rifled and had much longer range and accuracy.  An illustration in an August 1861 newspaper  shows it mounted on a high-angle carriage.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Wool in Chesapeake Bay-- Part 2: Lee to the Rescue, Not

Construction of what became Fort Wool began in 1826 and after various delays, by 1834 about half of the second tier had been completed.  But then it was discovered that the man-made island the for sits on was  settling.  It is still settling in the 21st century.

A young second lieutenant and engineer by the name of Robert E. Lee was transferred there to help Captain Andrew Talcott in its construction as well as Fort Monroe across the bay.  Lee was given the task of stabilizing the island, but found the island wouldn't hold even two tiers of gun chambers.

The fort never reached its intended size even with the addition of more base stone.

Work began on the fort again in 1858, but the coming of the Civil War brought it to a halt.  The back of the fort remained open.

--Old Secesh

Thomas Aumack Most Likely Was Discharged from Service Because of Diarrhea

I came across this list of soldiers in the 87th New York Infantry at the dmna.ny.gov site.

THOMAS B. AUMACK

Age, 18 years.

Enlisted at Brooklyn to serve three years.

Mustered in as a private in Co. C, November 5, 1861.

Discharged for chronic diarrhoea, September 23, 1862, at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

This seems to be the best account of why Thomas Aumack was not with the 87th or 40th New York Infantry regiments at the Battle of Antietam.  He probably had contracted the diarrhea in August or early September which ended his Army career.

--Old Secesh

87th New York Infantry-- Part 3: A Real Fighting Two and a Half Months

Continuing with detailed service of the 87th New York:

All dates 1862

JUNE 25-JULY 1:   Seven Days before Richmond

JUNE 25:  Battle of Oak Grove

JULY 1:  Battle of Malvern Hill

UNTIL AUGUST 16:  At Harrison's Landing

AUGUST 16-26:  Movement to Fort Monroe and then to Centreville, Virginia

AUGUST 26-SEPTEMBER 2:  Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia

AUGUST 27:  Action at Bristoe Station, or Kettle Run

AUGUST 27:  Buckland's Bridge, Broad Run

AUGUST 29:  Battle of Groveton

AUGUST 30:  Second Battle of Bull Run

SEPTEMBER 1:  Battle of Chantilly

--Old Secesh

Thomas Bailey Aumack-- Part 3: Some Confusion of Where He Was Wounded or If He Ended Up Dying of Something Else

Served as a private in Company C, 87th  Regiment of New York Volunteers, under Captain  Samuel F. Knight, American Civil War.

He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam between September 14-17, 1862 and was sent home from Fort Monroe, Virginia, by reason of surgeon's certificate  of disability to die.

*************************

I could not find any mention of the 87th NY at the Battle of Antietam and then found out that the organization ceased to exist on September 6, 1862, when the regiment was consolidated with the 40th New York Infantry.

So, if Thomas Aumack was wounded, it would not have been at Antietam if he was in the 87th.

--Old Secesh

May 13, 1867: Jefferson Davis Posts Bail and Gets Out of Prison

From the May 13, 2020. WHSV 3 News  "On this day: Confederate President Jefferson Davis posts $100,00 bail" by Rachel DePompa.

On this day, May 13, 1867, former Confederate President Jefferson Davis was released from prison at Fortress Monroe in Virginia after two years of captivity.

In the 1950s, the United Daughters of the Confederacy paid the U.S. Army  to build an archway near the fort that said "Jefferson Davis  Memorial Park.  This was also at the place where black slaves were first brought to Virginia in 1619.

Last year, the arch was removed and placed in a museum (part of the anti-Confederate movement).

After the war, many wanted Davis hanged for treason but it was decided that he would go to trial.  Due to several delays, this trial never happened and he was never tried for treason.  The charges were eventually dropped.

--Old Secesh

William Beall-- Part 4: His Obituary in the Confederate Veteran, 1907

William Beall's Obituary in the Confederate Veteran Vol. XVI, page 288

"After a protracted illness, William Beall  entered into rest June 16, 1907. aged sixty-three.

"He served n Company G, 2nd Virginia Regiment, Stonewall Brigade.  For awhile he was in the Confederate Navy with his brother, Captain John G. Beall, who was executed  on Governor's Island, N.Y..

"He was a prisoner at Fortress Monroe, both brothers being in irons.  He surrendered at Appomattox.

"He returned to his native county, (Jefferson) and was a successful farmer, a good soldier, an honored citizen.  He was also a useful member of the Episcopal Church.

"Many miss and mourn him."

--Old Secesh

William Beall-- Part 3: Sick A Lot, On Brother's Operation

Present on January and February rolls.

Hospitalized 4/18/63

Hospitalized for "Diarrhoea" 5/2-7/21 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Detailed 10/4/1863 by S.O. 253 to report to John Y. Beall;  POW 10/4/1863 Accomack Co. Virginia

Confined  11/16/1863 Fort McHenry, MD.

Confined Fort Monroe, Va.  Exchanged 3/16/1864.

Kind of interesting that he was detailed the same day he was captured and must have been operating on one of his brother's expeditions.

--Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 3: Service in U.S. Army 1855 to 1861

From Find-A-Grave.

U.S. ARMY SERVICE

Graduate of USMA at West Point, Class of 1855 #9.Brevet 2nd Lieut. Artillery, July 1, 1855.

Served garrison duty Fort  Monroe, Va., 1855-1856

In Florida (2nd Lieut. 1st Artillery) hostilities against the Seminole Indians 1856-1857

Assistant Professor of Geography, History and ethics  Sept 14, 1857 to Jan. 31, 1859

Garrison duty at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, 1859

Frontier duty at Fort Clark, Texas,  and Fort Duncan, Texas, 1859-1860

On leave of absence 1861

--Old Secesh

Fort Crawford (Va.)-- Part 3: Fort Crafford?

The first place I read about this fort referred to it as Fort Crawford, but I was unable to find out anything about it in search other than a Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin.  Evidently, it is actually Fort Crafford, taking its name from the family that owned the land where the fort was built.

From Wikipedia.

Fort Crawford was a pentagonal earthwork built 1862 and became part of the Confederacy's Warwick Line established to thwart Union soldiers coming up the Virginia Peninsula from Fort Monroe.  It was the James River terminus of the line and included fortifications at Lee's Mill as well as Dam No. 1 and Wynne's Mill in Newport News Park.  This line extended to the York River to the north.

--Old Secesh

99th New York Infantry, the "Union Coast Guard"-- Part 2

On May 14, 1861, six companies were mustered into state service. On May 28th, the 99th left the state on the steamer Coatzacouleous for Fortress Monroe.

Since they without uniforms, arms or equipment, they were not accepted into national service by General Butler and placed under guard in an open field. (Mighty unfriendly, if you ask me, but there definitely might have been something else to the story.)

On June 5th, after a confrontation, Major Burnett and 180 men returned to New York City on the same steamer. On June 14th, another 90 men returned on the steamer Stae of Georgia.

More to Come. --Old Secesh

Running the Blockade: Monitor's Turret-- Rick Perry-- Fortress Monroe

Running the Blockade-- Some new news about an old war.


1. MONITOR'S TURRET-- The Nov. 3rd Daily Press (Va.) reports that the turret of the USS Monitor has been placed in Virginia's Tip Ten Endangered Artifact List. This is not so much that it isn't receiving great preservation, but because it requires permanent care. The World War II USS Wisconsin, also in Norfolk, also is on the list.


2. RICK PERRY-- Texas governor of Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry has announced he will not support the SCV's attempt to get license plates in his state. In the past, he has defended Confederate symbols. Guess someone is looking for votes.


3. FORTRESS MONROE--The Virginia Pilot reported that President Obama was to sign a bill making the fort a National Park, the 396th one. He did so with powers granted him by the 1906 Antiquities Act.

Just Some Stuff. --Old B-R'er

Some More Fort Monroe News

"Army leaves Chesapeake's historic Fort Monroe" from Sept. 15th CBS News.

The deactivation ceremony for the fort was held September 15th, ending nearly 200 years of military presence at the post.

The fort was the home of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command. Most of its last garrison will be transferred to nearby Fort Eustis.

Full transfer to the State of Virginia will not be complete until 2012. The state has already opened the fort and beaches to the public.


From the Sept. 20th WAVY TV 10

CASEMATE MUSEUM at Fort Monroe is still open and will be every day from 10:30 am except holidays, this according to an agreement between the Army and the Fort Monroe Authority.

The museum opened in 1951 and has exhibits on the Civil War contraband slave decision, the Battle of the Ironclads, history of the fort and of the Coast Artillery Corps. Admission is free. The cell occupied by Confederate President Jefferson Davis after the war is also part of the museum.

Glad to have the Fort as a Museum. --Old B-Runner

Shuck 'N Shag at the Fort-- Part 2

The famous Beach Music group Bill deal's Original Rhondells will be providing the tunes for the September 22nd event which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

It is a Kiwanis fundraiser and tickets cost a $35 donation.

beer and wine will be provided and a fantastic seafood buffet provided by the Virginia Seafood Connection with crab cakes, fried fish, sauteed scallops, raw and fried oysters (hence the "shuck" part), steamed clams and bbq chicken sandwiches.

An attempt will be made to set a new record for shagging couples (again, we're not talking the English shag, but Shag the dance). The current record stands at 281 couples dancing at one time. Shag lessons will also be provided for those who want to learn.

Sounds like a great time for a great cause. Too bad its so far away by the Virginia coast.

Again, Beer, Seafood, Beach Music, History and Good Cause. Good Deal. --Old B-Runner

Shuck 'N Shag at the Fort-- Part 1

Compiled from the Sept. 19th PilotOnline, Sept. 14 Daily Press, the Sept. 17th LA Times and the event website.

September 22nd, the first civilian music effort at Fort Monroe will take place and will include lots of seafood, beer and Beach Music. That's what folks in the South dance the Shag to, not the English shag.

Over the past years, the Army has sponsored many music events at the old 1800s fort, also called Fortress Monroe. But, last week, the installation was turned over to the State of Virginia. There is currently a movement to turn the fort into a National Park.

The first African slaves landed at the site (before the fort was built, and this is where Union General Benjamin Butler took a first step toward slave emancipation when he refused to return runaway slaves coming into his lines to their owners, declaring them contraband of war. Abraham Lincoln visited the fort. Robert E. Lee was garrisoned there and, after the war, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was held at the post.

History, Seafood and Beach Music. Hard Combination to Beat. --Old B-R'er

Fort Monroe Becomes Mighty Important to the Union

From the April 15th Daily Press (Va.)

Fort (also called Fortress) Monroe was the United States' largest-ever masonry fort, covering some 63 acres. Its deep-water wharf at Old Point Comfort was just a day's steam by boat from Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Charleston and Savannah; a very strategic place.

When Virginia seceded on April 17th, two regiments of Massachusetts arrived, pushing the fort's garrison to 320. They began preparing the fort for war and retraining its guns at the land instead of sea as an attack by Confederate forces was expected at any time.

And now, after all these years, the federal government is preparing to turn the fort over to the State of Virginia as a historical site.

Real Big Fort never held by the Confederates. --Old B-R'er

Not Much Found in the Moat

From theNovember 11th Hampton Roads (Va) Daily Press.

The US Army is preparing to turn over Fort Monroe by September 11, 2011, but before doing so, they have committed to spending between $60 million and $70 million to remove munitions, pollutants and other debris from the fort and surrounding area. That includes the moat that completely wraps around the largest stone fort ever built in the United States.

An extensive search is being carried on right now by people chest deep in the water primarily searching for unexploded ordnance. So far the only "historic" thing found is a discarded early model of a color TV set circa 1960s.

However, previously they had discovered a cannon from the 1860s sticking up vertically in the ground and a 10-inch cannon ball.

I wasn't able to determine if it was in the moat or on land.

Wonder If the TV Still Works. --B-R'er

Museum of the Confederacy Considering Fort Monroe Satellite Location

From the May 19th Daily Press in Virginia.

Richmond's Museum of the Confederacy is considering opening a satellite unit at Fort Monroe by the Chesapeake Bay where it will have a focus on their naval artifacts. The famous battle between the CSS Virginia and USS Monitor took place near here. Two other locations are being considered at Appomattox and Fredericksburg which will have other emphasis.

The museum has a large naval collection of swords, uniforms and models currently in storage because of lack of viewing space. On group of interest is the uniform, documents and effects of Robert Dabney Minor who was on the CSS Virginia but wounded the first day of battle against the wooden ships, March 8, 1862. His uniform if blue and gray, the blue from his days in the US Navy before the war.

The museum also has belongings of Matthew Fontaine Maury, the famous cartographer, historian and astronomer of the Confederate Navy.

Another item of interest is the battle flag of the CSS Shenandoah which carried on the war after the South surrendered.

With Fort, or Fortress, Monroe soon to be turned over to Virginia from the US military, this would be a great way to exhibit these artifacts, so hoping the plan goes through.

Hopefully, certain groups won't be antagonized about the possibility of people seeing more Confederate stuff.

A Museum By Any Other Name. --Old B-Runner